[Photo by Yoo Dae-gil = dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
Security was heavy around South Korea's constitutional courts Friday as President Park Geun-hye waits for a historic verdict on whether she should be ousted for her role in a corruption scandal.
More than 20,000 riot police armed with water cannons and tear gas vehicle were mobilized to stand guard along the road leading to the court, which is about two kilometers (1.2 miles) away from the presidential Blue House.
Separated by a police barricade at an intersection near to the court, thousands of supporters and opponents of the disgraced president rallied, waiting for a verdict.
[Press Pool]
Scores of police buses maintained a tight blockade around the court as anti-Park protesters shouted slogans demanding Park's arrest. They threatened to organize a popular uprising if the court refuses to endorse Park's impeachment.
Opponents shouting "No impeachment" waved national flags, warning of bloody protests if Park is ousted. The scene was televised live, reflecting enormous public interest.
If the court endorses impeachment, Park should immediately leave the presidential office, paving the way for a presidential election within 60 days. If not, she will be allowed to serve out her five-year-term which ends in February next year.
Park was impeached by parliament on December 9 at the height of anti-government protests that have seen millions of citizens taking to the streets in an unprecedented demonstration of people power.
Since late October, the scandal has put South Korea into a political quagmire, paralyzing state affairs and aggravating economic woes. But Park, who took office in early 2013 as South Korea's first female president, has refused to step down by herself.
Park faces charges that she violated the people's sovereignty and the rule of law, abused her power, infringed on the freedom of the press, neglected her duty to protect the right to life, and took part in bribery and other crimes.
She is accused of allowing her friend Choi Soon-sil -- without any government post or security clearance -- to meddle in important state affairs. Choi is on trial for siphoning off money from two public foundations created with cash donations from dozens of conglomerates, while Park's aides have been charged with peddling influence to collect money from businessmen.
Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
