Son Heung-min’s ex held in fake pregnancy scam

Ex-girlfriend, accomplice arrested over extortion scheme

Yang, a woman in her 20s (left), and Yong, a man in his 40s, arrive at the Seoul Central District Court on May 17, 2025, for a warrant hearing./Yonhap

A South Korean court issued arrest warrants on May 17 for the former girlfriend of national football team captain Son Heung-min and her accomplice, who allegedly attempted to extort money from the Tottenham Hotspur forward by falsely claiming she was pregnant with his child.

Judge Yoon Won-mook of the Seoul Central District Court approved the warrants for the woman in her 20s, identified by the surname Yang, and a man in his 40s, surnamed Yong, citing concerns they could destroy evidence or flee.

Yang allegedly sent Son’s representatives a fabricated ultrasound image in June 2024, claiming she was pregnant. Fearing reputational damage to the player and his club, Son’s camp paid her 300 million won ($220,000), according to court documents and police reports.

Yang later entered a relationship with Yong, who, after learning of the earlier payment, allegedly demanded an additional 70 million won from Son’s side, threatening to disclose the story publicly.

Son’s representatives filed a police complaint on May 7, saying they would “no longer remain silent in the face of false claims” and would respond firmly to any further extortion attempts.