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South Korea’s Constitutional Court upholds impeachment of President Park

The early presidential elections will be held within 60 days, most likely on May 9

South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty Images

South Korea’s President Park Geun-hye

© South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty Images

SEOUL, March 10. /TASS/. South Korea’s Constitutional Court has upheld the impeachment of scandal-hit President Park Geun-hye.

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South Korea parliament votes for impeachment of President Park

Friday is Park’s final day in office. Under the ruling, broadcast nationwide, Park will be stripped of presidential immunity and will have to vacate the Blue House state residence in downtown Seoul.

The early presidential elections will be held within 60 days, most likely on May 9.

Park, South Korea’s first female president, is deprived of all her benefits: life pension in the amount of 70% of salary ($10,400), three assistants, personal driver and free medical care in state clinics. She will be under protection of guards for five years instead of ten years.

The former president will also lose immunity from criminal prosecution. South Korea’s prosecutors will be able to question her on many issues, including the high-profile corruption scandal involving her close friend Choi Soon-sil and Samsung's de facto head Lee Jae-Yong. Prosecutors believe that the president could have been implicated in this criminal activity. Earlier Park refused to cooperate with investigators accusing them of bias and implementing a "political order."

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