The impeachment of Han, who has been acting president since Yoon was impeached on Dec 14 for declaring martial law on Dec 3, has thrown South Korea’s once-vibrant democratic success story into uncharted territory.

The motion led by opposition parties passed with 192 of the 300 votes amid rowdy scenes by ruling People Power Party members who surrounded the speaker’s podium chanting the vote was invalid and parliament had committed “tyranny.”

Until just before voting began, it was unclear how many votes were needed to impeach Han as acting leader. The threshold for a prime minister is a simple majority, while a two-thirds majority is needed for a president.

Speaker Woo Won-shik declared a simple majority would constitute parliamentary approval.

Han said, in a statement after the vote, that he would step aside to avoid more chaos and will await a constitutional court ruling on his impeachment.

By law, finance minister Choi Sang-mok will assume the acting presidency.

Choi earlier pleaded with parliament to withdraw the plan to impeach Han, saying it would do serious damage to the country’s economy.

The South Korean won retreated to 1,475.4 per dollar, down 0.53% at 0707 GMT ahead of the parliamentary vote.

The vote to determine Han’s fate comes on the same day the constitutional court held its first hearing in a case reviewing whether to overturn the impeachment and reinstate Yoon or remove him permanently from office. It has 180 days to reach a decision.