Key Party Officials Leave During Exit Poll Announcement
Kim Yongtae: "I Will Watch with Humility"
Na Kyungwon: "Somewhat Shocking, Disappointing"
"Sss, ha~"
On June 3, as the exit poll results from the three major terrestrial broadcasters were announced, the core officials of the People Power Party's Central Election Countermeasures Committee for presidential candidate Kim Moonsoo could not hide their grief, filling the previously silent vote counting situation room with sighs and laments.
From around 7:30 p.m. that evening, senior officials at the level of campaign committee chairs of the People Power Party entered the vote counting situation room set up on the first basement floor of the National Assembly Library to check on the vote counting process.
Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is making a serious expression while reviewing the exit poll results at the People Power Party's vote counting situation room for the 21st presidential election, set up in the National Assembly Library on June 3, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo
Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, Yoon Jaeok, General Director of the campaign committee, joint campaign committee chairs Yoon Sanghyun, Yang Hyangja, and Hwang Woo-yea, lawmakers Ahn Cheolsoo, Na Kyungwon, Kim Kihyun, and Choi Boyoon, Park Daechul, General Support Director, and Sohn Hakkyu, former leader of the Bareunmirae Party, sat in the front row. None of them were smiling; everyone wore grim expressions.
When the exit poll results from the three major terrestrial broadcasters at 8 p.m. predicted a gap of more than 10%, with Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jaemyung at 51.7% and candidate Kim at 39.3%, the officials let out sighs and laments.
As the results by region were announced, the expression of former leader Sohn Hakkyu suddenly twisted, and joint campaign committee chair Yoon Sanghyun was seen biting his lips in distress. Chairman Kim Yongtae covered his face with both hands, while floor leader Kwon Seongdong briefly looked away from the TV and let out a deep sigh.
Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, along with joint campaign committee chairs Ahn Cheolsoo and Na Kyungwon, are showing serious expressions as they review the exit poll results at the People Power Party's vote counting situation room for the 21st presidential election, set up in the National Assembly Library on June 3, 2025. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo
Some lawmakers quietly discussed and analyzed the regional vote tallies while looking at their smartphones together.
Around 8:10 p.m., lawmaker Kim Kihyun and former Bareunmirae Party leader Sohn Hakkyu greeted joint campaign committee chair Hwang Woo-yea and then left the situation room.
Afterward, before the announcement of the vote counting results was completed, most lawmakers, led by joint campaign committee chairs Kwon Seongdong, Kim Kihyun, Na Kyungwon, and Yoon Sanghyun, left the situation room early.
When reporters outside the situation room asked Emergency Response Committee Chairman Kim Yongtae for his thoughts on the exit poll results, he briefly replied, "I will watch with a humble heart."
In a media interview in front of the situation room, joint campaign committee chair Na Kyungwon also said, "It is being received as somewhat shocking. I thought that, since it was said to be 'very close,' the results would show us slightly behind or slightly ahead within the margin of error, but seeing such a significant gap is very disappointing," she said with a bitter expression.
She continued, "Due to some confusion within the party, we started the campaign late, and it is regrettable that the arrogance and self-righteousness of candidate Lee Jaemyung or the Democratic Party, as well as the various negative revelations about candidate Lee that emerged at the end of the campaign?which reveal the essence or truth about them?were not properly communicated to the public."
On the 3rd, at the People Power Party's vote counting situation room for the 21st presidential election, set up in the National Assembly Library, campaign committee chairpersons are leaving their seats as the exit poll results show candidate Kim Moonsoo suffering a defeat by more than 10%. 2025.06.03 Photo by Yoon Dongjoo
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