The President of South Korea received a salary increase while being impeached

AFP On January 13, citing documents from the Korean Ministry of Manpower Management, President Yoon Suk-yeol in 2025 will receive a salary of 262.6 million won (more than 178,000 USD), an increase of 3% compared to last year.

The salary of the President of South Korea was increased according to the schedule, even though he is suspended from power while the Constitutional Court considers the parliament’s impeachment decision. While waiting for the verdict, he remains the President of South Korea, receiving a salary as well as security benefits.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who is also being impeached after serving as acting president, received a 3% salary increase to 203.5 million won (more than 138,000 USD) this year.

The news that Mr. Yoon received a salary increase while being impeached attracted many comments on Korean social networks, many of whom expressed dissatisfaction. “That makes my blood boil. He still receives a salary while doing nothing,” a social network account wrote.

Mr. Yoon is facing a criminal investigation on charges of plotting a rebellion when imposing martial law in early December 2024 and has been issued an arrest warrant by the court. However, investigators were not able to execute his arrest warrant due to obstacles from the Presidential Guard Service (PSS).

President Yoon has hardly appeared in public for more than a month and has no right to make any decisions on domestic or foreign affairs. During this time, protests by groups opposing and supporting the Korean President also took place almost every day in the capital Seoul.