In a decision igniting widespread public backlash, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, currently suspended from office and embroiled in an impeachment trial, is set to receive a three per cent salary increase for 2025.
Official records from the Ministry of Personnel Management, as reported by AFP, confirm Yoon’s annual pay will climb to 262.6 million won ($178,400).
Despite being suspended, Yoon retains presidential privileges, including his salary and benefits, while the Constitutional Court deliberates on his impeachment case.
The news has fueled outrage on social media, with one viral post on platform X declaring, “It makes my blood boil. He’s getting paid for doing nothing.”
Yoon’s impeachment followed his contentious move to suspend civilian governance on December 3, which saw military forces deployed to parliament.
The decision plunged South Korea into its most severe political crisis in decades, culminating in his immediate suspension.
Adding to his legal troubles, Yoon faces an ongoing investigation into his actions, with prosecutors preparing another attempt to detain him after an earlier effort failed this month.
Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, serving as interim president but also under suspension, is similarly set to receive a pay increase to 203.5 million won ($138,350).
The public response has been overwhelmingly critical, with citizens taking to the streets and social media platforms to protest the raises.
Demonstrators argue the increases are unjustified given the political turmoil and the leaders’ inability to fulfill their official duties.
As the nation awaits further developments in Yoon’s impeachment trial and insurrection investigation, the controversy surrounding his salary increase underscores the growing discontent among South Koreans over their country’s leadership.