( Yonhap ) President Park Geun - hye and the parliamentary impeachment committee made a final appeal on Monday during Park ’ s impeachment trial , with the ruling on her fate expected before March 13 . During the final hearing that began at 2 p . m . , Park ’ s lawyers again questioned the legitimacy of the impeachment process and fairness of the trial , while the parliament asked the court to oust Park to uphold democracy and justice under the Constitution . “ Please declare a victory for those seeking justice , by ousting President Park , ” Rep . Kweon Seong - dong of the Bareun Party , who heads the parliamentary impeachment panel , said in his closing arguments .   “ Through the impeachment trial , it should be confirmed that South Korea is a democratic country , its people are owners of this country and everybody is equal before the law . ” Since the historic impeachment trial formally began on Jan . 3 , the court held 17 hearings and brought in a total of nearly 30 witnesses to review the legality of Park ’ s ouster . She was impeached by the parliament on Dec . 9 following weeks of street protests calling for her ouster over a corruption scandal . The charges include that President Park let her close friend Choi Soon - sil , who holds no government post , meddle in state affairs to help her pursue personal gains and colluded with Choi to extort donations from local conglomerates for the K - Sports and Mir foundations . She is also accused of failing to protect people ’ s lives during the Sewol ferry disaster in 2014 , which claimed more than 300 lives . “ It is a grave violation of law and the Constitution that President Park used the government and intervene in state affairs to make personal gains , ” added a parliament ’ s lawyer Lee Myeong - woong . President Park did not appear at the court and instead had her lawyers read her closing arguments . She pleaded her innocence , saying she regrets her over - reliance on her longtime friend Choi Soon - sil but has never been involved in Choi ’ s wrongdoings . “ I feel regret that my carelessness hurt people and put a burden on state affairs . I should have not lowered my guard against Choi Soon - sil , ” Park said in a statement , reiterating her claims that she only sought help with private matters from Choi , who has been by her side for 40 years . Park also said that she had founded the Mir and K - Sports foundations to enhance culture and sports in the country , claiming no knowledge of Choi ' s alleged extortion of donations from local firms . She also said she never did illicit favors for any companies including Samsung Group . “ I have never been involved in any corruption and I have only worked to revive the economy since my inauguration . It is such a shame and tragedy that everything I did for the country and its people is seen as being done for a specific person , ” she said .   Park ' s lawyer Lee Joong - hwan said that the charges raised against   President Park are   exaggerated and fabricated based on false news reports . " There was no evidence at all ( to prove Park ’ s misdeed ) when the impeachment was passed , and all the evidence the court accepted was investigation reports which are absolutely in favor of the parliament , ” Lee said . Another lawyer of Park ’ s claimed that Park may be subject to moral and political criticism , but she has not violated any law or the Constitution . “ She did everything out of good intention , but she could not stop corruption involving her acquaintances , ” Park ’ s lawyer Lee Dong - heup said . “ The Constitutional Court already made it clear that moral lapses , political incompetence and wrong polices cannot constitute to the reasons for the impeachment . ” Park ’ s lawyers   again took issue with the legitimacy of the impeachment process , arguing   that the charges listed in the impeachment motion should have   been   voted on separately and Park should be judged by a nine - member court .   Outside the court , dozens of Park ’ s loyal supporters gathered around the court in the morning , waving Korean flags , to demand the court nullify the impeachment . Some of them created a ruckus , leading the police to intervene and remove them from the site . Now , Park ’ s fate is in the eight Justices ’ hands at the Constitutional Court . There is an overwhelming expectation that the verdict on President Park ’ s fate will be made on March 10 or 13 , before acting Chief Justice Lee ’ s term ends on March 13 , as it typically takes about two weeks for the bench to write up a ruling after the final hearing .   The Constitutional Court , which now has eight justices following the retirement of ex - Chief Justice Park Han - chul in late January , has accelerated the proceedings to prevent the worst scenario -- seven justices , the minimum required to make a ruling , decide whether to unseat or reinstate the president .   The ruling to confirm the impeachment of Park needs approval from at least six justices .   President Park , whose is suspended from presidential authority , will be removed from office if the court upholds the impeachment . The nation is required to hold a presidential election within 60 days . By Ock Hyun - ju ( laeticia . ock @ heraldcorp . com ) [ 코리아 헤럴드 ] [ K - POP HERALD ] [ 페이스북 ] <ⓒ KoreaHerald ( www . koreaherald . com ) 무단 전재 및 재 배포 금지 >