South Korean president gets pay raise after being removed

The ousted president of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeol, must receive the annual salary increase provided for by the country’s laws even after being impeached in December 2024. The politician’s salary, accused of insurrection and abuse of power , will increase by 3%, reaching a value of 262.6 million won (US$179 thousand).

Interim President Han Duck-Soo, who took office after Soon’s impeachment and was also removed by parliament, is another who will receive a 3% annual salary increase. Soo’s compensation will rise to 204 million won ($138,000).

Suk-yeol was impeached after declaring martial law in the country. Since then, he has resisted contributing to investigations and arrest attempts. Even though Suk-yeol is suspended from his duties, he remains in office until he is judged by South Korea’s constitutional court.

In early January, Suk-yeol’s security prevented investigators from arresting him at the presidential residence. The arrest warrant was valid until January 7th, but was carried out by a local court. According to the BBCinvestigators are preparing a new attempt to arrest the ousted president.

This Monday (13.Jan.2025), authorities said that Suk-yeol’s arrest would prevent “any casualties or bloodshed”. They also warned that security staff and lawmakers could be arrested if they obstructed the arrest.

Yeol’s defense argues that assigning police and investigators to arrest the president is “a betrayal of the public.” Lawyers claim that the arrest warrant is “illegal”.

One of Yeol’s lawyers, Yun Gap Geun, told the South Korean news agency Yonhap that the removed president will not be present at the first official hearing in his impeachment trial for security reasons. “As attempts to illegally execute an illegal and invalid arrest warrant are underway, there are concerns about personal safety and setbacks”Yun said. “For the president to appear at trial, the issue of personal safety and security must be resolved”he added.