Choi Sang-mok, new acting president, walks with a stern look on his face after a meeting with the bereaved families of plane crash victims at Muan International Airport in Muan, South Jeolla Province, Sunday. Yonhap

Korea's new acting President Choi Sang-mok, who assumed the role following the impeachment of former acting President and Prime Minister Han Duck-soo on Friday, stated that his primary focus will be on restoring national stability.

Yet political and economic uncertainties have only deepened, with dire challenges immediately confronting the new leader, including the crash of a plane carrying 181 people on Sunday.

Choi, who is also the deputy prime minister and finance minister, faces daunting tasks ahead as the nation confronts the unprecedented situation of both its president and prime minister — the top two figures in the government hierarchy — being simultaneously suspended from their duties. The National Assembly passed an impeachment motion against President Yoon Suk Yeol on Dec. 14 for his botched martial law declaration, and a separate motion was passed against Han Duck-soo for delaying the appointment of three Constitutional Court justice nominees to review Yoon's impeachment trial.

The new interim leader faces the tough task of taking control of both the economic and political situations in the country.

Since Yoon's short-lived martial law on Dec. 3, Choi, as the finance minister, has tried to reassure foreign countries, finance-related institutions, and investors about the stability of the Korean economy. However, as the acting president who must oversee all state affairs, he is unable to concentrate solely on economic matters, balancing the demands of both governance and economic stability during this tumultuous period.

Amid this turmoil, finance officials are urgently working to address the declining value of the Korean won against the U.S. dollar, which hit its lowest point on Friday since the 2009 global financial crisis. Analysts suggest that there is little hope for reversing the negative sentiment unless the political situation stabilizes.

Security concerns also burden Choi, as the nation's defense minister and several other military commanders have been arrested or suspended over their alleged involvement in the martial law plan. On Friday, amid growing security worries fueled by political instability, Choi instructed top defense officials to bolster the military's defense posture, warning that Pyongyang may attempt to exploit the situation in South Korea.

The political situation is even more challenging for him.

Han was impeached after refusing the opposition bloc's demand to immediately appoint three Constitutional Court justice nominees approved by the Assembly. The opposition seeks these appointments to fill the vacancies on the nine-member court, believing that a full bench will increase the likelihood of upholding Yoon's impeachment. However, the ruling People Power Party (PPP) argues that, like Han, Choi cannot make these appointments, as it is solely within the president's authority.

The opposition is also threatening to impeach Choi if he follows Han's lead and refuses to make the appointments.

“The acting president's primary responsibility is to restore constitutional order and put an end to the chaos caused by insurrectionists,” Rep. Kang Yu-jung, floor spokeswoman for the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), said in a statement. “Choi must immediately appoint the Constitutional Court justices. There is no middle ground or room for delay between siding with insurrectionists and saving the nation. We urge him to make a prompt decision.”

A more direct threat came from the minor liberal Rebuilding Korea Party. Rep. Kim Sun-min, its chairwoman, vowed to impeach Choi and said he will have only a few days to decide whether to proceed with the appointments.

At the same time, the ruling PPP urged Choi to delay making a decision until the Constitutional Court rules on the legality of Han's impeachment. This motion was passed with fewer than 200 votes, based on the assumption that only 150 votes would be required to impeach an acting president.

It is unclear whether Choi will comply with the opposition's demand. However, speaking to reporters on Friday, he indicated that his authority as "acting acting leader" would be limited, suggesting he may not take such action.

If opposition lawmakers proceed with impeachment, the country could face increased confusion, with potential consequences for its economic stability and defense capabilities.