Saenuri Party

South Korean lawmakers on Dec. 9 impeached President Park Geun-hye, a stunning and swift fall for the country's first female leader amid protests that drew millions into the streets in united fury.

BELGRADE - South Korean lawmakers on Friday voted overwhelmingly to impeach President Park Geun-hye over an influence-peddling scandal, setting the stage for her to become the country's first elected leader to be pushed from office in disgrace.

South Korea's scandal-hit President Park Geun-Hye said Nov. 29 she was willing to resign early and would let parliament decide her fate as leader.

"I will leave the issue of my departure, including the [possible] reduction of my term in office, to a decision by the National Assembly," she said in a speech carried live on television.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye's ruling conservative party, Saenuri, was reeling April 14 from a shock electoral defeat that broke its 16-year parliamentary majority and threatened its chances of retaining the presidential Blue House in 2017.

South Korean President Park Geun-Hye finally got a new prime minister on her third attempt Feb. 16, despite claims by opposition lawmakers that her nominee was morally unfit for the office.
      
Lee Wan-Koo, a senior legislator from Park's ruling Saenuri party, was approved in parliament by 148 votes to 128 after a tortuous nomination process.