Is the Japanese Prime Minister Getting Too Low of a Salary?

What is the proper salary for a head of state?

Japan is debating on raising the salary of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. Some say that his salary is too low for his hard work. The opposing opinion, however, says that since the prime minister’s salary is similar to that of the U.S. president, and given the difficulties of private companies, an increase is inappropriate.

The prime minister’s salary was first announced on December 4, 2003 at a conference on the salary of high-ranking government officials.

Koizumi earns about 41.65 million yen (about 416.5 million won) a year including bonus. Members of a government advisory commission argue that the prime minister’s salary is far too little for his work, in which has to sacrifice his private life.

On the other hand, the ruling party has pointed out that raising the prime minister’s salary is inappropriate when private corporations are cutting the salaries of employees due to a prolonged recession.

The French president earns the most with about 2.24 billion won, Japanese Asahi Shimbun reported on Friday.

U.S. President George W. Bush earns a little bit more than Junichiro Koizumi with about 432.8 million won, followed by British Prime Minister Tony Blair with about 358.3 million won, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder with about 291.7 million won.

Korean President Roh Moo-hyun makes about 120 million won in regular pay and 80 million won in extra benefits annually.

Hun-Joo Cho hanscho@donga.com