Online Witch Hunt Over Son Heung-min Blackmail Case Sparks Second Wave of Victims

A wave of online harassment and privacy violations is growing in the wake of a blackmail scandal involving South Korean football captain Son Heung-min.

A woman in her 20s, identified as Ms. Yang, is under investigation for allegedly extorting 300 million KRW (approx. $220,000) from Son by threatening to expose a pregnancy. However, the case has spiraled beyond the court of law, with the public taking matters into their own hands.

Photos and personal information claimed to belong to the accused have been circulating across social media platforms and online forums, often under headlines such as “Son Heung-min’s blackmailer’s real face,” and “Unblurred identity of the pregnancy scammer.” The images, shared without verification, include Instagram profiles, portraits, and personal data—some of which have proven to be unrelated individuals.

Ms. Yang, who previously dated Son Heung-min and has a background in modeling, reportedly sent ultrasound images to the footballer last June and demanded money to keep the matter private. But now, innocent women are suffering collateral damage, misidentified as Yang and subjected to abusive messages and public exposure.

One victim, who was falsely accused, publicly denied involvement and announced that she had filed lawsuits against users who spread her information and posted defamatory comments. Even celebrities who once took photos with Son Heung-min have been wrongly identified as the blackmail suspect.

This wave of vigilante “doxxing” has drawn criticism for creating secondary victims, with growing calls for restraint and better digital ethics. At the same time, the incident has sparked a debate about the treatment of suspects in the public eye.

Ms. Yang appeared at her pretrial detention hearing on May 17 without a hat, wearing only a mask—unlike her co-accused, Mr. Yong, who covered his face fully. She attempted to conceal her face with a file folder upon arrival but was prevented from doing so by police officers. Some observers questioned whether the police had failed to adequately protect her rights as a suspect who has not yet been convicted.

In response, police clarified that the file folder contained court documents and had to be retrieved when Yang attempted to use it without permission. They also stated that her clothing, including the tracksuit she wore, was chosen by her, and that she only requested a mask—not a hat.

Further investigation has confirmed that Yang did undergo a medical abortion procedure. Nonetheless, police emphasized that even if the pregnancy was real, the case remains a potential crime if the act of threatening and demanding money is substantiated. Authorities are now analyzing Yang’s confiscated mobile phone and the submitted ultrasound image to determine the full scope of the allegations.

Police arrested Yang and co-defendant Yong on May 14 and filed for pretrial detention the following day. The case continues to unfold amid mounting public scrutiny and the urgent need to balance justice with respect for privacy and legal process.