Impeached South Korean Leader's Pay Hike Sparks Outrage Amidst Bucking Arrest

As he continues to elude arrest for his disastrous declaration of martial law, Yoon Suk Yeol, the impeached president of

South Korea, will get a wage increase, according to official records.

On December 3, Yoon sent soldiers into parliament and suspended civilian government, causing the nation to enter its greatest political crisis in decades. Hours later, he had to turn around.

In addition to facing an insurrection investigation with detectives attempting to detain him for interrogation, he has been impeached by lawmakers and is awaiting a final constitutional court decision that could definitively remove him from office.
 

According to the 2025 public worker salary table, Yoon received the planned pay increase, despite continuing to evade arrest by hiding out in the presidential house with his security detail.

According to a ministry of personnel management document obtained by Agence France-Presse on Monday, Yoon's pay will increase by 3% from the previous year to 262.6 million won (£147,000).

Yoon is only suspended from office because the constitutional court is still considering the impeachment motion; as a result, he will continue to hold the office of president and be eligible to receive his salary and security benefits.



Han Duck-soo, his impeached and suspended prime minister and his successor as acting president, will also get a 3% pay increase to 203.5 million won.

It makes me furious. In a social media post that swiftly gained popularity, one user said, "He's (Yoon) getting paid for doing nothing."

After a heated, hours-long standoff this month, Yoon's presidential guard unit prevented an effort to arrest him, and he has refused to meet with investigators and prosecutors investigating his declaration of martial law.

Investigators are getting ready to make another arrest.

Since the start of the issue, rival demonstrations for and against Yoon have taken place in Seoul, the capital of South Korea, virtually every day.