South Korea's top court has unaniminously ruled to formally end impeached Park Geun-hye's presidency over a corruption scandal that has plunged the country into political turmoil.
The Constitutional Court's ruling on Friday sparked violent protests from Park's supporters, two of whom later succumbed to their wounds following clashes with police outside the building in downtown Seoul, according to authorities.
South Korean President Park permanently dismissed from office
Dozens of protesters and police officers were also wounded in the scuffles.
In contrast, tens of thousands of South Koreans occupied a square in front of an old palace in the capital to celebrate Park's ousting.
The ruling opens Park, who no longer has immunity as a president, up to possible criminal proceedings - prosecutors have already named her a criminal suspect.
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: The day Park Geun-hye was ousted
It also marks the first time a South Korean president has been ousted before the end of their term since democracy replaced dictatorship in the late 1980s.
Election law now requires a snap poll to be held within 60 days.
Park, 65, has been accused of colluding with a friend, Choi Soon-sil, and a former presidential aide, both of whom have been on trial, to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.
AL JAZEERA'S ROB MCBRIDE, IN SEOUL:
On the upcoming election:
It opens up all sorts of interesting prospects and possibilities.
We have had in Park a second conservative president, and nearly 10 years of a conservative occupant of the Blue House.
There is now a real feeling amongst many of the people who called for her impeachment, this younger generation engaged in politics that we’ve seen come out that they could be providing a kind of momentum that might see a liberal being elected to the president of South Korea.
That could alter the whole geopolitical make-up of this part of the world, in particular the relationship with North Korea, and this scares many pro-Park people, many of the hawkish, more conservative people here who worry that any type of trying to opening up dialogue with North Korea is counterproductive in the carrot and stick approach - what they advocate is basically the stick with North Korea and to be tough with them.
On North Korea's reaction:
In North Korea the court's ruling has not gone unnoticed.
It has been announced on the evening newscast that Park - with some relish it has to be said -is to be dumped out of office and according to North Korean television could well be treated no better than a common criminal in court.
She is also accused of soliciting bribes from the head of the Samsung Group for government favours including the backing of a merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015 that was seen to support the succession of control over the country's largest "chaebol" conglomerate.
Park has denied any wrongdoing, but apologised for putting trust in her friend.
Park's action had "seriously impaired the spirit of ... democracy and the rule of law," said constitutional court chief justice Lee Jung-Mi. "President Park Geun-hye ... has been dismissed."
Prosecutors have arrested and indicted a slew of high-profile figures over the scandal, including Park's confidante Choi Soon-sil, top Park administration officials and Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong.
But Park has avoided a direct investigation thanks to a law that gives a sitting president immunity from prosecution for most of alleged crimes.
Since she's now no longer in power, prosecutors can summon, question and possibly arrest her.
Park will not vacate the official residence of the president of South Korea, the Blue House, on Friday as her aides are preparing for her return to her private home in southern Seoul.
She was not planning any statement on Friday, the Blue House said.
"That's been one of the uncertainties today because we are in unchartered territory," Al Jazeera's Rob McBride, reporting fromLive
al jazeera
NEWSSOUTH KOREA10 HOURS AGO
Park Geun-hye fired as court upholds impeachment
Celebrations after court upholds President Park Geun-hye's impeachment, but two die after protests against her removal.
Supporters and opponents of the president have rallied for months in Seoul [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters]
South Korea's top court has unaniminously ruled to formally end impeached Park Geun-hye's presidency over a corruption scandal that has plunged the country into political turmoil.
The Constitutional Court's ruling on Friday sparked violent protests from Park's supporters, two of whom later succumbed to their wounds following clashes with police outside the building in downtown Seoul, according to authorities.
South Korean President Park permanently dismissed from office
Dozens of protesters and police officers were also wounded in the scuffles.
In contrast, tens of thousands of South Koreans occupied a square in front of an old palace in the capital to celebrate Park's ousting.
The ruling opens Park, who no longer has immunity as a president, up to possible criminal proceedings - prosecutors have already named her a criminal suspect.
REPORTER'S NOTEBOOK: The day Park Geun-hye was ousted
It also marks the first time a South Korean president has been ousted before the end of their term since democracy replaced dictatorship in the late 1980s.
Election law now requires a snap poll to be held within 60 days.
Park, 65, has been accused of colluding with a friend, Choi Soon-sil, and a former presidential aide, both of whom have been on trial, to pressure big businesses to donate to two foundations set up to back her policy initiatives.
AL JAZEERA'S ROB MCBRIDE, IN SEOUL:
On the upcoming election:
It opens up all sorts of interesting prospects and possibilities.
We have had in Park a second conservative president, and nearly 10 years of a conservative occupant of the Blue House.
There is now a real feeling amongst many of the people who called for her impeachment, this younger generation engaged in politics that we’ve seen come out that they could be providing a kind of momentum that might see a liberal being elected to the president of South Korea.
That could alter the whole geopolitical make-up of this part of the world, in particular the relationship with North Korea, and this scares many pro-Park people, many of the hawkish, more conservative people here who worry that any type of trying to opening up dialogue with North Korea is counterproductive in the carrot and stick approach - what they advocate is basically the stick with North Korea and to be tough with them.
On North Korea's reaction:
In North Korea the court's ruling has not gone unnoticed.
It has been announced on the evening newscast that Park - with some relish it has to be said -is to be dumped out of office and according to North Korean television could well be treated no better than a common criminal in court.
She is also accused of soliciting bribes from the head of the Samsung Group for government favours including the backing of a merger of two Samsung affiliates in 2015 that was seen to support the succession of control over the country's largest "chaebol" conglomerate.
Park has denied any wrongdoing, but apologised for putting trust in her friend.
Park's action had "seriously impaired the spirit of ... democracy and the rule of law," said constitutional court chief justice Lee Jung-Mi. "President Park Geun-hye ... has been dismissed."
Prosecutors have arrested and indicted a slew of high-profile figures over the scandal, including Park's confidante Choi Soon-sil, top Park administration officials and Samsung heir Lee Jae-yong.
But Park has avoided a direct investigation thanks to a law that gives a sitting president immunity from prosecution for most of alleged crimes.
Since she's now no longer in power, prosecutors can summon, quest
