Seoul: The foreign ministry convened a joint meeting with overseas diplomatic missions on Monday to evaluate the protection measures for South Koreans residing in Indonesia, as the country experiences escalating protests over lawmakers' privileges.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Yoon Chu-sok, the director general for overseas Koreans and consular affairs, emphasized the need for officials to closely monitor the situation, maintain ongoing communication between the ministry and overseas missions, and implement all necessary measures to ensure the safety of South Korean nationals. The ministry conveyed this directive in an official release.
The protests have turned violent following revelations that lawmakers in Indonesia have been receiving housing allowances that exceed the minimum wage of regular citizens, in addition to their existing salaries. The public's dissatisfaction has grown, particularly after a tragic incident where a motorcycle delivery worker was killed by a police vehicle during a protest crackdown, further fueling resentment towards the elite class.