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| South Korea president Park Geun-hye ousted by court | South Korea president Park Geun-hye ousted by court |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has become the country's first democratically elected leader to be forced from office. | South Korea's President Park Geun-hye has become the country's first democratically elected leader to be forced from office. |
| Judges unanimously upheld parliament's decision to impeach Ms Park over her role in a corruption scandal involving her close friend, Choi Soon-sil. | Judges unanimously upheld parliament's decision to impeach Ms Park over her role in a corruption scandal involving her close friend, Choi Soon-sil. |
| She now loses her presidential immunity and could face criminal charges. | She now loses her presidential immunity and could face criminal charges. |
| There have been angry scenes outside the court. Police said two protesters had died. | There have been angry scenes outside the court. Police said two protesters had died. |
| The court ruling is the culmination of months of political turmoil and public protest. An election must now be held within 60 days. | The court ruling is the culmination of months of political turmoil and public protest. An election must now be held within 60 days. |
| Ms Park's office said she would not be leaving the Blue House, South Korea's presidential palace, on Friday nor making any statement. | Ms Park's office said she would not be leaving the Blue House, South Korea's presidential palace, on Friday nor making any statement. |
| Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn has called for calm, saying the government should remain stable to prevent internal conflict from spreading. | Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn has called for calm, saying the government should remain stable to prevent internal conflict from spreading. |
| Why did Park lose her job? | Why did Park lose her job? |
| At the heart of the drama lies the close friendship between the president and Ms Choi. | At the heart of the drama lies the close friendship between the president and Ms Choi. |
| Ms Choi is accused of using her presidential connections to pressure companies to give millions of dollars in donations to non-profit foundations she controlled. | Ms Choi is accused of using her presidential connections to pressure companies to give millions of dollars in donations to non-profit foundations she controlled. |
| Ms Park is alleged to have been personally involved in this, and to have given Ms Choi unacceptable levels of access to official documents. | Ms Park is alleged to have been personally involved in this, and to have given Ms Choi unacceptable levels of access to official documents. |
| Parliament voted to impeach Ms Park in December and the Constitutional Court has since been deciding whether to uphold or overturn this. | Parliament voted to impeach Ms Park in December and the Constitutional Court has since been deciding whether to uphold or overturn this. |
| On Friday, a panel of eight judges ruled Ms Park's actions "seriously impaired the spirit of... democracy and the rule of law". | On Friday, a panel of eight judges ruled Ms Park's actions "seriously impaired the spirit of... democracy and the rule of law". |
| The court said she had broken the law by allowing Ms Choi to meddle in state affairs, and had breached guidelines on official secrets by leaking numerous documents. | The court said she had broken the law by allowing Ms Choi to meddle in state affairs, and had breached guidelines on official secrets by leaking numerous documents. |
| Ms Park had "concealed completely Choi's meddling in state affairs and denied it whenever suspicions over the act emerged and even criticised those who raised the suspicions," it said. | Ms Park had "concealed completely Choi's meddling in state affairs and denied it whenever suspicions over the act emerged and even criticised those who raised the suspicions," it said. |
| But the judges dismissed some charges, including accusations Ms Park had infringed on freedom of the press by creating a media blacklist of cultural figures, and criticism of her response during the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster. | But the judges dismissed some charges, including accusations Ms Park had infringed on freedom of the press by creating a media blacklist of cultural figures, and criticism of her response during the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| What happens now? | What happens now? |
| Ms Park was already suspended from presidential duties, with the prime minister taking over her responsibilities. | Ms Park was already suspended from presidential duties, with the prime minister taking over her responsibilities. |
| But she must now leave office - and her official residence - and a presidential election will be held within the next 60 days. | But she must now leave office - and her official residence - and a presidential election will be held within the next 60 days. |
| She has also lost her presidential immunity so could now face criminal charges over allegations she colluded with Ms Choi. | She has also lost her presidential immunity so could now face criminal charges over allegations she colluded with Ms Choi. |
| What has been the reaction? | What has been the reaction? |
| As the various twists and turns of the scandal came to light public fury across South Korea intensified, with many staging demonstrations calling for her to step down. | As the various twists and turns of the scandal came to light public fury across South Korea intensified, with many staging demonstrations calling for her to step down. |
| The final decision is being celebrated by many, but as the verdict came through angry scenes erupted outside court. Pro-Park protesters - mostly older conservatives - turned on police. Two people believed to be pro-Park died. | The final decision is being celebrated by many, but as the verdict came through angry scenes erupted outside court. Pro-Park protesters - mostly older conservatives - turned on police. Two people believed to be pro-Park died. |
| South Korea's Yon hap news agency reported that one was killed when a loudspeaker fell on them, while an elderly man fell from a police van. | South Korea's Yon hap news agency reported that one was killed when a loudspeaker fell on them, while an elderly man fell from a police van. |
| What does it mean for South Korea? | What does it mean for South Korea? |
| Besides a possible criminal trial for Ms Park, there is also the ongoing prosecution of Ms Choi. | Besides a possible criminal trial for Ms Park, there is also the ongoing prosecution of Ms Choi. |
| The de-facto head of Samsung, Lee Jae-yong, is also on trial for a string of corruption charges linked to the scandal. | The de-facto head of Samsung, Lee Jae-yong, is also on trial for a string of corruption charges linked to the scandal. |
| Analysts say the protests in recent months have sent a strong signal that the close relationship between politicians and the chaebols - large family businesses that dominate the economy - needs to change. | Analysts say the protests in recent months have sent a strong signal that the close relationship between politicians and the chaebols - large family businesses that dominate the economy - needs to change. |
| A new election could change the political landscape of South Korea. But society remains deeply divided. | A new election could change the political landscape of South Korea. But society remains deeply divided. |
| At the scene - Stephen Evans, BBC News, Seoul | At the scene - Stephen Evans, BBC News, Seoul |
| The moment the judgement was announced, there was cheering in the streets. But there is also pro-Park feeling. | The moment the judgement was announced, there was cheering in the streets. But there is also pro-Park feeling. |
| The country is split and nobody quite knows what will happen. One argument is that if a court can remove a president, democracy is not weak. | The country is split and nobody quite knows what will happen. One argument is that if a court can remove a president, democracy is not weak. |
| The outcome is uncertain, but polls indicate a leftward shift. If the government does move to the left, that has consequences for the relationship with North Korea and the United States. | The outcome is uncertain, but polls indicate a leftward shift. If the government does move to the left, that has consequences for the relationship with North Korea and the United States. |
| A leftish government might well re-open the industrial complex just inside North Korea, but with South Korean firms and managers. It might also seek more contact with North Korea, running counter to recent US-South Korean policy. | A leftish government might well re-open the industrial complex just inside North Korea, but with South Korean firms and managers. It might also seek more contact with North Korea, running counter to recent US-South Korean policy. |
| There is also a personal tragedy here. Ms Park is the daughter of Park Chung-hee, the general who seized power in 1961 and who set the country on a route towards industrialisation. He was assassinated, as was her mother. | |
| She has lived an isolated life ever since, even as president. She has relied on her best friend for 40 years - Choi Soon-sil. | She has lived an isolated life ever since, even as president. She has relied on her best friend for 40 years - Choi Soon-sil. |
| The friendship has cost her the presidency and an honourable place in history. It may now put her behind bars. | The friendship has cost her the presidency and an honourable place in history. It may now put her behind bars. |