Park Geun Hye officially removed from office, first SK president to be impeached

The court unanimously voted to impeach Park Geun-hye and South Korea now has 60 days to elect a new leader.  Judge Lee Jung-mi read the verdict live on television this morning, "President Park Geun-hye has been dismissed.  Her actions betrayed the country's confidence, democracy, and the rule of law, which cannot be tolerated."  Park Geun-hye now has to immediately forfeit executive immunity to criminal indictment.  

Yonhap News via Naver: 'Currently, President Park Geun-hye officially removed from office... unanimous decision by the court

1. [+43,901, -514] South Korea, manse!

2. [+32,572, -439] Everyone, we've won

3. [+31,060, -379] Justice is alive!!!!!!!!!!!!

4. [+26,713, -371] Hooray for South Korea~~~~~

5. [+20,697, -285] Justice has come to us!

6. [+7167,-115] I'm really in tears!  Now let's properly vote for the next president!

7. [+7271, -243] This is the difference between President Roh Moo-hyun and Park Geun-hye

(t/n: Former president Roh Moo-hyun was embroiled in a corruption scandal and later committed suicide by jumping from a cliff. He left a note apologizing for making many people suffer.)

8. [+6008, -108] Huge celebration!!  Park Geun-hye is removed from office

9. [+5714, -91] I'm crying.  Judge Lee Jung-mi's remarks today are so refreshing

News 1 via Naver: Currently "Court unanimously decides for impeachment"

1. [+45,008, -347] Manse South Korea!!!!!!!!!!!!

2. [+28,648, -234] Manse

3. [+27,570, -280] That's the end for her!  South Korea, hurrah!

4. [+21,801, -212] Nice!!!

5. [+17,761, -232] Ohㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

6. [+6308, -52] I agree with impeachment~!!!!  Scream it with me~~!!!ㅋㅋㅋㅋ

7. [+6117, -46] I'm crying!!  Spring is coming..

8. [+5916, -44] Korea, the court, everyone, you've all worked hard!!!!

Source: Yonhap News via Naver

1. [+18,377, -185] Thank you for the unanimous decision.

2. [+16,198, -186] Lee Jung-mi.. this must be what a girl crush is... 

3. [+12,219, -180] Park Geun-hye divorced South Korea and remarried to prison!!!!

4. [+9666, -122] Those are the right words!

5. [+7620, -103] Good

6. [+2568, -23] Lee Jung-mi looked very nervous at first... this must be that push and pull...

7. [+1713, -28] Justice is alive

8. [+1450, -19] What a breath of fresh air

Source: Herald Economy via Naver

1. [+10,562, -121] Manse...

2. [+8259, -98] Justice wins!

3. [+7801, -92] South Korea, manse

4. [+6975, -83] What a great result, kindness is alive!!!!

5. [+6935, -82] Now let's pick a proper president!

6. [+1187, -16] Cheers South Korea!!!!

7. [+1140, -21] Now let's lock her up

8. [+1117, -24] JTBC's the one who got her to be impeached...

Source: Yonhap News "Park Geun-hye dismissed... judges decide for impeachment 8-0"

1. [+43,561, -474] Hurray South Korea

2. [+34,166, -439] It was 8-0 Geun-hye-yaㅋㅋㅋ

3. [+25,639, -412] ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ

4. [+24,852, -371] Everyone make some noise~~~~

5. [+23,487, -361] Manse

6. [+5512, -73] Justice is served.

7. [+5206, -70] South Korea, manse

8. [+4931, -66] This is a historical day for South Korea, let's remember this day

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Pyo Chang Won suspended for controversy over nude painting of Park Geun Hye

Last month, Pyo Chang Won hosted an art exhibition in the lobby of the National Assembly building.  A painting titled "Dirty Sleep" which shows President Park Geun Hye in the nude lying next to Choi Soon Sil was featured in the exhibition and is said to be a parody of Edouard Manet's "Olympia". 

Conservative supporters of Park were arrested by police at the exhibition on the chargers of damaging property as they took down the painting and threw it on the floor.  The opposition and ruling party were critical of Pyo with some saying the painting "sexually objectified" women and called for the Democratic Party to apologize.

In the face of criticism, Pyo Chang Won said the exhibition should be respected in terms of freedom of speech, but that he will take responsibility for the controversy.  "It surely does not suit my taste.  But I believe it is within the boundary of the freedom of arts.  I do not intend to intervene, obstruct, oppose, or disrupt mockery, caricature, parody, or satire against me.  In the same manner, we should respect criticism and satire of public figures including the president, politicians and other people with authority."

The artist, Lee Ku Young, defended the work and said in a radio interview, "A president of a country is an obvious target of satire".  The exhibition was planned by 20 artists who were on an arts blacklist for their opposition to the government. (Source)

YTN via Daum: Democratic Party suspends Pyo Chang Won for six months over 'nude painting controversy'

1. [+13,091, -848] This isn't right.  Why is the Democratic Party still being wary of the Saenuri Party.  Pathetic of them

2. [+10,778, -558] Aigoo... they've gone crazy..

3. [+10,316, -597] Venus de Milo is banned for display because of "sexually objectifying" women. Is this what you call a country? They seem to be living in a country to themselves.  How funny.

4. [+4042, -171] For a problem that will just flow right through the Saenuri members, I don't understand why they have to take it as far as to giving a disciplinary action.  Is the Democratic Party just following their orders?  What's the reason for them being pushed around by the Saenuri Party every time?????????

5. [+3936, -177] Gae-nuri doesn't even have near 100 seats, do they really have to watch out for them?  Let's kick out Kim Jintae for good.

6. [+3519, -163] Such bullshit... This is something that wouldn't even be a controversy in other countries... It's the presidential elections so I'm not going to write a hate comment.

7. [+3492, -162] This is unfair, retract the disciplinary action!!

8. [+3146, -139] What crime has he done?

9. [+2892, -129] Ah fuck, this is crazy!  What are they trying to do?

10. [+2720, -112] What bullshit is this

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Park Geun Hye's supporters rally in Gangnam demanding to reverse her impeachment

A rally of people opposing the impeachment of Park Geun Hye gathered in Gangnam district.  They expressed their dissatisfaction with the investigation, the impeachment, and the media.  For instance, one of the leaders accused JTBC of lying and manipulating the tablet that was found, which was core to the beginning of this scandal.  Most of the participants at this rally were elderly people (60s to 70s) but there were also some people in their 20s and 30s, as well as children with their parents.  The group of people protesting for the dismissal of impeachment plan to rally every weekend as well in Gwanghwamun Square (where the candlelight rallies take place).

Newsis via Naver: 'Hand the investigation to the police'... conservative group rallies in Gangnam district against special investigation team

1. [+11763, -1784] You were the ones to ruin the country, I'd like to hand you all over to the police

2. [+9920, -1430] Reporter!! Please fix the article's title. Calling ParkSaMo (Park Geun Hye supporters) conservatives is an embarrassment to conservatives... Please change 'conservative' into 'ParkSaMo'.

3. [+9449, -1511] What right do these crazed people have to lift the Korean flag?

4. [+7629, -1265] The police don't have an investigation though?ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ This is what it's like to be dumb. It's a bunch of people with no brains gathering together to stir up those that do have a brainㅋㅋㅋㅋ

5. [+7914, -1585] If you're at that age, you should at least act right ㅋㅋ

6. [+2075, -324] This is how Park Geun Hye's ridiculous government came together. The current situation is so shameful

7. [+2064, -334] If you care about the country at all, please come to your senses. Because of you guys, Ms. Park's deluding herself. She's going to think she's done nothing wrong.. tsk tsk

8. [+2028, -331] Seeing her face really makes things feel bleak. I'm reporting them for disrespecting the Korean flag.

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Park Geun Hye claims she was 'set up', denies all allegations in massive corruption scandal

Summary:

Park Geun Hye was in seclusion for weeks since Dec. 9th when her powers were suspended under the National Assembly's impeachment bill.  On January 1st, she called a press conference where she answered questions from reporters and denied all allegations in the massive corruption scandal.

• Denied playing a key role in pressuring Samsung and other big corporations in pouring money into non-profit foundations controlled by Choi Soon Sil. 
• Insisted that she is a victim of a malicious campaign to smear her name. "Whatever decision we made, it was in the best interest of the country.  I am frustrated by all the distorted facts, incorrect news reports and lies..."
• Regarding the Missing 7 Hours in which Park Geun Hye was 'missing' during the Sewol Ferry Disaster in 2014, she denied that she was receiving a cosmetic procedure done. "How can that be possible? I went back in my memories and can only recall people visiting me to touch up my hair and to bring me medicine."
• Denied that Choi Soon Sil was controlling her and insisted that she is only an 'acquaintance' and that Park Geun Hye ran the country based on her own philosophy and conviction. 
• Several witnesses have told prosecutors that they were told to appoint individuals in government without proper examination, and that Choi Soon Sil had to look at which officials were appointed for which positions.
• Choi Soon Sil also ran two non-profit foundations under the backing of the Blue House.  They were staffed with her 'drinking buddies', had huge budgets, and were allowed to revise presidential speeches.
• Denied blacklist of over 9,000 cultural figures seen as 'hostile' to the government, says she has no knowledge of this
• Denied addiction to placenta injections, says "It is embarrassing to reveal each and every medication or pill I take.  I've never inflicted any damage to the country with that.  Those [injections] can be received to relieve fatigue." (Source)

TL;DR Basically, Park Geun Hye came out suddenly after weeks of being in seclusion and denied every allegation that the whole country has been making against her, arguing that she was 'set up' and giving contradictory excuses to the allegations.  

Yonhap News via Naver: President "Completely set up... False information about Sewol"

1. [+41278, -1742] She has an exceptional talent in speaking in a way that will anger the citizens.

2. [+32454, -1501] All the children up in the skies and in the water are crying.

3. [+29100, -1368] She said this bullshit 2 months ago too it's all lies

4. [+9496, -540] Are you sick in the head??

5. [+8010, -494] Being addicted to drugs makes people go crazy

6. [+7743, -420] If you really think you did nothing wrong, then why did you avoid the investigation?

7. [+6902, -475] Aiyoo, this imbecile...

8. [+6667, -435] No answer to this. She's just filled with nonsense excuses with no proof

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