Panel overturns parliamentary vote against impeached leader

South Korea’s Constitutional Court reinstated impeached President Roh Moo-hyun in a historic ruling Friday, rejecting a parliamentary move to oust the embattled leader. The ruling, broadcast live on national television, took 30 minutes and covered three main charges against Roh — illegal campaigning, incompetence and economic mismanagement. The high court cleared the leader of the charge of economic mismanagement and incompetence for failing to rein in corruption among several former aides. The court found Roh had violated election laws but said the infraction was not serious enough to warrant impeachment. “The court found the charges of illegal electioneering was not serious or grave enough to justify the unseating of the president,” court President Yun Young-chul said. Roh resumes his executive duties immediately.