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South Korean Parliament Votes in Favor of President's Impeachment

© REUTERS / News1People react after impeachment vote on South Korean President Park Geun-hye was passed, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, December 9, 2016. The sign reads "Impeach Park Geun-hye".
People react after impeachment vote on South Korean President Park Geun-hye was passed, in front of the National Assembly in Seoul, South Korea, December 9, 2016. The sign reads Impeach Park Geun-hye. - Sputnik International
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The South Korean parliament has voted in favor on the issue of President Park Geun-hye's impeachment.

People march during a protest calling for South Korean President Park Geun-hye to step down in central Seoul, South Korea, November 30, 2016. The signs read Offender disturbing order of nation, Park Geun-hye. - Sputnik International
Asia
Over 75% of South Korean Citizens Support President’s Impeachment – Poll
In this historic ballot, 234 MPs voted in favor of the impeachment, 56 voted against it in the 300-seat parliament, according to a live feed broadcast by South Korean television channels. Two more MPs abstained from voting, and seven ballots were reported spoilt.

The Constitutional Court will now have to decide whether to uphold the motion or reject it. If the motion is upheld, Park will become South Korea's first democratically elected leader to be removed from office.

A political scandal around the president broke out in late October when media reported that Park allowed Choi Soon-sil, her friend and "shadow adviser," who held no official post, to edit her speeches thus letting her influence the country's policy.

Moreover, Choi was suspected of pressuring South Korean big corporations and extorting money from them for her non-commercial funds.

The situation has triggered protests around the country and the president has been criticized by the country's politicians, including the ones from her own party. The president could be impeached if two-thirds of the 300-seat legislature support the move.

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