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. This raise brings his annual pay to 262.6 million won (approximately $179,000 or £147,000), according to government announcements.
Yoon, who remains in office pending a constitutional court ruling on his impeachment, justified the martial law declaration by citing threats from “anti-state forces” and North Korea. However, critics argue that his actions were motivated more by domestic political struggles than by genuine security concerns.
The news of Yoon’s pay rise has sparked widespread criticism across South Korea. Many citizens expressed their outrage on social media, highlighting the stark contrast between Yoon’s salary increase and the country’s minimum wage, which rose by only 1.7%. One popular post on X (formerly Twitter) questioned, “Minimum wage increased by 1.7% while [Yoon gets] 3% for what?” and garnered thousands of likes.
According to Media Talk Africa, since his impeachment, Yoon has resisted investigations into allegations of insurrection and abuse of power. His security team recently blocked investigators from accessing the presidential residence, leading to the expiration of an initial arrest warrant on January 7. A local court has since extended the warrant, and authorities are planning another attempt to detain him. Officials have stated that any arrest operation will 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 rally both for and against Yoon. His critics demand accountability for the martial law declaration, while his supporters argue that it was a necessary measure to protect South Korea’s democracy.
In addition, Han Duck-soo, who briefly served as 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 (approximately $138,000 or £114,000).
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