S. Korea constitutional court removes president Park Geun-hye

New York [USA], Mar. 10(ANI): South Korea's Constitutional Court has upheld a decision by the country's National Assembly to impeach President Park Guen-hye, adding that an election for her replacement must be held within two months. Park is the first South Korean President to be impeached. Park Geun-hye was impeached over a corruption scandal that has plunged the country into political turmoil. The decision was announced by Justice Lee Jung-mi in a live, national broadcast, reports CNN. Pre-verdict surveys showed that 70 to 80 percent of South Koreans wanted the court to approve Park's impeachment. Park's problems began in October, when revelations emerged about the influence Park's confidante and adviser Choi Soon-sil had over the President. Police issued the "Gabho" emergency order in Seoul ahead of Friday's announcement, the highest level possible. Officers are on standby for expected protests, with 270 units being mobilized -- about 21,000 in total.(ANI)