South Korea’s parliament impeached President Park Geun-hye on Friday amid a corruption scandal that has left her isolated, The Associated Press reported.
The country's Constitutional Court now will have up to 180 days to determine whether to formally end Park's presidency. During that time Park would be suspended as president but not removed, with her duties temporarily transferred to the prime minister until the court reaches a decision on whether her impeachment is constitutional.
Friday was the last day of the current parliamentary session. As lawmakers arrived at the parliament, hundreds of protesters rallied in front of the National Assembly’s main gate to urge impeachment.
Once called the “Queen of Elections” for her ability to win at the ballot box, Park has been battling what prosecutors say was collusion with a longtime friend to extort money from companies and to give that confidante extraordinary sway over government decisions.
Park has publicly apologized over the scandal three times.
Her approval ratings have plunged to 4 percent, the lowest among South Korean leaders since democracy came in the late 1980s.
This is a developing story.
WSBTV
