South Korea’s ousted President leaves mansion, says ‘truth will come out’

South Korea’s ousted President Park Geun-hye left the executive mansion Sunday, two days after the Constitutional Court voted to remove her from office.

Park left the mansion known as the Blue House and went to her private home in southern Seoul, according to her spokesman Kim Dong-jo.

Park said she is “sorry that I couldn’t fulfill my duty as President until the end,” Congressman Min Kyung-wook said on her behalf in front of Park’s private home, where crowds chanted support for the departing leader.

Supporters of impeached South Korean President Park Geun-hye gather outside her house Sunday in Seoul's Gangnam district.

“I thank people who have supported and believed in me,” Park’s statement said. “I will accept all the results. It will take time. but I believe that truth will definitely come out.”

She left office after a Constitutional Court on Friday upheld a vote by lawmakers to impeach her over allegations of corruption and cronyism.

North Korea praised her removal, describing it as a “destructive end” for the nation’s first female head of state.

Park supporters wave a Donald Trump campaign flag. "We want to make Korea great again," they said.

In a statement on state media Saturday, a North Korean official described Park as an “incomprehensible and outrageous lunatic.”

“It is the consensus evaluation of the nation that the destructive end of Park Geun-hye is the historical victory of the justice of the people,” the unnamed spokesman for North Korea’s National Reconciliation Council said in a statement on KCNA, North Korea’s official state news agency.

‘Executed by the people’

Park “was judged and executed by the people, not by certain political force or the opposition force,” the spokesman said.

“South Korean society now stands at the important crossroads of revolution. South Koreans’ anti-Park vigil has won, but this is only a beginning of the fight to realize true justice and social progress.”

Former South Korean President Park Geun-hye leaves an event in Seoul, South Korea, on March 1, 2016. A year later, the country's Constitutional Court upheld a parliamentary vote to impeach her over allegations of corruption and cronyism. Lawmakers and judges agreed that she abused her authority in helping a friend raise donations from companies.

In this undated photo, Park is seen at back right with her late father, former South Korean President Park Chung-hee; her mother, Yook Young-soo; her sister, Park Geun-young; and her brother, Park Ji-man. Her father seized power in a military coup in 1961. He rewrote the constitution to cement his grip on power and brutally cracked down on dissent and opposition, leading many to call him a dictator.

Park Geun-hye, left, stands next to US President Jimmy Carter during Carter's state visit to Seoul in 1979. After Park's mother was killed in a botched assassination attempt on her father in 1974, Park became regarded as South Korea's first lady.

Park casts a ballot with her father, who was assassinated by his own security chief in 1979. After the loss of her father, Park withdrew from the public sphere, living what she described as "a very normal life."

Park speaks during an interview in May 1999. She said she was persuaded to rejoin politics after seeing the effects of the Asian economic crisis in the late 1990s. She served as a lawmaker in the National Assembly from 1998 to 2012.

Park burns incense at the tomb of her father in August 2012, soon after she was named the presidential candidate for the ruling Saenuri Party.

Park waves to her supporters in November 2012 after making her first official stump speech as a presidential candidate.

Park greets people in downtown Seoul during the launch of her presidential campaign in November 2012.

In December 2012, Park participates in a televised presidential debate with United Progressive Party candidate Lee Jung-hee and Democratic United Party candidate Moon Jae-in.

Park speaks to the media in December 2012 after becoming president-elect.

Park was sworn in as South Korea's first female president in February 2013.

Park arrives for a dinner at the presidential Blue House following her inauguration in 2013.

Park shakes hands with US President Barack Obama during a White House news conference in May 2013.

Park talks with families of missing passengers after the Sewol ferry disaster in April 2014. The passenger ferry sank a day earlier, killing 304 people. Most of those aboard were high school students on a field trip to Jeju island, off South Korea's southern coast.

Park sheds tears as she addresses the nation on the Sewol ferry disaster in May 2014. Park was criticized for her handling of the tragedy as it became apparent during the investigation that the ferry's sinking was a man-made disaster.

After the corruption allegations surfaced, demonstrators carry cutouts of Park during a December 2016 rally calling for her to step down.

Park attends an emergency cabinet meeting in December after the National Assembly voted overwhelmingly for an impeachment motion.

Park speaks to a select group of reporters at the Blue House in January. Park rejected accusations of corruption and refused to step down.

A Park supporter holds up her portrait during a March rally opposing her impeachment.

Anti-Park protesters carry an effigy of the ousted president as they march toward the Blue House in March. Stripped of her immunity, Park is now liable to prosecution and must vacate the Blue House.

The political career of Park Geun-hye

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South Korean supporters of Park Geun-Hye clash with police after the announcement of the Constitutional Court over the impeachment of South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye in Seoul on March 10, 2017. The rival crowds outside South Korea's constitutional court on March 10 for the verdict on impeached president Park Geun-Hye epitomised the opposing passions and generational splits over the country's sweeping political scandal. / AFP PHOTO / JUNG Yeon-Je (Photo credit should read JUNG YEON-JE/AFP/Getty Images)

Related article How South Korea's political turmoil could upend ties with the US

Pyongyang also weighed in on the impeachment in a Saturday editorial from Rodong Sinmun, a state-run media outlet.

“Park Geun-hye is an ignorant and uncouth dictator who squandered the taxpayer’s precious money for her own complacency and pleasure,” the piece read. “How pathetic is her wretched life.”

Ballistic missiles

The Korean Peninsula remains divided and technically at war despite an armistice that ended hostilities between the forces of the communist China-backed North and anti-communist, US-backed South in 1953.

Relations remain tense. North Korea tested four ballistic missiles last week, which experts say was almost certainly in reaction to joint military exercises between South Korea and the US.

The next day, Seoul said the first pieces of the US-built Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) – a defensive missile system opposed by China – had arrived in South Korea.

Park and her conservative allies have taken a more hard line position on North Korea, while the left-wing opposition has signaled it would be likely to pursue a policy of engagement with Pyongyang.

Thousands of South Koreans took to the streets of Seoul Saturday after President Park Geun-hye was officially impeached. While polls suggest most of the country -- as many as 80% -- supports the move, a small minority of demonstrators said they wanted to "impeach the impeachment."

"Young people don't understand," said Song Bok-sung, 80, who was protesting Park's impeachment. "We remember the (Korean War) and how bad it can get."

"There was no reason for this impeachment," said Jason Choi, 36. He added that he was worried the next South Korean government would be soft on North Korea and may reverse the decision to deploy a US missile defense system in the country.

The Park decision shows that "maybe this is a time for the older people to listen to the younger people," said Kim Dae-rim, 30, who had been protesting for weeks for the now former President's impeachment.

"Today feels like a festival, everyone is happy," said Mun Ha-neul (left) and Park Hyun-jin (right), both 17, who were celebrating Park's ouster.

Jang Song-hoi, 38, was gathering signatures to start a new political party representing the youth of South Korea. "We want the youth to be able to make the world they want," he said.

Lee Dong-sun, 36, brought her children to the demonstration celebrating Park's impeachment. "Before, when there were other protests, I would just sit at home, even when I agreed," she said. "But after I had children, I felt I could no longer ride on the backs of others ... to bring them the future I desire."

"Today is just the beginning," said Kim Ga-hyun, 26 (left). Her friend Kim Bo-hee, 24, said that after months of protests, it was good to have a "day of celebration."

Faces of Seoul protests: Thousands mark President Park Geun-hye's impeachment

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Corruption scandal

The corruption scandal that brought down Park has dominated South Korean politics for months.

The President was accused of being unduly influenced by her longtime friend and adviser, Choi Soon-sil, who is on trial for abuse of power and fraud.

The Constitutional Court on Friday agreed with accusations that Park had abused her authority in helping Choi raise donations from companies for foundations she had set up.

Three people died in violent protests that broke out in Seoul after the court’s ruling.

Pro-Park groups staged an angry demonstration outside Seoul City Hall early Saturday and there was a heavy police presence in the capital.

However, thousands took to the streets to celebrate, with a giant rally on the historic Gwanghwamun Square.

According to the Yonhap news agency, more than 70% of Koreans support Park’s impeachment.

Emotional scenes at her home

At Park’s private home, where she arrived Sunday, many of her supporters were in tears as they chanted, “Take back the impeachment” and “Park Geun-hye, we love you.”

Police presence was high but the crowd was mostly calm, with no signs of a repeat of Friday’s violence. One protester shouted, “Cheer up. President!”

The crowd, mostly middle aged and elderly, waved South Korean flags and giant banners of Park. One younger demonstrator held a Donald Trump banner and told CNN, “We’re going to make Korea great again!”

There were occasional outbursts of anger, particularly directed at the Korean-language press. Demonstrators accused of them being “fake news” and called them “candles,” in reference to the weekly candlelit vigils which helped oust Park.

South Koreans celebrate in Seoul after the Constitutional Court upheld a parliamentary vote to impeach President Park Geun-hye on Friday, March 10. Demonstrators both for and against Park took to the streets after the verdict.

People celebrate after the Constitutional Court's verdict.

Demonstrators wearing illuminated costumes take part in a rally demanding Park's arrest. Now stripped of her immunity, Park is vulnerable to prosecution in the scandal that triggered her removal. Lawmakers and judges agreed that she abused her authority in helping a friend raise donations from companies.

A supporter holds a portrait of Park during a rally opposing her impeachment.

People opposing Park's impeachment cry during a rally near the Constitutional Court.

Police block Park supporters as they march toward the Constitutional Court in opposition of her impeachment.

A supporter of the ousted president lies in a pool of blood as protesters push to pass a police barricade preventing them from reaching the Constitutional Court. According to police, two people died in the protests. A statement from acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn said several people also were injured.

Anti-government activists march toward the presidential palace, known as the Blue House. Park will not leave the Blue House immediately, a spokesman told CNN.

Park supporters clash with police after the country's Constitutional Court announced it would uphold her impeachment.

An effigy of Park is paraded through the streets of Seoul.

Park supporters shout slogans and wave South Korean flags during a rally to oppose her impeachment.

An anti-government activist wears a Park mask.

A Park supporter shouts slogans in front of a police line.

Park supporters clash with police.

Protesters view cutouts of Park and Hwang during a march toward the Blue House.

Park supporters are blocked by police during their march toward the Constitutional Court.

South Koreans celebrate at a restaurant after hearing the court's unanimous verdict.

An injured Park supporter lies on a stretcher surrounded by police.

Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office

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What next?

Prosecutors are expected to begin interrogating Park as early as Monday on corruption charges, and may seek to block her from leaving the country, according to Korean broadcaster YTN.

An election for Park’s replacement must be held within 60 days. Park Geun-hye’s Liberty Korea Party will announce its candidate for President on March 31, the party said Sunday.

Experts predict the election will take place May 9.

With Park’s ruling conservatives looking out of favor, it seems likely the country will turn to the left.

CNN’s Stella Ko in Hong Kong and Sol Han in Seoul contributed to this story.