Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, March 12, 2004
Profile: Impeached South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun
South Korean parliament passed the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun on Friday by a vote of 193 to 2. His presidential powers will be suspended as the matter is referred to the Constitutional Court for final approval to unseat the leader. The court has 180 days to rule.
South Korean parliament passed the impeachment of President Roh Moo-hyun on Friday by a vote of 193 to 2. His presidential powers will be suspended as the matter is referred to the Constitutional Court for final approval to unseat the leader. The court has 180 days to rule.
The parliament approved the impeachment bill on Roh's illegal electioneering and incompetence charges, following hours of scuffles and dramatic protests.
Roh, 58, was sworn in as the ninth president of the Republic of Korea for a five-year term of office on Feb. 25, 2003 after winning the presidential election in December 2002.
Roh, whose parents were farmers, graduated from Busan Commercial High School in 1966. Before entering politics, he worked as Judge at the Daejeon District Court in 1977 and a practicing attorney in 1978.
In 1988, Roh, a father of two, was elected to the 13th National Assembly in Busan's Eastern District and became a member of the Special Committee to Investigate Political Corruption.
He became Senior Member of the Central Committee of the United Democratic Party in 1993 and worked as vice president of the National Congress for New Politics (NCNP) since 1997. From August 2000 to March 2001, Roh was Minster of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries.
In September 2001, Roh announced to participate in the presidential election, one month before being elected Senior Member of the Central Committee of the then ruling Millennium Democratic Party.
On Sept. 29, 2003, Roh quitted the Millennium Democratic Party.