The image of Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) has been shaken by a shocking personal issue.
A woman in her 20s claimed to be pregnant with Son Heung-min's child and demanded money while threatening him. Son Heung-min has filed a lawsuit against the perpetrators. The police arrested a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s who was accomplice.
Son Heung-min has asserted through his agency that he is a "clear victim." He has shown a strong determination to prosecute the perpetrators.
Son Heung-min has suffered a serious blow to his image. He had previously maintained a clean personal life. He has appeared in numerous advertisements for ice cream, razors, telecommunications companies, ramen, massage chairs, and hamburgers in Korea. This clean and strong image as the national team captain appealed to the public.
However, the shocking detail is that Son Heung-min reportedly paid 300 million won to a woman he was dating to keep quiet about threats. Even if Son Heung-min legally punishes the offender, it appears that his clean image will inevitably be damaged.
The incident has also spread like wildfire in the UK. The Guardian reported on the 15th, "A woman is alleged to have threatened Son Heung-min with false pregnancy, according to reports from Korea. Son Heung-min's agency has claimed that he is a victim. The Seoul police are investigating the allegations and have not commented further on the reports," providing a detailed account of the Son Heung-min case.
This is an already critical point in Son Heung-min's career. He recently returned after a month-long absence due to a foot injury. In addition, Tottenham will play against Manchester United in the Europa League final on the 22nd—its first championship challenge since 2008.
This is Son Heung-min's golden opportunity to escape from being without a trophy. Personal issues have arisen at a crucial time. Fans are understandably taken aback as well.
The group that harassed Son Heung-min has been arrested and is being investigated. As the case has become known to the public, there seems to be no further reason for Son Heung-min to suffer from threats. What remains is for Son Heung-min to focus solely on football and secure a championship trophy. This is a very important time in Son Heung-min's career.
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