Son Heung-min (33, Tottenham) is under worldwide scrutiny due to a personal incident. It has also been covered as a major news story in the United States.
The New York Times reported on the 18th that 'two people were arrested for extorting Premier League star Son Heung-min under the pretext of a false pregnancy.'
It is also unusual for Son Heung-min to appear not in sports news but in the society section. This indicates that Son Heung-min holds great symbolic value as a representative player of South Korea.
The New York Times reported that 'a woman in her 20s and a man in his 40s were arrested by the police on charges of extorting the most famous sports star in Korea, Son Heung-min. After the Seoul Central District Court issued a warrant for the arrest due to the extortion charges, the perpetrators were detained. The woman sent an ultrasound image to Son Heung-min claiming to be pregnant. Son Heung-min handed over 300 million won in exchange for silence.'
Many people in the United States are not aware of Son Heung-min. However, the scandal of the country's top sports star is a major issue. The New York Times introduced him, saying, 'Son Heung-min is the captain of Tottenham and the greatest Asian soccer player of all time. He enjoys tremendous popularity in Korea. Playing in the English Premier League, he is a player who attracts much attention.'
Son Heung-min has suffered a significant blow to his image due to involvement in a crime. Until now, he has maintained a clean record regarding personal matters. He has filmed numerous advertisements for ice cream, razors, telecommunications companies, ramen, massage chairs, hamburgers, etc., as his strong and clean image as a national team captain has appealed to the public.
The revelation that Son Heung-min had sexual relations with the woman and transferred money to her has shocked the public. There is considerable concern that the investigation into the incident may affect Son Heung-min's performance on the field.
This is a very crucial point in Son Heung-min's career. After missing a month due to an ankle injury, he has just returned. Meanwhile, Tottenham will face Manchester United in the Europa League final on the 22nd. This marks Tottenham's first challenge for a championship since 2008.
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