When acting President Choi Sang-mok arrived at the scene of South Korea’s deadliest air disaster on Sunday, he had been in the role for less than 48 hours.

Choi, originally the country’s finance minister, stepped into the acting presidency late Friday after the impeachment of Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, who had been serving as interim leader since President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment on December 14. Yoon faced suspension following his controversial and short-lived attempt to declare martial law.

This rapid turnover at the helm of Asia's fourth-largest economy left the government in disarray when Jeju Air flight 7C2216 crashed into a barrier at Muan International Airport on Sunday, killing most of the 181 passengers and crew.

Choi promptly visited the crash site, declaring it a special disaster zone. "The government extends its deepest condolences to the bereaved families and pledges to spare no effort in recovery efforts and preventing such incidents in the future," he stated.

Behind the scenes, however, officials scrambled to establish a functional chain of command. According to ministry representatives and insiders, the process of coordinating press releases and reporting structures was still being ironed out.

“Choi went to Muan accompanied by land ministry officials, not finance ministry staff,” said one spokesperson. "For the time being, transportation and safety ministry officials will report directly to Choi regarding the crash, but how press releases and broader schedules will be managed remains unclear."

Choi currently operates out of a government complex in Seoul, without the support of President Yoon’s staff, who do not report to him. His duties as finance minister have partially been delegated to the vice minister, leaving Choi to focus on leading the central disaster control team—a role typically handled by the prime minister.

This disaster control structure, established after major national tragedies like the 2014 Sewol ferry sinking and the Itaewon Halloween crowd crush in 2022, requires ministers overseeing land and safety to report directly to the acting president during emergencies.

The political upheaval began when Yoon unexpectedly declared martial law on December 3, only to revoke it hours later when parliament defied military and police cordons to convene and vote against him. His impeachment, followed by that of Prime Minister Han, has left Choi temporarily steering the nation while the Constitutional Court deliberates on their fates.

The instability comes at a critical moment for South Korea, as it navigates volatile financial markets and prepares for the incoming U.S. administration under President-elect Donald Trump, a key ally of Seoul.