Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok became on Friday South Korea's second acting president in two weeks, as lawmakers voted to impeach the current acting leader, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, fuelling political uncertainty in Asia's fourth-largest economy.

The plane crash is the first major test for South Korea’s acting president, Choi Sang-mok, who was appointed the interim leader only on Friday, as the country grapples with a political crisis at the highest levels.

The turnover at the top of Asia’s fourth-largest economy left the government scrambling when Jeju Air flight 7C2216 slammed into a wall at Muan International Airport on Sunday

The impeachment of South Korea’s acting President Han Duck-soo has plunged the country into further political turmoil, coming less than two weeks after lawmakers impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Choi, 61, a veteran economic technocrat who has served for more than 30 years at the finance ministry, takes on an unprecedented role as successor to an impeached acting leader.

South Korea's political turmoil deepens. Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is now the acting president, following the impeachment of Han Duck-soo over his refusal to appoint justices to fill vacancies at the Constitutional Court.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met South Korea’s acting leader Choi Sang-mok in Seoul on Monday. Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.

S. Korean parliamentary leader meets Blinken South Korean National Assembly Speaker Woo Won-shik (3rd from R) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken (3rd from L) hold talks during their meeting at the parliamentary building in Seoul on Jan.

South Korean acting President Choi Sang-mok (R) and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken shake hands during their meeting at the government complex in Seoul on Jan. 6, 2025. (Pool photo) (Yonhap) (END) [We Welcome Your News Tips] We invite our readers to submit news tips,