South Korean impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol will receive his annual pay rise despite his suspension for declaration of martial law, the government has said.
Yoon’s salary will increase by 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 insurrection and abuse of power, placing the country deeper in political turmoil.
While suspended from his duties, Yoon remains in office until South Korea’s constitutional court upholds his impeachment.
LEADERSHIP reports that Yoon cited threats from “anti-state forces” and North Korea to justify his martial law declaration.
However, it soon became clear that his move had been spurred not by external threats but by his domestic political troubles, BBC reports.
News of Yoon’s salary increase has drawn criticism among South Koreans, some of whom say they cannot believe he is still getting paid, let alone getting an increment while still being suspended.
Some on social media pointed out that Yoon’s 3% salary rise is nearly double the increase in the country’s minimum wage.
“Minimum wage increased by 1.7% while Yoon gets 3% for what?” reads a post on X which has received thousands of likes.
Earlier this month, Yoon’s security blocked investigators from reaching him at the presidential residence.
Investigators are preparing for another attempt to arrest Yoon and have requested assistance from the police.
Authorities on Monday said any attempt to arrest Yoon would make sure to avoid “any casualties or bloodshed”.
They also warned that security staff and lawmakers could be arrested if they obstruct the arrest.
Yoon’s lawyers said assigning police officers and investigators to arrest the president was “a betrayal of the public”. They have claimed that the arrest warrant was “illegal”.
They also demanded that personnel on the arrest team not wear a mask to “prevent rioters from breaking into a national secret site and impersonating police officers”.
Han Duck-soo, who became acting president after Yoon’s impeachment but has since been impeached by parliament himself, will also see his annual salary increase by 3% to 204 million won ($138,000; £114,000).
The US president is paid $400,000 (£329,000) and the UK Prime Minister’s salary is around £172,000 ($209,000), BBC reports.
