S Korean House votes to impeach Prez, PM in charge

Seoul: South Korean lawmakers on Friday voted to impeach President Park Geun-Hye stripping away her sweeping executive powers over a corruption scandal.

The National Assembly ballot transferred Ms Park’s authority to the Prime Minister, pending a decision by the Constitutional Court on whether to ratify the decision and permanently remove the President.

The impeachment motion accused Ms Park of constitutional and criminal violations, mostly relating to her close friend Choi Soon-sil. Dozens of companies donated a total of $65 million to two foundations Choi controls, investigators say.

The impeachment leaves South Korea facing political anxiety and policy paralysis.

“I am so sorry for all South Koreans that I created this national chaos with my carelessness,” Ms Park said in a televised statement after the vote. “But we should not let our guard down for a single minute, given the grave situation we face at home and abroad from our economy to the national defence.”

“In this time of uncertainty, the lives of our people should never be disregarded,” she said, calling on the government to minimise any fallout from the power vacuum.