South Korean president impeached; two dead in riots

South Korean President Park Guen-hye was ruled by the country’s Constitution Court to be removed from office. In December, Park was impeached on charges of soliciting bribes from large businesses and scheming with longtime confidante Choi Soon-sil. Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn will serve as the acting president while a new presidential election is held. Riots broke out after the court decided to uphold the impeachment of President Park. Over 100 Park supporters swarmed to the Constitution Court to protest and approximately 21,000 police officers were sent out on standby. Two people died in the riots while 30 protestors and police officers were injured. Park is the first democratically elected president to be removed from office in South Korea and can now face criminal prosecution.