Suspended President Yoon gets salary increase

Suspended South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will receive his annual salary despite being accused of placing the country under martial law, the government said.

Yoon’s salary increased by 3% to 262.6 million won ($179,000; £147,000), in line with the government’s standard.

Since his impeachment in December, Yoon has resisted attempts to investigate and arrest him for assault and abuse of power, which has plunged the country into political turmoil.

While suspended from his post, Yoon remains in office until South Korea’s Constitutional Court approves his indictment.

Yoon cited threats from “anti-state forces” and North Korea to back up his announcement. However, it soon became clear that his migration was not caused by external threats but by his own political problems.

News of Yoon’s salary increase has drawn criticism from South Koreans, some of whom say they can’t believe he’s still being paid — let alone increased — while he’s suspended.

Some on social media pointed out that Yoon’s 3% salary increase is almost twice the national minimum wage.

“The minimum wage rose by 1.7% [Yoon gets] 3% of what?” reads a post on X that has received thousands of likes.

Earlier this month, Yoon’s defense he prevented the investigators from reaching him at the president’s house. The agreement saw the original arrest warrant expire at midnight on January 7, but the lower court extended it.

Investigators are planning another attempt to arrest Yoon and have asked the police for help.

On Monday, authorities said any attempt to arrest Yoon would ensure they avoid “injuries or bloodshed”. They also warned that security personnel and MPs could be arrested if they obstructed the arrest.

Yoon’s lawyers said assigning police and investigators to arrest the president was a “disloyalty to the people”. They said the arrest warrant was “illegal”.

He also requested that the workers of the arrested group not wear masks to “prevent rioters from entering the private areas of the country and acting as police”.

In the capital, Seoul, thousands of people have taken part in massive demonstrations, both in support of and against Yoon.

While his critics want to see the disgraced president impeached and jailed for attempting to wage war, Yoon’s supporters see his long-standing martial law as necessary to protect South Korea’s democracy.

Han Duck-soo, who became president after Yoon’s impeachment but was also impeached by parliament, will also see his annual salary increase by 3% to ¥204 million ($138,000; £114,000).

In comparison, the US President is paid $400,000 (£329,000) and UK Prime Minister’s Salary about £172,000 ($209,000).