In the space of a few weeks, South Korean President Park Geun-hye has gone from being the "queen of elections" to one of the country's least-loved and most divisive figures.
Park's popularity was virtually wiped out by a corruption scandal, with recent polls putting her support at just four per cent.
Over the past six weeks the scandal - and South Koreans' anger with their leader - triggered the country's largest protests since the democracy movement in the 1980s, with millions turning out to demand her immediate resignation.
Now, she has been formally impeached after 234 out of 300 lawmakers on Friday voted in favour of the move, according to South Korean news agency Yonhap, meeting the minimum two thirds requirement.
Park's collapsing popularity stands in contrast with the high expectations South Koreans had when they elected her as the country's first female president in December 2012.
Park, who stood for a new kind of conservative politics, promised during her inauguration speech in February 2013 to front a "new era of fortune and hope" for all Koreans.
But her popularity began to erode after the Sewol ferry disaster in April 2014 in which more than 300 people died.
The government was accused of not doing enough to rescue the passengers, and Park did not speak about the disaster until seven hours after it occurred.
Before she became president, Park was one of the most influential conservative politicians in South Korea and was elected to the National Assembly five times.
Her opponents say that Park was only elected president due to her family background.
South Koreans took to the streets ahead of the impeachment vote. Source: SBS
Who is Park Geun-hye?
She is the daughter of Park Chung Hee, who ruled the country with an iron fist in the 1960s and 1970s.
Many South Koreans still think highly of Park's father and believe he was responsible for the rapid economic growth that occurred during that period. Park Chung Hee was assassinated by a member of his security service in 1979.
Park, who has never married or had children, is seen as more distanced and less charismatic than her father, yet calculating and principled.
One of her nicknames is the "notebook princess" because she frequently reads answers from prepared notes.
During her election campaign, Park's supporters tried to recast her public image from that of the "dictator's daughter" to that of a well-prepared female president.
She was nevertheless accused of never having fully distanced herself from her father even though she apologised for the human rights abuses he committed.
1977: South Korean President and the late dictator, Park Chung-hee, right with his daughter Park Geun-hye. Source: AAP
After her mother was assassinated by a North Korean sympathiser in 1974, Park, then 22 years old, assumed the role of first lady.
Her father's death dealt her another shock and she disappeared from the public eye for many years.
It was not until the Asian financial crisis in 1997 that Park decided to enter politics in order to help stabilise the country.
From March 2004 until June 2006 she led the Grand National Party, which later changed its name to Saenuri after a leadership crisis.
Despite her opposition to communist North Korea, Park still tried to develop mutual trust between the countries.
Her efforts stalled after a North Korean nuclear test in January and she closed an industrial region located on the border, cutting the final tie between them.
Park was born on 2 February 1952 in Taegu as the first child of Park Chung Hee and Yuk Young Soo.
She has a younger brother and a younger sister.
Park graduated from the Sogang University in Seoul with a degree in electrical engineering.
South Koreans welcome the decision of the parliament to impeach President Park. Source: SBS
