President of South Korea
The impeached president of South Korea receives a wage increase
The government of South Korea has announced that Yoon Suk Yeol, the suspended president who was impeached for briefly imposing martial law, will get his yearly pay increase.
Yoon will receive a 3% pay raise to 262.6 million won ($179,000; £147,000), which is the norm for public servants.
Yoon has resisted efforts to look into and arrest him for alleged insurrection and abuse of power. Since his impeachment in December, further escalating political unrest in the nation.
Yoon is still in office while being suspended until his impeachment is upheld by South Korea’s constitutional court.
Yoon justified the imposition of martial law by pointing to North Korea and “anti-state elements” as dangers. But it quickly became evident that his actions were motivated by his own internal political issues rather than by threats from outside.
Many South Koreans have expressed disapproval of Yoon’s pay raise, saying they find it hard to comprehend why he is still receiving compensation, much less a raise, after being banned.
Social media users noted that Yoon’s 3% pay boost is almost twice as much as the nation’s minimum wage hike.
A post with thousands of likes on X reads, “Minimum wage raised by 1.7% while [Yoon receives] 3% for what?”
Yoon’s security prevented investigators from getting to him at the presidential mansion earlier this month. Due to the impasse, a local court prolonged an initial arrest order that was set to expire at midnight on January 7.
Investigators have asked the police for help in getting ready to try to arrest Yoon again.
Authorities stated on Monday that “any casualties or bloodshed” would be avoided in any attempt to apprehend Yoon. Additionally, they issued a warning that politicians and security personnel might be arrested if they interfered with the arrest.
In order to “avoid rioters from breaking into a national secret site and impersonating police officials,” they also insisted that members of the arrest squad not wear masks.
Thousands of people have participated in widespread demonstrations in Seoul, the capital, both in favor of and against Yoon.
Supporters of Yoon saw his brief martial law order as necessary to preserve South Korea’s democracy. While his detractors want to see the disgraced. President imprisoned and impeached for his effort to impose martial law.
The yearly pay of Han Duck-soo, who was impeached by parliament himself after taking over as president in the wake of Yoon’s impeachment, would also rise by 3% to 204 million won ($138,000; £114,000).
In contrast, the UK prime minister receives a salary of approximately £172,000 ($209,000). And the US president receives $400,000 (£329,000).
