Suspended South Korean President Set To Receive Pay Rise Amid Impeachment Trial

Despite being the subject of an impeachment trial and an insurrection investigation, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol is likely to receive a pay raise for 2025.

Official documents from the Ministry of Personnel Management and sighted by AFP revealed that Yoon’s annual salary will rise by three percent to 262.6 million won ($178,400).

Although suspended, Yoon retains his presidential status while the Constitutional Court deliberates on his impeachment, allowing him to continue receiving his salary and associated benefits.

“It makes my blood boil. He’s (Yoon) getting paid for doing nothing,” one user wrote in a post on social media platform X that quickly went viral.

Yoon’s impeachment followed a controversial decision to suspend civilian rule on December 3, during which soldiers were deployed to parliament.

The move sparked South Korea’s most significant political crisis in decades, leading to his suspension hours later. He now faces a separate probe into his actions, with investigators attempting to detain him for questioning.

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, acting as interim president, is also suspended and will see his salary rise to 203.5 million won ($138,350).

The public response to these developments has been critical, with widespread protests and viral social media posts expressing outrage over Yoon receiving a raise despite his suspension.

Meanwhile, investigators are preparing another attempt to arrest Yoon after a failed effort earlier this month.