South Korea's president loses impeachment vote

A Bill to impeach President Park Geune Hye of South Korea has passed by 234 votes to 56, with 9 invalid votes and abstentions. This means enough members of Park's own Saenuri party had voted against her to bring about her impeachment-a measure of the damage inflicted on her reputation since the scandal surfaced less than two months ago.

The Bill needed the support of 200 of the 300 members to pass. Park's executive powers have been immediately suspended and transferred to the prime minister, Hwang Kyo-Ahn. But the vote doesn't mean she will vacate the presidential blue house immediately.

Her fate will rather lie in the hands of nine judges at the country's constitutional court who will have up to 80 days to rule on whether the impeachment vote is valid or not.

Although the entire court bench  was appointed by Park and her conservative predecessor, the strength of public anger towards her means she would be wrong to believe they could save her presidency.

"I believe the judges will make a decision based on their love of the country and conscience" said Kim Jong Dae, ho served on the bench between 2006 and 2012. "They are also people of Republic of Korea breathing the same air as all of us"

The constitutional court will determine whether the Parliament followed due process, and whether there are sufficient grounds for impeachment, a process that will involve arguments from both sides in public hearings. If they ratify the vote, Park will formally resign and a new South Koerean President will be elected within 60 days.