South Korea’s suspended president Yoon Suk Yeol will receive a 3% salary increase despite being impeached by parliament for declaring martial law in December.
The raise brings his annual pay to 262.6 million won ($179,000; £147,000), according to government announcements.
Yoon, who has been suspended from his duties but remains in office pending a constitutional court ruling on his impeachment, cited threats from “anti-state forces” and North Korea to justify the martial law declaration.
However, critics argue the move was driven by his domestic political struggles rather than genuine security concerns.
News of Yoon’s pay rise has sparked widespread criticism in South Korea. Many citizens expressed outrage on social media, with some noting the disparity between Yoon’s salary increase and the country’s minimum wage, which rose by just 1.7%.
“Minimum wage increased by 1.7% while [Yoon gets] 3% for what?” read one popular post on X (formerly Twitter), garnering thousands of likes.
Media Talk Africa had reported that since his impeachment, Yoon has resisted investigations into alleged insurrection and abuse of power.
Recall that his security team recently blocked investigators from accessing the presidential residence, resulting in an initial arrest warrant expiring on January 7.
A local court has since extended the warrant, and authorities are planning another attempt to detain him.
Officials stated that any arrest operation would aim to avoid casualties, warning that those obstructing justice could face criminal charges.
Yoon’s legal team has labeled the warrant “illegal” and accused the arrest effort of undermining public trust.
Protests in Seoul have seen thousands of citizens rally both for and against Yoon. His critics demand accountability for the martial law declaration, while his supporters argue it was a necessary measure to protect South Korea’s democracy.
Han Duck-soo, who briefly became acting president after Yoon’s impeachment but was subsequently impeached himself, will also receive a 3% salary hike, raising his annual pay to 204 million won ($138,000; £114,000).
