After arriving at the office, she told reporters she was “sorry”.

Ms Park resisted efforts to question her when she was president, but lost her immunity when judges upheld parliament’s decision to impeach her.

She could be charged for allegedly allowing close friend Choi Soon-sil to extort money from large firms.

Ms Choi has been charged with bribery and corruption.

Prosecutors are expected to hold Ms Park for a marathon questioning session that will last till late in the night. One of her lawyers said a doctor was doing check-ups during breaks “as her health isn’t looking well”.

On Tuesday, Ms Park’s supporters gathered outside her home in an affluent suburb of Seoul, as she was escorted by police to the prosecutors’ office in a short journey covered live on television.

People waved the South Korean flag, a symbol of the pro-Park movement.

“I am sorry to the people. I will faithfully cooperate with questioning,” Ms Park told the media when she arrived.
Ms Park is the first democratically elected leader to be ousted in South Korea.

Thousands of people celebrated in Seoul after her removal from office on 10 March. However, there were also angry protests by her supporters outside the Constitutional Court.

The court ruling was the culmination of months of political turmoil and public protest. An election will now be held by 9 May.

Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is loyal to Ms Park, is currently the acting president.

Why did Park lose her job?
At the heart of the drama lies the close friendship between Ms Park 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 Park, 65, 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.
On 10 March, the Constitutional Court ruled that Ms Park’s actions “seriously impaired the spirit of… democracy and the rule of law”.

Judges 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,” the ruling said.

Sorry is the hardest word. Park Geun-hye used it again today, on the way into her inquisition. She said it nine days ago when she was evicted from the presidential palace – she was sorry that she couldn’t fulfil her presidential duties until the end of her elected term.

And last year, she was “sorry for causing concern among the people”.

But the plethora of apologies still hasn’t added up to an admission of any wrongdoing (beyond being too trusting of those around her).

Even as she said sorry last week, she asserted that her innocence will emerge. Which it may.

One thing had changed slightly in the period since her ousting and today’s appearance before the prosecutor is when she returned home as a private citizen, she was all smiles and defiant.

Today, it was a wan smile – though, guilty or innocent, nobody would relish hours and hours of tough, detailed questions about what dirty deals were done – or not.

What could happen now?
Prosecutors are now questioning Ms Park in what could be a lengthy days-long process.

They had previously accused Ms Park of colluding with Ms Choi, which Ms Park has strenuously denied. She had also previously refused to take part in investigations.

But now that she has lost her presidential immunity, she could be charged for abuse of power and coercion to bribery.

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Source: BBC

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Ms Park arrived at her home in southern Seoul amid waving supporters.

She has been impeached over her role in a corruption scandal involving close friend, Choi Soon-sil.

In her first words since Friday’s ruling, Ms Park said in a statement: “Although it will take time, I believe the truth will certainly come out.”

She also apologised to her supporters for “failing to fulfil my duty as president”.

Ms Park has now lost her immunity and could face criminal proceedings over accusations she allowed Ms Choi to extort money from companies in return for political favours.

Park Geun-hye was ferried to her private residence in Seoul in a black limousine, chased by a posse of journalists on motorbikes. When she arrived, she waved to cheering supporters, smiling broadly, and shook hands with political allies.

She may yet face prosecution and a trial in an ordinary criminal court. Her demise has split the country, with her increasingly vocal supporters saying she is a victim of a political decision.

Her demeanour outside her new residence was upbeat and full of smiles. It was not the demeanour of a disgraced, regretful politician.

Ms Park emerged from her limousine amid a police presence of about 1,000 officers and her security detail had to push back the crowds.

Hwang Kyo-ahn, who is loyal to Ms Park, is now the acting president.

The country’s election commission says a “free and fair” vote will be held by 9 May at the latest.

The early front-runner, human rights lawyer Moon Jae-in, of the Democratic Party, warned Ms Park she “must not destroy or take the national records outside” the Blue House.

Thousands of people took to the streets of central Seoul on Saturday to celebrate Ms Park’s removal, while a large crowd of her supporters occupied a nearby square.

Protests on Friday left two of Ms Park’s supporters dead, with a third suffered a heart attack and died a day later.

Why did Park lose her job?
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 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.
On Friday, the Constitutional Court ruled Ms Park’s actions “seriously impaired the spirit of… democracy and the rule of law”.

Judges 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,” the ruling said.

–

Source: BBC

The post Ousted South Korean leader leaves palace appeared first on Citi 97.3 FM - Relevant Radio. Always.

Judges unanimously upheld Parliament’s decision to impeach Ms Park over her role in a corruption scandal involving close friend Choi Soon-sil.

She now loses her presidential immunity and could face criminal charges.

There have been angry scenes outside the court, as supporters of Ms Park protested against the verdict.

South Korea’s Yonhap news agency reported that one elderly man died after falling out of a police bus and suffering heavy bleeding. Details are still emerging.

The court ruling is the culmination of months of turmoil which brought South Koreans to the streets in protest.

Ms Park has been suspended from presidential duties since December, when parliament voted to impeach her, with the country’s prime minister taking over her responsibilities.

The court decision means South Korea must now elect a new president by early May.

Ms Choi meanwhile has been charged with bribery and corruption for allegedly pressuring big companies to give money in return for government favours. Ms Park has been accused of colluding with her. Both women have denied wrongdoing.

Why did she lose her job?

A panel of eight judges at the country’s top court examined several charges related to the impeachment before finally deciding to uphold her dismissal as president.

It ruled she broke the law by allowing Ms Choi to meddle in state affairs and breached guidelines on official secrets by leaking numerous documents.

Her action “seriously impaired the spirit of… democracy and the rule of law”, said constitutional court chief justice Lee Jung-mi.

The judge added that 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.”

But the court dismissed other charges such as infringement on freedom of press by creating a media blacklist, and inaction during the 2014 Sewol ferry disaster.

What happens now?

Ms Park must now leave office and a presidential election will be called within the next 60 days.

She could also face criminal charges. Prosecutors have already accused her of playing a significant role in Ms Choi’s alleged corruption, but were prevented from ordering her arrest because of her immunity.

What has been the reaction?

The decision has been met largely with jubilation, but also tears.

s 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.

Large crowds of anti-Park activists and Park supporters staged competing demonstrations outside the court building in Seoul on Friday.

What does it mean for South Korea?

The implications are only just becoming clear.

Besides a possible criminal trial for Ms Park, there is also the ongoing prosecution of Ms Choi, while the de-facto head of Samsung Lee Jae-yong is facing a string of corruption charges over his role in 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.

But South Korean society remains deeply divided, with older conservatives continuing to back her while younger liberals staunch opposing her brand of politics.

A new election could change the political landscape of South Korea. The US swiftly responded saying it looked forward to a “productive relationship” with the next president and promised to remain a “steadfast ally”.

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Source: BBC

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