Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will receive an annual raise despite being impeached for briefly imposing a state of emergency in the country, the government said.
Yoon’s salary will rise 3% to 262.6 million won ($179,000; £147,000), in line with the standard for government officials.
Since his impeachment in December, Yoon has resisted attempts to investigate and arrest him for alleged sedition and abuse of power, further engulfing the country in political turmoil.
While suspended from his duties, Yoon will remain in office until South Korea’s constitutional court confirms his impeachment.
Yoon cited threats from “anti-state forces” and North Korea to justify his declaration of a state of emergency. However, it soon became clear that his move was prompted not by external threats, but by his own domestic political problems.
News of Yoon’s pay raise has sparked criticism among South Koreans, some of whom say they can’t believe he’s still getting paid — let alone a raise — while suspended.
Some on social media pointed out that Yoon’s 3% salary increase was almost double the increase in the country’s minimum wage.
“The minimum wage increased by 1.7 percent while [Yoon gets] 3% for what?” reads a post on X that has received thousands of likes.
Earlier this month, Yoon’s insurance made it impossible for investigators to reach him in the presidential residence. Due to the standoff, the original arrest warrant expired at midnight on January 7, but was extended by a local court.
Investigators are preparing for another attempt to arrest Yoon and have requested the help of the police.
Authorities said Monday that any attempt to arrest Yoon would avoid “any casualties or bloodshed.” They also warned that security personnel and deputies could be arrested if they obstructed the arrest.
Yoon’s lawyers said the appointment of police officers and investigators to arrest the president was “treason to the public.” They claimed that the arrest warrant was “illegal”.
They also demanded that staff in the arrest team not wear masks to “prevent miscreants from breaking into a national secret location and impersonating police officers.”
In the capital Seoul, thousands joined large protests, both in support of and against Yoon.
While his critics want the disgraced president impeached and arrested for trying to impose martial law, Yoon’s supporters see his short-lived martial law order as justified to protect South Korea’s democracy.
Han Duck-soo, who became acting president after Yoon’s impeachment but has since been impeached by parliament itself, will also see his annual salary increase by 3% to 204 million won ($138,000; £114,000).
By comparison, the US president is paid $400,000 (£329,000) and British Prime Minister’s salary is around £172,000 ($209,000).
