Political crisis in South Korea: Disempowered president gets a salary increase

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol receives a pay rise despite being removed from power by parliament. A Ministry of Human Resources document released on Monday shows Yoon’s salary increased by three percent to the equivalent of around 174.699 Euro increases per year.

Yoon plunged South Korea into a political crisis at the beginning of December by briefly declaring martial law. The president made use of the drastic measure in a budget dispute. However, Parliament exercised its right to veto martial law and later voted to remove the president. However, the Supreme Court still has to decide on the impeachment.

Holed up in the presidential residence

Yoon has so far refused to speak to the public prosecutor and has barricaded himself in the presidential residence. The presidential guard prevented an attempt to arrest him. According to the document, Han Duck-soo, who briefly replaced him as interim president, will also receive a salary increase of three percent.