South Korea president forced from office after court upholds impeachment

Park Geun-hye, the president of South Korea, has been officially removed from the office after a constitutional court upheld the right of the country's parliament to impeach her following a corruption scandal which has dogged the highest echelons of the country's institutions.

Park was impeached by South Korean lawmakers in December with a massive majority after it was reported that she had become influenced by Choi Soon-sil, the key person of interest in a comprehensive corruption investigation.

The court said that Park had "concealed completely Choi's meddling in state affairs and denied it whenever suspicions over the act emerged and even criticised those who raised the suspicions."

Protests erupted in the aftermath of the court's decision on Friday, with two people reported to have died during the violence.

Park will now have her executive immunity removed, meaning that she will face the wrath of prosecutors who are now capable of officially questioning and charging her.

She was accused by the parliament of bribery, extortion, abuse of power and the leaking of government secrets.

The widespread corruption scandal has spread also to South Korea's most well-known firm, tech giant Samsung Electronics.

The company's de-facto head Lee Jae-yong admitted that Samsung had given money to help the equestrian career of Choi's daughter, including the purchase of a horse valued at around $850,000.

Samsung has been accused by authorities in the country of giving large donations to non-profit foundations operated by Choi. She has been charged with coercion, bribery and attempted fraud.

Park's removal will now spark a snap election, with the constitution providing 60 days before a new leader must be elected.