Marred by a corruption scandal, South Korean President Park Geun-hye is at risk of being permanently removed from office. She was a no-show at her impeachment hearing which officially opened on Tuesday. The trial resumed Thursday in spite of Park’s second absence and refusal to testify.
Over the past few months, rallies supporting her impeachment have drawn nearly 2 million people, becoming the largest mass protests in the country’s history. For their part, Park supporters have staged rallies in solidarity with the much-maligned president.The Constitutional Court has until June to reinstate or remove Park from office. If she is forced to step down, a new presidential election will be held within two months of the ruling.