After barely one year in office, Roh was impeached March 12 by the National Assembly in the throes of what was generally deemed a trivial political spat.
His conservative opponents accused him of violating election laws requiring strict presidential neutrality, as a result of a comment he made in a television interview. They demanded an apology. Roh refused, and the tit-for-tat snowballed into the first impeachment of a South Korean president.
But the move backfired on Roh's opponents, who lost big in National Assembly elections April 15. Polls showed that the South Korean public opposed impeachment by 3 to 1.
"The whole thing was really embarrassing for South Korea. We know that Roh made some mistakes, but it was totally unreasonable to impeach him," said Kim Young Lan, a 33-year-old teacher.
Contrary to some predictions, the impeachment did not throw South Korea into turmoil or cause political anarchy. Many pundits suggest that the episode, in which a political squabble was resolved in the legislature and courts, is proof that South Korea has come of age as a democracy. The nation was famous for street battles in the 1980s that ultimately rid the country of its military dictatorship.
"Despite a presidential impeachment, Korea was unshaken economically and held a clean election," Prime Minister Goh, reflecting on his stint as acting president, said Wednesday at an Asia Society conference in Seoul. "This is progress in politics that will bring additional transparency and reform."
During his time out of office, Roh read political biographies and went mountain climbing to pass the time. He hardly left the presidential compound and participated in no official meetings. But after the stunning victory of his supporters in last month's elections, when it became increasingly likely that he would be reinstated, Roh resumed discreet meetings with his staff.
He is thought to be planning several changes in his Cabinet during what will be in effect a second term.
Not all were thrilled about Roh's comeback. He has rankled many South Koreans, particularly older conservatives, with his blunt style of speaking and occasionally erratic behavior.
Political scientist Hahm said the question was whether the impeachment would transform Roh from scrappy political street fighter to a mature leader. "He has to become more mellow and polite and respect the role of the opposition in order to govern. But I'm pessimistic as to whether that will happen," Hahm said.
