South Korea's Constitutional Court has up to 180 days to decide whether to uphold the impeachment of President Park Guen-hye.
It comes after the country's lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to impeach her over an influence-peddling scandal.
"I feel deep responsibility" -interim president
Under the constitution, Park's duties are assumed by Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-ahn.
This will be on an interim basis until the court rules.
"I stand here with a heavy-hearted sadness," Hwang said in a televised address. "As an aide to the president, I feel deep responsibility about the situation we have come to face."
An emergency cabinet meeting was held on Friday.
Prime Minister Hwang Kyo-Ahn becomes Korea's new leader after lawmakers vote to impeach President Park Geun-Hye https://t.co/aMmKAjjRvf pic.twitter.com/kQaAb9xNud- The Guardian Nigeria (@GuardianNigeria) December 9, 2016
The impeachment vote
The impeachment motion was carried by a wider-than-expected 234-56 margin in a secret ballot in parliament.
This means more than 60 of Park's own conservative Saenuri Party backed removing her.
Scuffles outside parliament
Anti-Park protesters scuffled with police as they tried to drive two tractors up to the main gate of South Korea's parliament in the run-up to the vote.
"I wanted my kids to be here, making history, at an historic moment, and show we people can win," said Choi Jung-hoon, a 46-year-old high school teacher.
A sea of yellow... police vests and protest banners outside #southkorea National Assembly ahead of impeachment vote pic.twitter.com/L2NaiFKNZT- Rosalind Chin (@RozChin) December 9, 2016
South Korea parliament votes to impeach President Park Geun-hye: Reuters https://t.co/DxhE23AJ3X pic.twitter.com/cbKzl9PPmm- Neon Knight
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