She Appeared Wearing Only a Mask, No Hat Requested
Unrelated Individuals Targeted in Online Personal Information Exposure
There is controversy over alleged human rights violations regarding the appearance of a woman in her 20s, who is accused of demanding money after claiming to be pregnant with the child of Son Heungmin (33, Tottenham Hotspur), captain of the national soccer team, when she appeared for a pretrial detention warrant hearing.
Yang Mo, who was arrested on charges of blackmailing Son Heungmin, appeared at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, Seoul, on the 17th for her pretrial detention warrant hearing, wearing a tracksuit and with her hands bound by a rope. Although she wore a mask, she did not wear a hat, leaving much of her hair and face exposed. There was also controversy online over a scene in which Yang, after getting out of the police transport vehicle to enter the courthouse, tried to cover her face with a file folder, but a police officer next to her took it away.
However, it was later revealed that the police intervened because Yang tried to take the file folder, which contained police detention review materials, without permission.
Yang Mo, who claimed to be pregnant with the child of Son Heungmin, captain of the national soccer team, and tried to extort money from Son, is entering the Seoul Central District Court on the 17th for a warrant hearing. Photo by Yonhap News
Online, some criticized the police for allegedly neglecting to protect Yang's human rights, arguing that she was not a violent criminal. This controversy intensified because it was contrasted with her accomplice, Yong Mo, who also attended a warrant hearing on the same day. Yong covered his face with both a mask and a hat. As a result, comments appeared on social networking services (SNS) such as, "Shouldn't the presumption of innocence be guaranteed?" and "Even murder suspects have their faces fully covered; this is too much."
In response, Yonhap News reported that Yang may have chosen her own attire. The outlet stated that Yang's outfit at the detention review was not what she wore at the time of her arrest, and it is presumed that she changed into her own clothes before being transported.
At the police investigation stage, there are no specific regulations regarding the attire of detainees, and suspects are often given the opportunity to change clothes after arrest. A police official told Yonhap News, "At least while under police jurisdiction, attire is at the individual's discretion." It also appears that Yang did not wear a hat simply because she did not request one from the police. Typically, police prepare hats in advance in case a suspect appearing before the press asks for one. It was reported that two hats with the brand labels covered were prepared on this day as well. The hat worn by accomplice Yong was also provided by the police upon request.
Yang Mo (left), who claimed to be pregnant with the child of Son Heungmin, captain of the national soccer team, and a man in his 40s, Yong Mo, are entering the Seoul Central District Court on the 17th to attend a warrant hearing. Photo by Yonhap News
As photos showing Yang's face more exposed than other suspects were released, online users began to dig into her personal information. In some online communities, unrelated individuals were mistakenly identified as Yang.
Yang is accused of extorting approximately 300 million won from Son Heungmin by sending him a fetal ultrasound photo last June and threatening to reveal her alleged pregnancy. The court issued a detention warrant for Yang, citing concerns about destruction of evidence and risk of flight. Her accomplice, Yong, was detained in February on charges of attempting to obtain 70 million won from Son's side, but only managed an attempt.
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