Opponents of President Park Geun-hye gather in the rain during a rally in Seoul, South Korea, on March 1, 2017. Peaceful rallies, which have lasted since a scandal embroiling President Park Geun-hye emerged in late October, have made many South Koreans proud of opening a new chapter in the way to express their opinions. (Xinhua/Lee Sang-ho)
SEOUL, March 8 (Xinhua) -- South Korea's constitutional court said Wednesday that it will make a final ruling on President Park Geun-hye's impeachment later this week.
The ruling on whether to permanently remove Park from office or reinstate her will be made at 11 a.m. local time (0200 GMT) on Friday, the court said on its website.
It will be broadcast live as public attention is centered on the impeachment. The pleading sessions had also been aired live through the court's website.
The motion to impeach President Park was passed on Dec. 9 through the National Assembly by an overwhelming support.
If six out of the eight justices uphold the motion, Park will be forced out of office. If more than three judges reject the bill, Park will be reinstated immediately.
The ruling date was set on Friday as the acting chief justice is scheduled to retire next Monday. Former chief judge retired on Jan. 31.
A presidential election must be held in 60 days if the impeachment is upheld. Park would then be subject to indictment and detention as she loses the immunities as head of state.
Special prosecutors, who had investigated the corruption scandal embroiling President Park for 70 days, identified Park as an accomplice to her longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil for multiple charges including bribery.
Choi is now in custody for meddling in state affairs behind the scenes and peddling undue influence for personal gains.
Related:
Pro- and anti-Park South Koreans rally over presidential impeachment
by Yoo Seungki
SEOUL, March 1 (Xinhua) -- Peaceful rallies, which have lasted since a scandal embroiling President Park Geun-hye emerged in late October, have made many South Koreans proud of opening a new chapter in the way to express their opinions.
The festive scene, however, could come to an end as the streets are increasingly packed with more conservative extremists, who even threaten white terror in an open space. Some of them are conservative Christians and others paid for their presence. Full story
Spotlight: Drawn-out political unrest divides S. Koreans over presidential impeachment
SEOUL, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- A long-drawn-out political unrest in South Korea has been dividing people on the streets, with separate mass rallies held in Seoul on recent weekends to permanently oust or reinstate President Park Geun-hye, who was impeached in the parliament on Dec. 9.
Hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens packed the Gwanghwamun Square on Saturday night to participate in the 15th candlelit rally. The square is just about one km away from the presidential Blue House where President Park is awaiting the constitutional court's ruling on the impeachment motion. Full story
