South Korea's ousted President Yoon Suk-yeol will receive his annual salary increase despite his impeachment for briefly placing the country under martial law, the government said.
Yoon's salary will increase by 3% to 262.6 million won ($179,000; £147,000), in line with the standard for civil servants.
Since his impeachment in December, Yun has resisted attempts to have him investigated and arrested for alleged sedition and abuse of power, plunging the country into even deeper political turmoil.
Although removed from his duties, Yoon remains in office until South Korea's constitutional court upholds his impeachment.
Yun cited threats from “anti-state forces” and North Korea to justify his declaration of martial law. However, it soon became clear that his move was prompted not by external threats but by his own domestic political problems.
The news of Yoon's salary increase sparked criticism among South Koreans, some of whom said they could not believe he was still getting paid — let alone a raise — while suspended.
Some on social media pointed out that Yoon's 3% salary increase was almost double the increase in the country's minimum wage.
“Minimum wage up 1.7% while (Yun gets) 3% for what?” reads a post on X that has received thousands of likes.
Earlier this month, Yun's bodyguards prevented investigators from reaching him in the presidential residence. In the impasse, the original arrest warrant expired at midnight on January 7, but the local court extended it.
Investigators are preparing for another attempt to arrest Yoon and have asked for police assistance.
On Monday, authorities said any attempt to arrest Yun would ensure “any casualties or bloodshed” are avoided. They also warned that security personnel and MPs could be arrested if they obstructed the arrest.
Yun's lawyers said the appointment of police and investigators to arrest the president was “treason to the public”. They claim the arrest warrant is “illegal”.
They also requested that arrest team personnel not wear masks to “prevent insurgents from infiltrating a national secret site and impersonating police officers.”
In the capital Seoul, thousands joined large-scale protests, both in support of and against Yun.
While his critics want to see the disgraced president impeached and arrested for his attempted martial law, Yoon's supporters see his short-lived martial law order as justified to protect democracy in South Korea.
Han Duck-soo, who became acting president after Yun's impeachment but has since been impeached by parliament itself, will also receive a 3% annual salary increase to 204 million won ($138,000; £114,000).
By comparison, the US president receives $400,000 (£329,000) and The salary of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom is around £172,000 ($209,000).