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Potential arrest, no perks, pension: what comes next for South Korea’s Yoon?

Yoon Suk-yeol faces criminal investigations and he must vacate the official residence. Inquiry into scandals involving his wife may also accelerate

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People hold up a South Korean flag as they celebrate Yoon Suk-yeol’s ouster in Seoul on Friday. Photo: Reuters
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is expected to face a series of criminal investigations, including potential treason charges, following his immediate removal from office. With the Constitutional Court upholding his impeachment, he has been stripped of all presidential privileges.
The court’s ruling, delivered on Friday, came 111 days after Yoon was suspended for declaring martial law on December 3 – a move that sparked nationwide political unrest and was deemed a serious violation of constitutional rights.

With his presidency now officially terminated, most special privileges granted to a sitting head of state will be revoked.

Yoon will no longer be entitled to support staff, including official aides or a driver, and will be ineligible for a pension amounting to 95 per cent of a president’s salary.

He will also lose the right to be buried at a national cemetery such as the Seoul National Cemetery.

Additionally, he is required to vacate the presidential residence in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, although there is no specific deadline for his departure.

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