South Korea lawmakers set impeachment vote in motion

Seoul: South Korea's parliament yesterday introduced an impeachment motion against President Park Geun-Hye, ahead of a vote seeking her ouster over a corruption scandal. The motion, which accuses Park of constitutional and criminal violations ranging from a failure to protect people's lives to bribery and abuse of power, will be put to a full vote of the National Assembly today.

If adopted, it will go to the Constitutional Court for the final approval, which, if granted, would result in Park becoming the first democratically elected South Korean president to not complete her full five-year term.

Park has said she would accept a parliamentary decision to impeach her, but also that she would remain in office while the motion is being considered by the court - a process that could take months.

"Since it's an anonymous vote, you never know until you open the lid," said Kang Sun-A, a spokeswoman for the main opposition Democratic Party.

"We are pushing ahead with the impeachment motion since it is the will of the people."