South Korea: Court upholds President Park Geun-hye’s impeachment; protests erupt
By
- South Korea’s first female president becomes the first to be ousted as a result of impeachment.
- Now stripped of her immunity, Park is liable to prosecution for the scandal that brought about her ouster.
- Pro- and anti-Park protests throng the streets of the capital.
- Park supporters have been cordoned off by police; they’re trying to reach the court which handed down the decision.
- Injuries have been reported as emotions run high in the protests.
- North Korea says Park will be investigated “as a common criminal.”
South Koreans celebrate after hearing the Constitutional Court’s verdict on March 10, 2017 in Seoul, South Korea.Downfall of South Korea’s political princessProtestsDuring the announcement, anti-Park demonstrators were seen crying tears of joy and pumping fists in celebration, as applause rang out from the crowd.Thousands of Park’s supporters waved South Korean flags as they stood on main thoroughfares near the Constitutional Court.They were hemmed in by a ring of police officers, many wearing protective armor, and police vehicles.A group of around 100 Park supporters tried to break through police lines near the court, and a number of people fell and were injured. Medical attention was provided at the scene.Park’s supporters tried to reach the court, rocking the buses which blocked their way and attempting to climb over them.Emotions were running extremely high in the pro-Park camp. One woman was heard by CNN screaming “democracy is dead, South Korea is dead.”Ramped-up securityHwang, who will remain in power until the election, has instructed all military personnel to be on alert and to increase security, the official said.Police had issued the highest level of emergency order possible in Seoul ahead of the announcement. South Koreans celebrate after hearing the Constitutional Court’s verdict.About 21,000 officers are on standby for expected protests, with 270 units being mobilized. The US, a key ally, responded to the decision by offering assurances that the two countries’ relationship would continue uninterrupted.“We will continue to work with Prime Minister Hwang for the remainder of his tenure as acting President, and we look forward to a productive relationship with whomever the people of South Korea elect to be their next president,” acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.”Ž”The United States continues to be a steadfast ally, friend, and partner to the ROK,” he said, using the acronym for South Korea’s official name, the Republic of Korea. “The US-ROK alliance will continue to be a linchpin of regional stability and security, and we will continue to meet all our alliance commitments, especially with respect to defending against the threat from North Korea.”North Korea’s official news agency noted that her immunity had been stripped, reporting that she “will be receiving (a) full-scale investigation” as a “common criminal.”Political chaosPark’s problems began in October, when revelations emerged about the influence her confidante and adviser Choi Soon-sil had over the President.In December, lawmakers voted to impeach Park by a vote of 234 to 56, stripping away her executive powers. Since then she has remained in the presidential Blue House, but has remained largely out of public view.The court upheld the impeachment because she was judged to have abused her authority in helping Choi raise donations from companies. Full coverageLocal media and opposition parties have accused Choi of abusing her relationship with the president to force companies to donate millions of dollars to foundations she runs.In a televised apology, Park said Choi looked at “some documents” for a certain period of time after Park took office, but didn’t specify what they were.“I am shocked and my heart is breaking for causing public concern,” Park said.Though she never held an official position, revelations showed that Choi was also given advance access to presidential speeches and other documents.Choi is currently on trial for abuse of power and fraud. She denies all charges against her.Park’s final weeks in office were marred by huge demonstrations as hundreds of thousands of South Koreans braved the brutally cold winter temperatures to take to the streets of Seoul and call for her ouster.Park is not the first South Korea president to have faced impeachment. In 2004, late President Roh Moo-hyun was forced out of office for two months. However, the Constitutional Court later restored Roh to power, rejecting charges of abuse of power and mismanagement. Source: CNN Discover more from NewsBreakers
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
What's your reaction?
Excited
0
Happy
0
In Love
0
Not Sure
0
Silly
0
