Citizens hail the impeachment of President Park Geun-hye after watching a parliamentary vote through a giant ad screen.[Photo by Yoo Dae-kil = dbeorlf123@ajunews.com]
South Korea's impeached President Park Geun-hye was virtually held hostage Friday in the corner of her sprawling residence, staying away from all state affairs and relinquishing her duty to the prime minister.
After parliament voted for her impeachment, Park, who took office in early 2013 as South Korea's first female president, will not be allowed to talk with cabinet members or see foreign visitors.
Still, she can live safely in the heavily guarded Blue House under the care of chefs, maids, hair designers and other assistant staff at least until the Constitutional Court completes its review on the legitimacy of impeachment. Her paycheck will remain unchanged, although there will be a cut in expenses.
By law, former presidents are provided with a pension, secretaries, drivers and medical coverage. However, Park will lose such benefits except for security protection if the court approves her impeachment.
Park's life outside the presidential office will be tougher than she thinks because many citizens want her punishment and arrest for bribery and abuse of power.
More embarrassing is that her crony and spiritual partner, Choi Soon-sil, and other confidants who used to uphold Park as willing tools have landed in prison or will stay away from a dethroned boss.
Some political pundits argue that to avoid a humiliating situation, Park has decided to wait for the court's decision, resisting popular demands for her early and voluntary resignation. In a recent survey, pollster Real Meter said 78.2 percent of voters supported Park's impeachment.
Aju News Lim Chang-won = cwlim34@ajunews.com
reporter
Park Sae-jin
swatchsjp@ajunews.com
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