SEOUL, An appellate court on Tuesday canceled a disciplinary suspension imposed on President Yoon Suk Yeol by the justice ministry while he was serving as prosecutor general in 2020.

Accusing Yoon of violating political neutrality, obstructing a politically sensitive investigation and other misconduct, the justice ministry then under Minister Choo Mi-ae suspended Yoon as prosecutor general for two months in December 2020.

Yoon immediately filed an injunction and an administrative lawsuit seeking to revoke the ministry's decision, disputing the alleged misconduct and claiming flaws in the disciplinary process.

He was reinstated about a week later after a court accepted his injunction request.

Yoon resigned as prosecutor general in March 2021 and later secured the main opposition People Power Party's ticket to run in the 2022 presidential election, ultimately winning the election.

Recognizing three points of misconduct, the Seoul Administrative Court, however, dismissed Yoon's administrative suit in December 2021, prompting Yoon to appeal.

The Seoul High Court on Tuesday struck down the 2021 decision and ruled in favor of Yoon.

"The court is canceling the first ruling along with the disciplinary action imposed on the plaintiff," the court said.

Source: Yonhap News Agency