South Korea's Constitutional Court Dismisses President Park Geun-hye

The Constitutional Court of South Korea has upheld the parliament's decision to impeach President Park Geun-hye, officially removing her from office. Her dismissal follows the exposure of a political and economic interference scandal. Park Geun-hye was impeached by the South Korean parliament at the end of last year, which has a majority from her conservative party, the Saenuri Party, months after unprecedented protests and demonstrations in South Korea. During this time, Park's supporters also held rallies and gatherings. During a rally by Park's supporters on Friday, at least one participant, who appears to have fallen from a police bus, lost their life. The police stated that this 70-year-old individual was 'likely a supporter of Park Geun-hye.' Deaths during protests in South Korea have been extremely rare since the country's democratic reforms. Protests against Park's government have continued since her election victory in 2013, although the revelation of extensive interference by one of her friends and former advisors in political and economic matters added a new dimension to these protests. Ultimately, the conservative party could not withstand the pressure, and her impeachment was supported by a majority vote. Following the impeachment of the South Korean president, the Prime Minister took over as acting president, but Park Geun-hye still enjoyed immunity and remained at the Blue House, the presidential office and residence. The Constitutional Court's ruling removes her judicial immunity. Consequently, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will remain as acting president until elections are held, which must take place within two months. Despite the presence of the Prime Minister, South Korea's executive system is presidential, and the president is elected for a single five-year term. This is the first time since democratic reforms in South Korea that a president has been removed from office. Park Geun-hye, 65, the daughter of former dictator Park Chung-hee, is accused of colluding with a friend named Choi Soon-sil and one of her former advisors to pressure large companies in the country and obtain financial support for her two political foundations. Park has been accused of soliciting bribes from the head of Samsung Group for government favors, including support for the merger of two Samsung affiliates into one company. Park Geun-hye has denied the charges against her and any illegal actions. During the Constitutional Court's proceedings, protests against the impeached president continued, and her supporters also held demonstrations during this time. The legal removal of Park Geun-hye from the presidency occurs as the situation on the Korean Peninsula faces new crises following North Korea's latest missile tests.