South Korea's impeached president gets pay rise

Despite being impeached for briefly implementing martial law, South Korea's suspended President Yoon Suk-yeol will still receive an annual pay raise. The government has stated that Yoon's salary will increase by 3%, in line with the standard for government officials, to 262.6 million won (approximately $179,000 USD or £147,000 GBP).

Since his impeachment in December, Yoon has refused to cooperate with investigations and arrest warrants for alleged insurrection and abuse of power, further destabilizing the country's political landscape. While Yoon is currently suspended, he remains the president until the South Korean Constitutional Court confirms the impeachment.

Yoon has claimed that threats from "anti-state forces" and North Korea were the reasons for his declaration of martial law. However, it soon became apparent that his actions stemmed not from external threats but from his own domestic political difficulties. The news of Yoon's pay raise has sparked criticism among the South Korean public, with some expressing disbelief that he is still able to receive a salary, let alone a raise, while suspended.

Some social media users pointed out that Yoon's 3% pay increase is almost double the country's minimum wage increase. "The minimum wage went up 1.7% and [Yoon] gets 3% for what?" read a post on X that garnered thousands of likes. Earlier this month, Yoon's security detail prevented investigators from approaching him at the presidential residence. This standoff caused the initial arrest warrant to expire at midnight on January 7, but local courts have since extended the warrant.

Investigators are preparing to re-arrest Yoon and have requested police assistance. On Monday, authorities stated that any action to arrest Yoon would ensure the avoidance of "any casualties or bloodshed." They also warned that security personnel and lawmakers could be arrested if they obstruct the arrest operation. Yoon's lawyers have stated that the assignment of police and investigators to arrest the president is a "betrayal of the public" and have claimed that the arrest warrant is "illegal."

They have also requested that those on the arrest team not wear masks to "prevent thugs from infiltrating state secrets and posing as police officers." In the capital, Seoul, thousands have participated in mass protests both supporting and opposing Yoon. While his critics hope to see the disgraced president impeached and arrested for his attempted martial law, Yoon's supporters maintain that his brief imposition of martial law was a legitimate measure to protect South Korean democracy.

Han Duck-soo, who served as acting president after Yoon's impeachment but was also later impeached by parliament, will also receive a 3% pay raise to 204 million won (approximately $138,000 USD or £114,000 GBP). In comparison, the President of the United States earns an annual salary of $400,000 (approximately £329,000 GBP), and the British Prime Minister earns approximately £172,000 (approximately $209,000 USD) annually.