Constitutional court reinstates impeached President Roh Moo-hyun

Seoul (AsiaNews/AP) - South Korea's Constitutional Court reinstated suspended President Roh Moo-hyun in a historic impeachment verdict on Friday, overturning an opposition-backed parliamentary vote to oust the embattled leader.

The ruling, broadcast live on national television, took 30 minutes and covered three main charges against Mr Roh - illegal campaigning, incompetence and economic mismanagement.

Constitutional Court President Yun Young-chul cleared Mr Roh of the charge of incompetence for failing to rein in corruption among several former aides. The court found Mr Roh in violation of election laws, but said the infraction was not serious enough to warrant impeachment.

South Korea entered uncharted territory earlier this spring when Roh became the first president ever impeached by its legislature, just one year into his five-year tenure.

The move humiliated the fledgling leader, rattled markets, agitated neighbouring North Korea and drove tens of thousands of people into the streets to protest against the opposition-backed ouster attempt.

Prime Minister Goh Kun had assumed Mr Roh's executive duties while the Constitutional Court reviews the case.

Mr Roh resumes his executive duties immediately.

Expectations had run high that the Constitutional Court would strike down the National Assembly's March 12 impeachment vote. But on the eve of their ruling, the nine justices were still huddled in their white-granite court building putting the finishing touches on a verdict. The court held seven hearings on the case since March.

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