SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — Tens of thousands of South Koreans have occupied a square in front of an old palace gate in Seoul to celebrate the ousting of President Park Geun-hye, hours after the Constitutional Court removed her from office over a corruption scandal.
Carrying signs and candles, the crowd cheered to speeches and swayed to music Friday night, while angry supporters of Park continued to scuffle with police in streets near the court. Two people died and dozens were injured in the clashes between Park’s supporters and police following the ruling.
South Korean lawmakers voted to impeach Park in December, following weeks of massive but peaceful protests participated in by millions of people amid allegations that Park colluded with a longtime confidante to accept money from companies and allowed the friend to secretly manipulate state affairs.
South Korean police and hospital officials say about 30 protesters and police officers have been hurt in violent clashes near Seoul’s Constitutional Court.
Two men believed to be protesters died on Friday as Park’s supporters angrily reacted to the ruling, hitting police officers and reporters and climbing on police buses used to create a perimeter to protect the court. Police say protesters also smashed the windows of several buses.
An official from Inje University Paik Hospital says about 20 protesters are being treated for injuries from the rallies. An official from Kangbuk Samsung Hospital says it’s also treating injured protesters, but couldn’t say how many.
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An official from the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency says seven officers are also being treated for mostly minor injuries.
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