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.

South Korea's Acting President Choi Sang-mok said on Friday the government will do its utmost to focus on stabilising state affairs amid ongoing political turbulence stemming from the short-lived imposition of martial law earlier this month.

South Korea's Finance Minister Choi Sang-mok is likely to take over as president after acting president Han Duck-soo was impeached by the parliament on Friday. Prime Minister Han had taken over the role after President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached on December 14 over his imposition of martial law earlier in the month.