Impeached Park leaves presidential palace

South Korea's impeached ex-president Park Geun-Hye left the Blue House yesterday, issuing an apology for not completing her full term as she arrived back at her private residence.

Park vacated the presidential complex, accompanied by tight security, two days after the Constitutional Court verdict removing her from office over a massive corruption scandal.

The court upheld a parliamentary vote to impeach Park, effectively removing her from office over a corruption scandal involving her close friend.

But she had remained at the presidential Blue House since the verdict, citing the need to repair her private home in southern Seoul before moving in.

The ousted leader, seen greeting supporters outside her property yesterday evening, later issued an apology through a former spokesman.

"I would like to express an apology for failing to fulfill my term," Park said, according the Yonhap news agency.

"Although it may take time, I believe the truth will eventually be revealed."

The court ruling removed Park's presidential immunity to criminal indictment.

She was found to have broken the law by allowing her friend Choi Soon-Sil to meddle in state affairs, and breached rules on public servants' activities. She has already been named a criminal suspect, accused of bribery for offering policy favours to firms that benefited Choi.

A presidential election is to be held within 60 days of the ruling, with local media suggesting May 9 as the most likely date.

The likely winner -- by a distance -- is the liberal former Democratic Party leader Moon Jae-In who enjoys 36 percent popular support.