By Yoo Dong-ho
Staff Reporter

KIMHAE, South Kyongsang Province - At the foot of the small mountainous town of Pongha in Kimhae City, some 370 kilometers south of Seoul, yellow ribbons and balloons were tied to almost every tree, Friday.

A wave of yellow swept across the town’s central plaza nestled in an idyllic mountain slope near a small stream, just some 80 meters away from President Roh Moo-hyun’s birth home.

The ecstatic mood was not for welcoming soldiers returning from Vietnam or Iraq, but for a symbol of hope for the safe return of the residents’ beloved head of state, whose impeachment was pushed through the National Assembly 63 days ago.

With smiles on their faces, a group of villagers and Roh’s avid online supporters set up a huge tent under which all residents, regardless of sex or age, gathered together.

With the clock counting down to the court’s final say on the impeachment at 10 a.m., about 200 residents from 39 households and out-out-towners milled around the small park, giving hope, telling jokes and expressing sympathy.

They all seemed to be putting on a brave face, but still looked a bit nervous. ``Whatever the vicissitudes of his past life, Roh now seems to be coming through,’’ said 74-year-old Kimhae resident, Suh Chang-hyun. ``I hope that he will not be the hallmark of so much inflammatory rhetoric he has shown in the past. Talk is cheap.’’

At 10 a.m., as the ruling was broadcast, people held their breath for the incapacitated President who went through a wild roller-coaster ride over the last year.

All eyes and ears were on an outdoor television and neighbors bit their fingernails watching what the Constitutional Court’s ruling would hold for Roh.

While the top justice Yoon Young-chul was reading out the last sentence of the much-awaited final ruling to overturn the parliament’s decision, the entire town already ``oohed’’ and ``aahed,’’ and some burst into frenzied exultation.

All chanted and clapped to percussion instruments and music, taking over the two lanes of the main road chanting ``Roh Moo-hyun Manse (victory Roh)’’ in celebration.

A couple of Taegukgis, or Korean national flags, and placards saying ``You Win’’ and ``Return of the King’’ in the air heightened the festive atmosphere.

The town then threw a bigger festival by inviting local celebrities and elderly citizens where all kinds of alcoholic beverages and foods were served.

Roh’s eldest brother Kon-pyong, also a resident there, made a rare public appearance and thanked the nation for reinstating his brother. ``I whole-heartedly express my gratitude to the court and the people for making the right decision.’’ I still believe the impeachment itself was wrong, but the nightmarish experience will teach domestic politics a lesson, he added.

yoodh@koreatimes.co.kr