South Korean football star Son Heung-min, long hailed as a “national treasure” and the most valuable Asian footballer, is currently embroiled in a controversy that has rocked both the entertainment and sports worlds. In particular, his spotless reputation took a hit after it was revealed that he paid 300 million KRW (approximately 220,000 USD) in hush money to a woman surnamed Yang, who claimed to be pregnant with his child.
Yang reportedly signed a non-disclosure agreement with a penalty clause of 3 billion KRW should the terms be violated. However, the situation escalated when Yang’s new boyfriend, a man surnamed Yong with a criminal history of blackmail, discovered the agreement and demanded an additional 70 million KRW (approximately 51,000 USD) from Son to keep the secret. When Son refused, Yong leaked the story to the media.
Son then filed a police complaint with Gangnam authorities, leading to the arrest of both Yang and Yong on extortion charges. According to Dispatch, Yang had been romantically involved with another businessman around the same time she dated Son Heung-min, casting doubts on the paternity of the alleged child. It was also reported that she spent 80 million KRW (around 58,500 USD) of the settlement on a shaman she frequently consulted for advice.
Meanwhile, as the story gained traction, a wave of online speculation accused musical actress and choreographer Jung Min-hee of being the ex-girlfriend in question. The confusion arose after Yang’s face was blurred in news footage, prompting overzealous netizens to bombard Jung Min-hee with questions.
Furious, the actress responded harshly on her Instagram story, stating, “It. Is. Not. Me. Who said that? Stop messaging me, following me, and leaving comments.”
Her assertive denial was met with support, with many defending her against the baseless harassment and emphasizing the harm caused by reckless online behavior.
Jung Min-hee, born in 1992, debuted in the musical “Aida” in 2016 and has since built a solid career in theater. She’s also known as a talented choreographer and recently taught the viral “Like Jennie” dance to actresses Yeom Jung-ah, Lim Ji-yeon, and Park Joon-myun on the popular variety show “Unnies’ Farm-to-Table”.
Meanwhile, Son Heung-min, who had just celebrated a major career milestone by winning the Europa League with Tottenham, now finds himself under intense public scrutiny. Despite his accomplishments, the scandal has sparked polarized reactions. Some accuse Yang of being a gold digger, while others question Son’s personal conduct.
The backlash has been so severe that Son was named in a viral online discussion about top Korean celebrities who became publicly shunned in 2025. Here, Son Heung-min was listed alongside actor Kim Soo-hyun and K-pop girl group NewJeans, who also faced recent controversies.