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03/29/2024 05:19:54 am

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South Korean Lawmakers Vote for President Park Geun-hye's Impeachment

South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye attends the emergency cabinet meeting at the presidential office on December 9, 2016 in Seoul, South Korea

(Photo : Getty Images) South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye attends the emergency cabinet meeting at the presidential office on December 9, 2016 in Seoul, South Korea.

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has made history twice after she became the first female president and the first to be removed from her seat after 234 lawmakers voted to impeach her on Friday.

Geun-hye had been a cause of great skeptism after she was alleged to have been involved in a corruption scandal. Crowds had gathered occasionally outside the Blue House to protest against her governing system, arguing that she and her allies had too much fraud and misused their power.

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Out of 300 votes from her Saenuri party, 234 members favored for her impeachment, 56 were against it, and the rest were spoilt votes. For the motion of her impeachment to be granted, at least 200 votes were needed.

After the verdict, Geun-hye issued out a public apology, adding that her failure to observe the law was inexcusable, according to MailOnline.

"The South Korean nation faces this daring times and I am deeply sorry because of my negligence and lack of moral excellence," Geun-hye said.

The Irish Times reported that as stipulated in South Korea's constitution, she will be temporarily relieved of her executive powers as the consitutional court ratify her impeachment within 180 days to make it permanent. 

In her absence, her duties will be taken over by South Korean Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, who, in a statement, said that he was deeply saddened by the turn-out of events.

 "As one of the president's subordinates, I feel a deep responsibility about the situation we are currently facing," Kyo-ahn said.

If the verdict on her impeachment is granted by the court, Geun-hye will officially be relieved of her seat and a re-election will be carried out within 60 days.

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