South Korean leader Park Geun-hye became the country’s first president to be ousted by impeachment after a panel of justices on Friday upheld a motion to dismiss her over one of the nation’s biggest influence-peddling scandals.
In a decision televised live from the main court room, the Constitutional Court — an independent body specializing in matters of the constitution — accepted the impeachment motion passed in parliament last year, meaning Park is now removed from office effective immediately.
“She will leave office in disgrace, which is a historic moment as that’s never happened in democratic South Korea,” said Stephen Noerper, senior vice president.
Friday’s ruling now triggers a round of special elections to replace Park within the next 60 days.
