Ousted South Korean president returns to private home

By Alex Jensen

SEOUL (AA) - Expelled South Korean President Park Geun-hye returned to her private residence Sunday evening, ending speculation about when she would vacate the presidential Blue House.

Maintaining her innocence, she waved and smiled to supporters who crowded outside her home in southern Seoul.

But hundreds of thousands of anti-Park protesters had also celebrated over the weekend after she became the country’s first democratically-elected leader to be ousted from office, as the Constitutional Court on Friday upheld her parliamentary impeachment due to a massive presidential scandal that led to 30 suspects being indicted so far.

Park is additionally expected to face prosecution due to a number of allegations that have surfaced since late last year -- ranging from bribery to the creation of a cultural blacklist.

“I would like to express my apology for failing to fulfil my duty to the end,” she said via a spokesperson.

“Although it may take time, I believe the truth will eventually be revealed,” the statement read, according to Yonhap News Agency.

Around 1,000 police officers surrounded Park’s house to ensure her protection and she will be afforded official security guards despite her term ending in disgrace a year early. The delay in her return home was reportedly due to repairs being carried out given that she has not lived at the address since 2013.

South Korea will elect a new president by early May.