Thousands of younger demonstrators erupted with joy while a rival older crowd angrily clashed with riot police -- two of them dying -- today when South Korea's Constitutional Court fired President Park Geun-Hye over corruption.
The rival groups epitomised the opposing passions and generational splits over the country's sweeping political scandal.
Around 3,000 anti-Park demonstrators, mostly in their 20s to 40s, erupted with joy as the verdict was read out in a live television broadcast.
"We won, we won," they chanted, waving banners.
"This is a victory of democracy," 27-year-old student Ahn Yo-Wool told AFP, wiping tears from her cheek.
Millions of South Koreans, increasingly frustrated over broad economic and social challenges, have gathered for weekly protests demanding Park's removal over a wide-ranging corruption scandal.
The South is Asia's fourth-largest economy but growth is slowing and many complain of a lack of opportunity in a country dominated by large companies with close ties to the political establishment.
Another student, Lim Na-kyung, added: "The impeachment of the president is truly a day that will go down in history. My heart is full of emotion and I am very happy."
But some of Park's diehard supporters, mostly older conservatives with fond memories of the rule of her late father, dictator Park Chung-Hee, still stand by her.
Police deployed buses and thousands of riot personnel to separate the groups and acting president Hwang Kyo-Ahn said two Park supporters died in a clash with riot police near the court.
One of them was reportedly hit on the head by a speaker falling from a vehicle roof as the pro-Park crowd swarmed towards the police blockade, wielding sticks and chanting "Destroy Constitutional Court!"
Some broke police barricades and attempted to pull away police buses blocking their path, prompting the police to use pepper spray.
"We don't accept this decision," said Cho Bong-Am, 60, a kindergarten operator. "We will take to the street to fight to the end."
The pro-Park backers were left stunned by the ruling.
"Nullify impeachment, dissolve parliament," they chanted, singing to military marches and waving both South Korean and US flags.
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