Two individuals have been arrested for attempting to extort South Korean football star Son Heung Min by falsely claiming he had fathered a child with a former girlfriend, police confirmed Thursday.

The suspects — a woman in her 20s, identified only as Ms. A, and a man in his 40s, referred to as Mr. B — were arrested by Gangnam Police on May 14 following search and seizure operations at their residences.

Ms. A has been charged with blackmail, while Mr. B faces charges of attempted blackmail.

According to investigators as per Sports Chosun, Ms. A was previously in a relationship with Son, captain of South Korea's national football team and forward for English Premier League club Tottenham Hotspur.

In June 2024, she allegedly contacted Son's representatives, claiming she was pregnant and presented what authorities now believe to be a fabricated ultrasound image.

Under pressure and concerned about the potential reputational damage to both Son and his club, his representatives transferred ₩300 million (USD 213,000) to Ms. A, police said.

An agency representative stated the decision to comply was made out of caution.

"The decision to pay was made out of fear that the spread of false information could harm both Son and his team, Tottenham Hotspur," the representative said.

Ms. A reportedly signed a written agreement at the time, pledging to keep the matter confidential.

But inconsistencies in the timing of the purported pregnancy later led to doubts.

The allegations are now being investigated to see if the entire story was made up, including a possible falsification of a medical records document.

The situation escalated in March 2025 after Ms. A began a relationship with Mr. B.

Upon learning of her previous interactions with Son, Mr. B allegedly contacted the footballer's camp.

He attempted to blackmail him for an additional ₩70 million (USD 49,700), threatening to expose the supposed pregnancy to the media.

Son's manager, who had reportedly endured ongoing threats from Mr. B, informed the player.

Son then instructed his team to pursue legal action. No further payments were made.

Mr. B is reported to have a prior criminal record involving similar offenses.

Police say the case remains under investigation, with further charges possible.

Authorities are currently reviewing materials submitted by Ms. A, including the ultrasound image, to determine whether forgery or fraud occurred.

Son Heung-Min has not commented publicly on the incident.