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WORLD NEWS Monday 13 March 2017

Ousted S. Korea leader arrives

back home, expresses defiance

KIM TONG-HYUNG apologized for putting trust and dozens were injured
Associated Press in her jailed friend, Choi in violent clashes between
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Soon-sil, but strongly de- Park’s supporters and po-
Ousted South Korean Presi- nied any legal wrongdo- lice following the court’s
dent Park Geun-hye ex- ing. ruling on Friday.
pressed defiance toward Youn Kwansuk, the spokes- Park took her time to bid
the corruption allegations man for the liberal Demo- farewell to hundreds of
against her as she vacat- cratic Party, the largest in presidential staff members
ed the presidential palace parliament, called Park’s before leaving the Blue
and returned to her home statement “shocking” and House in a motorcade,
on Sunday, two days after “very regrettable” be- said presidential spokes-
the Constitutional Court re- cause she did not express man Kim Dong-jo.
moved her from office. remorse. “Former President Hundreds of supporters
In her first public com- Park will now be investi- stood near her private
ments since the court’s rul- gated by prosecutors as house for hours waiting
ing, Park said in statement, a civilian and as a crimi- for her to return home. Ousted South Korean President Park Geun-hye smiles as she is
“Although it will take time, nal suspect,” Youn said in They waved the South Ko- greeted by supporters upon her arrival at her private home in
I believe the truth will cer- a statement. “So it’s very rean flag and photos of Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, March 12, 2017.
tainly come out.” regrettable that former Park and her late father, Associated Press
Park will likely face a direct President Park decided to Park Chung-hee, singing unloading a television, Park’s house.
investigation soon by pros- waste her last opportunity the national anthem and washing machine, bed South Korea now has to
ecutors who already con- to come before the nation shouting “Nullify impeach- and other items from trucks elect a new president by
sider her a criminal suspect and show responsibility.” ment!”
over suspicions that she Park no longer has immu- Workers were earlier seen and carrying them into early May.q
colluded with a confidante nity from prosecution and
to extort money and favors may face criminal charges
from companies and al- including extortion, bribery
lowed the friend to secretly and abuse of power.
interfere with state affairs. The Constitutional Court
Upon her return home, Park formally removed her from
was greeted by hundreds office on Friday, uphold-
of supporters who thunder- ing an impeachment mo-
ously chanted her name tion filed by lawmakers in
and waved the South Kore- December that followed
an flag as her bodyguard- weeks of massive protests
flanked black sedan slowly by millions of people call-
rolled onto a path near ing for her ouster.
the house. Park, dressed in The ruling ended a power
a dark blue coat and her struggle that had con-
hair tied in a bun, smiled sumed the nation for
and waved from inside the months and marked a stun-
car. She then stepped out ning downfall for Park, who
and shook hands and ex- convincingly defeated her
changed brief words with liberal opponent in 2012
members of her political with overwhelming support
party before going inside from older South Koreans,
the house. who remembered her dic-
In her statement, which tator father as a hero.
was read to reporters by Her departure from the
Min Kyungwook, a law- presidential Blue House on
maker from her conserva- Sunday evening came a
tive party and her former day after tens of thousands
spokesman, Park also ex- of opponents and sup-
pressed gratitude to her porters divided the streets
supporters and apologized of downtown Seoul with
for “failing to fulfill my duty massive rallies, reflecting a
as president.” nation deeply split over its
Prior to Sunday, she had future. Three people died