S Korea Parliament Impeaches Scandal-hit President Park Geun-Hye

“Obviously, we’ve been following it closely”, Toner told reporters of developments in Seoul. Now, unlike the US system, there’s actually no trial. -Korean alliance as a lynchpin of regional security.

A parliamentary official reported the motion to a plenary session, which means an impeachment vote must take place between 24 and 72 hours.

The president’s executive powers, which include serving as the commander in chief of the military, have been transferred temporarily to the prime minister, Hwang Kyo-ahn.

“She really has been very tone-deaf to what the people want”, said Professor Sean O’Malley, a political scientist at Dongeo University.

Protesters occupy major streets in the city center for a rally against South Korean President Park Geun-hye last weekend.

December 9: The National Assembly impeaches Park, easily clearing the two-thirds majority needed.

A ruling could take up to six months, during which time Park will remain in the presidential Blue House – a leader in name only. Her presidential term is scheduled to end in February 2018.

While she retains the presidency, Park can not be charged with a criminal offence except insurrection or treason, but she would lose that immunity once she leaves office. Park says she will accept a direct investigation into her actions.

Bong Youngshik, the director of the Foreign Policy studies programme at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said there was no guarantee Park would be permanently removed from office. The impeachment against President Park should be based upon concrete evidence and a “serious breach of the constitution and law”.

South Korea’s parliament voted on Friday to impeach President Park Geun-hye over an influence-peddling scandal.

Q. What are the prime minister’s powers and limits as acting president? In a nationwide address following the vote, he said, “The world is watching South Korea right now”.

This is a historic day in South Korea.

Park was embroiled in a huge political scandal following accusations that her close confidante, Choe Soon-sil, used Park to gain influence.

The Defense Ministry said there were no suspicious activities by North Korea. “Then, a constitutional court including justices appointed by Park would have to approve the impeachment”.

Park has stopped attending Cabinet and presidential staff meetings. If it passes, the Constitutional Court would be required to rule within 180 days.

Park has not commented publicly on the impeachment vote.

It was filed last week with the 171 signatures of all opposition and independent lawmakers – leaving it 29 short of the two-thirds majority. With a requirement for 200 members to invoke impeachment, members of the assembly say they expect to pick up the 29 votes to immediately remove her from office after the vote.

She’s also under a cloud for allegedly colluding with her friend to force major South Korean companies like Hyundai and Samsung to pony up millions to personally enrich the friend. She’s been mired in a corruption scandal that has sent millions of people into the streets to protest.

More than 1,500 protesters massed in front of the National Assembly building to urge politicians to impeach.

If the move is successful, Park would be the first democratically elected South Korean leader to leave office early.