South Korean President Park Geun-hye ousted from office by court after impeachment

South Korean President Park Geun-hye has been ousted from office after the country’s Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment.

The ruling follows a corruption scandal that has seen the country’s first female leader accused of “gravely” violating the law and constitution.

The scandal revolves around Ms Park’s friendship with Choi Soon-sil, who is said to have been able to access sensitive government information without official permission.

South Korea must now hold an election within two months to choose Ms Park’s successor.

Her office said Ms Park would not be leaving the presidential Blue House immediately, but aides are at her southern Seoul home preparing for her return.

Two people died during protests following the court’s decision, in which an eight-judge panel said the president had abused her post and authority for Choi’s benefit.

Acting Chief Justice Lee Jung-mi said: "The benefits of protecting the constitution that can be earned by dismissing the defendant are overwhelmingly big.

"Hereupon, in a unanimous decision by the court panel, we issue a verdict: We dismiss the defendant, President Park Geun-hye."

Ms Park’s party said it “humbly accepts” the ruling and that it feels responsible for her downfall.

• How did this all come about?

Politicians in South Korea voted to impeach Ms Park in December in the wake of mass protests following accusations of corruption.

It has been alleged that Choi, who had no official role in the administration, pulled the strings from the shadows.

Ms Park and Choi met in the 1970s through Choi’s father, a religious cult leader.

It is claimed that Choi has advised the president on government policy, as well as using her relationship with the president to win special favours for her daughter. Choi is also said to have used her influence to pressure businesses to donate to non-profit foundations she helped create and then looted for her own use.

Lee Jae-yong, the de-facto Samsung boss, has also been linked to the scandal and has been arrested on bribery charged, which he denies.

• What did the court say?

In a nationally televised ruling watched by millions, South Korea’s Constitutional Court said the president had abused her position and violated the constitution and other laws.

The judges said she had “betrayed public trust”, concealed Choi’s interference in state affairs and denied and criticised speculation about her friend’s actions.

They concluded Ms Park had had a presidential adviser pass on official documents with sensitive information to Choi in violation of a law that requires civil servants to keep official secrets.

Ms Park had initially promised to cooperate in an investigation, but then refused to undergo questioning by prosecutors and let authorities search her presidential compound.

• What has the reaction been to the ruling?

Ahead of the verdict, polling suggested 70% to 80% of South Koreans wanted the court to approve the president’s impeachment.

Thousands of people, both pro and anti-Park, gathered on the streets around the court and in a huge public square in Seoul ahead of the ruling.

Many of Ms Park's supporters reacted angrily to the verdict, shouting and hitting police officers with flagpoles and climbing on buses the police used to create a perimeter protecting the court.

Two people died in the protests, including a man in his 70s, believed to be a supporter of Ms Park, who died from head injuries after falling from a police bus in front of the court.

South Korean police and hospital officials said about 30 protesters and police officers were injured in the clashes.

South Korea's acting head of state, Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn, pleaded with citizens to end the confrontation.

One of Ms Park's lawyers told the court last month there will be "a rebellion and blood will drench the asphalt" if Ms Park was booted from office, while many participants at anti-Park rallies have said they would stage a "revolution" if the court rejected her impeachment.

Many South Koreans celebrated the president's removal by eating chicken - her opponents have long given her the nickname "Chicken Geun-hye" because her family name rhymes with chicken in Korean and as an affront to her intelligence. In Korea, "chicken head" is an insult meaning an idiot.

• What happens now?

While dealing with protests and deep divides within the nation, South Korea must now hold an election within two months.

Liberal Moon Jae-in, who lost to Ms Park in the 2012 election, currently enjoys a comfortable lead in opinion polls.

Whoever becomes the next leader will take over a country facing a hostile North Korea, a stagnant economy and deep social and political divides.

As for Ms Park, prosecutors can summon, question and possibly arrest her.

Her critics want to see Ms Park appear on TV dressed in prison garb, handcuffed and bound like others involved in the scandal.

The United States said the removal of Ms Park is a domestic issue that does not affect its strong alliance with the country.

Japan's top diplomat said the country will continue to work with a South Korean government led by Ms Park's successor.