Finance chief Choi takes charge as South Korea's acting president

- Han took charge earlier, after President Yoon Suk Yeol was suspended from duties over failed martial law declaration

- If Choi maintains working relationship with opposition-dominated parliament, he may remain in office until top court decides Yoon's fate

ISTANBUL

Hours after an extraordinary vote to impeach the nation’s acting president, South Korea's vice premier and finance minister on Friday took over his duties, making him the third person to sit in the nation's presidential chair this month.

Choi Sang-mok, who also serves as minister of strategy and finance, succeeded Han Duck-soo, who was impeached for refusing to appoint three judges to the Constitutional Court, which is currently hearing the impeachment trial of suspended President Yoon Suk Yeol.

The impeachment motion also accused Han of involvement in a failed martial law declaration earlier this month, as well as his refusal to appoint special counsels to probe Yoon and his wife, Kim Keon-hee.

The opposition bloc, led by the Democratic Party, holds a majority in the 300-seat parliament. Impeachment of an acting president requires a simple majority of 151 votes, unlike the impeachment of an elected president, which requires at least 200 votes to suspend presidential powers.

South Korea has seen presidential powers transfer three times since Dec. 3, when Yoon imposed martial law for a matter of hours before parliament voted against the move.

“The government will do its best to ensure national stability," Choi said after assuming the presidential office, according to Seoul-based Yonhap News Agency.

He also spoke to Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Myung-soo, emphasizing the importance of South Korea's strong alliance with the US, which maintains approximately 28,500 soldiers in the country.

“Readiness posture should be maintained to prevent North Korea from making any rash moves,” Choi told the military.

If Choi maintains a productive relationship with the opposition-dominated parliament, he may remain in office until the Constitutional Court decides on the motion to impeach Yoon, who faces charges of treason and insurrection.

It may take the top court, which currently has only six sitting judges out of a total capacity of nine, up to six months to rule on Yoon’s fate.

If the court upholds the Dec. 14 impeachment of Yoon, fresh presidential elections must be held within two months of the ruling's announcement.