Seoul, South Korea (CNN) South Korea has been plunged into a period of political uncertainty after the President, Park Geun-hye, was forced out of office by a corruption scandal.

The country's Constitutional Court upheld a parliamentary vote to impeach Park over allegations of corruption and cronyism. She becomes the country's first democratically elected leader to be forcibly removed.

Three people have died amid chaotic protests in the capital, Seoul. Seoul police spokesman Kim Tae-won told CNN Saturday that one protestor died in a local hospital where he was being treated. Two others were confirmed dead Friday by firefighters overseeing emergency medical services on the scene of the protests. Dozens of people were injured.

Thousands demonstrated after the unanimous decision by eight judges was read out down in a live broadcast that gripped the nation.

The decision brings the career of South Korea's first female president to an inglorious end. It also comes at a pivotal moment for the region, as North Korea ramps up its nuclear weapons testing program.

Here are the main developments:



Stripped of her immunity, Park is liable to prosecution.

A snap presidential election will be held within 60 days.

Turmoil comes as tensions rise with North Korea and China.

Acting president warns North Korea may take advantage the uncertainty.

The scandal has also entangled the acting head of Samsung.

What happened?

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.

A supporter of South Korean President Park Geun-hye cries during a rally opposing her impeachment.

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

"We announce the decision as the unanimous opinion of all judges. We dismiss the defendant President Park," said Justice Lee Jung-mi.

An election for Park's replacement must be held within 60 days, and an ad-hoc cabinet meeting will be held soon, a government official told CNN.

Liberal candidate Moon Jae-in, of the opposition Democratic United Party, currently leads the opinion polls. Moon was defeated narrowly by Park in 2012.

Chaos on the streets

Soon after the court's ruling, acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn appealed for unity, acknowledging that the conflict had polarized the nation. South Koreans on opposing sides saw each other as "enemies," he said in a televised address. "Now is the time, however, for acceptance," he said.

Supporters of South Korean President Park Geun-hye are blocked by police officers as they march toward the Constitutional Court.

As the court's decision was delivered, a group of around 100 Park supporters tried to break through police lines near the court, and a number fell and were injured. "We lost our liberty. We lost our Korea," one protestor told CNN.

Anti-Park demonstrators also took the streets, some crying tears of joy and pumping fists in celebration, as applause rang out from the crowd. Many had camped out in the streets overnight in the cold.

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Police had issued the highest level of emergency order possible in Seoul ahead of the announcement. About 21,000 officers were on standby for the protests, with 270 units mobilized.

Fall from grace

Park's election in 2013 as the South Korea's first female president was widely celebrated as a milestone. But her fumbled response to a ferry disaster tainted her rule, and allegations about her relationship to Choi emerged during 2016.

Choi was arrested after being accused of abusing her relationship with the President. She denies claims that she forced companies to donate millions of dollars to foundations she had established.

South Korea's President Park Geun-Hye in September 4, 2016.

The case widened to ensnare Lee Jae-yong, the acting head of electronics giant Samsung.

Prosecutors allege that Lee pledged tens of millions of dollars to win favor with Park and secure government support for a merger that helped tighten his grip on the company. He is on trial for charges of bribery and corruption, which he denies.

In December, lawmakers voted to impeach Park by a vote of 234 to 56, stripping away her executive powers. Since then she has remained in the presidential palace, known as the Blue House, but has remained largely out of public view.

Friday's ruling means Park loses the protection from prosecution she enjoyed as president and that she could now face a formal investigation.

Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office 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. Hide Caption 1 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office People celebrate after the Constitutional Court's verdict. Hide Caption 2 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office 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. Hide Caption 3 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office A supporter holds a portrait of Park during a rally opposing her impeachment. Hide Caption 4 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office People opposing Park's impeachment cry during a rally near the Constitutional Court. Hide Caption 5 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office Police block Park supporters as they march toward the Constitutional Court in opposition of her impeachment. Hide Caption 6 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office 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. Hide Caption 7 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office 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. Hide Caption 8 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office Park supporters clash with police after the country's Constitutional Court announced it would uphold her impeachment. Hide Caption 9 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office An effigy of Park is paraded through the streets of Seoul. Hide Caption 10 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office Park supporters shout slogans and wave South Korean flags during a rally to oppose her impeachment. Hide Caption 11 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office An anti-government activist wears a Park mask. Hide Caption 12 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office A Park supporter shouts slogans in front of a police line. Hide Caption 13 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office Park supporters clash with police. Hide Caption 14 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office Protesters view cutouts of Park and Hwang during a march toward the Blue House. Hide Caption 15 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office Park supporters are blocked by police during their march toward the Constitutional Court. Hide Caption 16 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office South Koreans celebrate at a restaurant after hearing the court's unanimous verdict. Hide Caption 17 of 18 Photos: Protests amid South Korean President's removal from office An injured Park supporter lies on a stretcher surrounded by police. Hide Caption 18 of 18

Security concerns

Hwang, who became acting President when Park was impeached, warned that North Korea could exploit the political uncertainty.

South Korea's political stability is crucial to the security of the region -- it is a key buttress against North Korea, its provocative neighbor, and a major trading partner with the US and its Asian neighbors.

The US moved quickly to issue a reassuring statement, saying the two countries' relationship would be unaffected.

"We will continue to work with Prime Minister Hwang for the remainder of his tenure as acting President, and we look forward to a productive relationship with whomever the people of South Korea elect to be their next president," acting State Department spokesman Mark Toner said.

North Korea's official news agency noted that Park had lost her immunity, reporting that she would be investigated as a "common criminal."