Court removes South Korean president from office over corruption scandal

Two people were killed in protests with riot police, while a third elderly man had a heart attack and died on Saturday.

The liberal politician expected to succeed disgraced Park Geun-hye as South Korea’s next president could make significant policy changes on North Korea, a United States missile-defence system that has enraged China and powerful big business. Min Kyung-wook, a lawmaker with Park’s Liberty Korea Party, read a statement that he said was from the former president. Only 12 percent said it was not right, with 2 percent declining to reply.

Following a December 9 parliamentary vote to impeach her, Park has been suspended but conservative supporters have led increasingly prominent counter-protests. It has 3.1 percentage points in margin of error. One of Park’s lawyers compares her impeachment to the “unjust” deaths of Jesus Christ and ancient Greek thinker Socrates. Those against the ruling took up just 6 percent of the total respondents.

But she could now face formal arrest if she refuses a summons, with local reports saying prosecutors were mulling a travel ban on Ms Park. Investigators say Park abused her power by entrusting government decisions to a secret adviser, Choi Soon-sil, and took part in extorting bribes from major conglomerates, including Samsung and Hyundai.

An official from the presidential Blue House said there was a possibility that Park would leave in the evening, two days after the country’s Constitutional Court removed her from office over a corruption scandal.

Demonstrators shoot off firecrackers to celebrate the impeachment of Park Geun-Hye in Seoul on Saturday.

February 22: One of Park’s lawyers tells court there will be a “rebellion and blood will drench the asphalt” if the court unseats Park and she is later acquitted of her charges through a criminal proceeding.

The Constitutional Court formally removed impeached President Park Geun-hye in a stunning fall from grace for the country’s first female leader.

South Korea’s ousted leader Park Geun-hye greets her supporters as she arrives at her private home in Seoul on Sunday.

Park did not appear in court for the ruling, and she has yet to publicly comment on the ruling.

The ruling from the eight judge panel sparked violent clashes outside the courtroom in Seoul between Park’s supporters and the protesters seeking her removal. The election day is highly likely to be set on May 9 as there are several public holidays in the first week of May including Buddha’s Birthday on May 3 and Children’s Day on May 5.

Ms Choi is also in detention, after being accused of using her close ties with Ms Park to force firms to “donate” nearly $70m to her non-profit organisations, which she allegedly used for personal gain.