Two killed in clashes with police after South Kore
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Posted On: 03/10/2017 7:44:32 AM
Two killed in clashes with police after South Korean president forced from office
Two were killed in clashes in South Korea today as the country’s president was forced from office over a corruption scandal.
The Constitutional Court formally removed impeached President Park Geun-hye in a stunning fall from grace for the country’s first female leader.
The ruling sparked protests from hundreds of her supporters.
Two died in clashes with police outside the court.
Park becomes South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be forced from office, capping months of turmoil over a corruption scandal that also landed the head of the Samsung conglomerate in jail.
A snap presidential election will be held within 60 days.
Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn called for calm, saying the government should remain stable to prevent internal conflict from spreading.
Following the verdict Park’s spokesman said she would not leave the presidential Blue House residence today.
Park was stripped of her powers after parliament voted to impeach her but has remained in the president’s official compound.
The court’s acting chief judge, Lee Jung-mi, said Park had violated the constitution and law “throughout her term”.
“The removal of the claimee from office is overwhelmingly to the benefit of the protection of the constitution... We remove President Park Geun-hye from office,” Lee told the hearing.
Park, 65, no longer has immunity as president, and could now face criminal charges over bribery, extortion and abuse of power.
Park was accused of colluding with her friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.
The court said Park had “completely hidden the fact of (Choi’s) interference with state affairs”.
Park was also accused of soliciting bribes from the head of the Samsung Group for government favours.
Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee has been accused of bribery and embezzlement in connection with the scandal and is in detention. His trial began yesterday. He and Samsung have denied wrongdoing.
The ruling marks a dramatic fall from power for the daughter of Cold War military dictator Park Chung-hee. Both of her parents were assassinated.
Hundreds of thousands of people have for months been gathering at peaceful rallies in Seoul every weekend to call for her to step down.
This morning hundreds of Park’s supporters tried to break through police barricades outside the court. Police said one 72-year-old man was taken to hospital with a head injury and died. The circumstances of the second death were being investigated. Six people were injured, protest organisers said.
Police blocked the main thoroughfare running through downtown Seoul in anticipation of bigger protests.
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Two were killed in clashes in South Korea today as the country’s president was forced from office over a corruption scandal.
The Constitutional Court formally removed impeached President Park Geun-hye in a stunning fall from grace for the country’s first female leader.
The ruling sparked protests from hundreds of her supporters.
Two died in clashes with police outside the court.
Park becomes South Korea’s first democratically elected leader to be forced from office, capping months of turmoil over a corruption scandal that also landed the head of the Samsung conglomerate in jail.
A snap presidential election will be held within 60 days.
Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn called for calm, saying the government should remain stable to prevent internal conflict from spreading.
Following the verdict Park’s spokesman said she would not leave the presidential Blue House residence today.
Park was stripped of her powers after parliament voted to impeach her but has remained in the president’s official compound.
The court’s acting chief judge, Lee Jung-mi, said Park had violated the constitution and law “throughout her term”.
“The removal of the claimee from office is overwhelmingly to the benefit of the protection of the constitution... We remove President Park Geun-hye from office,” Lee told the hearing.
Park, 65, no longer has immunity as president, and could now face criminal charges over bribery, extortion and abuse of power.
Park was accused of colluding with her friend, Choi Soon-sil, to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.
The court said Park had “completely hidden the fact of (Choi’s) interference with state affairs”.
Park was also accused of soliciting bribes from the head of the Samsung Group for government favours.
Samsung Group leader Jay Y. Lee has been accused of bribery and embezzlement in connection with the scandal and is in detention. His trial began yesterday. He and Samsung have denied wrongdoing.
The ruling marks a dramatic fall from power for the daughter of Cold War military dictator Park Chung-hee. Both of her parents were assassinated.
Hundreds of thousands of people have for months been gathering at peaceful rallies in Seoul every weekend to call for her to step down.
This morning hundreds of Park’s supporters tried to break through police barricades outside the court. Police said one 72-year-old man was taken to hospital with a head injury and died. The circumstances of the second death were being investigated. Six people were injured, protest organisers said.
Police blocked the main thoroughfare running through downtown Seoul in anticipation of bigger protests.
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