South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol Under Fire for Receiving Full Salary Despite Being Sidelined

South Korea’s President Yoon Suk Yeol, now viewed as a “lame duck leader” with restrictions comparable to impeachment due to unconstitutional emergency martial law effectively sidelining him from his duties, faces public criticism for continuing to receive his full salary. This situation contradicts the widely held belief that elected officials should adhere to a “no work, no pay” principle. According to government salary regulations on Tuesday, Yoon’s annual compensation is set at 254.94 million won (approximately $178,000), equating to a monthly pre-tax salary of about 21.24 million won ($16,000) and a post-tax amount of roughly 14 million won ($10,500).

Since his national address on Saturday, where he stated, “I will entrust future political stability measures, including my term, to our party,” Yoon has not been performing his duties and remains in seclusion without any official schedule.

Consequently, many citizens believe his salary should be withheld for the days he hasn’t worked this month. Since public servants typically receive their pay on the 17th, there’s a growing sentiment that this month’s payment should exclude the 10 days he’s been removed from duty.

However, current public service regulations stipulate that while salaries are reduced for disciplinary actions or position removals, there are no provisions for salary cuts due to suspension from duty.

This implies no legal basis for halting salary payments, regardless of whether the suspension followed proper procedures. The official position remains intact, even during impeachment-related suspensions.

For example, former Minister of Government Administration and Home Affairs Lee Sang Min continued to receive his full salary, suspended following his impeachment by the National Assembly last February, until his return to work after the impeachment was dismissed. Only expenses directly related to ministerial duties were withheld.

Similarly, former Presidents Roh Moo Hyun and Park Geun Hye received their presidential salaries under impeachment.

In 2016, a proposed amendment to the National Public Service Act aimed at halting salary payments for impeached presidents failed to clear standing committee stages in the National Assembly.

Critics argue that it’s time to reassess whether the “no work, full pay” system for elected officials undergoing impeachment truly aligns with public sentiment and democratic principles.

In response to this issue, Democratic Party lawmaker Yoon Joon Byeong, representing Jeong-eup/Gochang in Jeollabuk-do, proposed the “Impeachment Compensation Act” on Monday. The proposed law suggests that civil servants’ salaries should be reduced by up to 50% if their duties are suspended due to impeachment proceedings.