South Korea's Constitutional Court removed President Park Geun- hye from office over a graft scandal involving the country's conglomerates at a time of rising tensions with North Korea and China.
Park becomes South Korea's first democratically elected leader to be forced from office, capping months of paralysis and turmoil over the corruption scandal that also landed the head of the Samsung conglomerate in detention and on trial. A snap presidential election will be held within 60 days while the prime minister has taken over her responsibilities.
What are the allegations against President Park?
President Park is accused of letting a personal friend meddle in state affairs , triggering her approval rating to plummet to an all- time low of just 5 per cent. Choi Soon-sil and two presidential aides face charges of fraud, coercion and abuse of power over allegations she used her connections to President Park to squeeze money out of businesses.
She allegedly put pressure on firms to donate to not-for-profit organisations, whose funds she then skimmed for personal use.
Park is accused of helping Choi in this process by ordering the aides to pass on dozens of sensitive documents to her without security clearance.
Country worth of emulation
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