Democrats Cheer, People Power Party Falls Silent as the Two Parties' Situation Rooms React Differently

\r\n\r\n
[The Financial News] As the countdown ended and the exit poll results for the June 3 local elections lit up the TV screens, the Democratic Party's vote-counting situation room erupted in cheers. By contrast, the People Power Party's situation room sank into silence. The results showed the DPK leading in 11 of the 16 metropolitan and provincial governor races, while the People Power Party was ahead in only one, North Gyeongsang Province. Still, leaders of both parties were seen watching the situation with grave expressions. Tension is expected to hang over both situation rooms through the night, as four gubernatorial races were classified as toss-ups and close contests were also unfolding in key by-elections, including Pyeongtaek-eul, Gyeonggi constituency, and the Busan Buk-gu-gap constituency.
\r\n\r\nAt 6 p.m. on June 3, when exit poll results from the three terrestrial broadcasters — KBS, MBC and SBS — were released, the Democratic Party of Korea's vote-counting situation room in the main conference hall of the National Assembly Members' Office Building filled with cheers.
The DPK had already assessed the outlook for the 16 metropolitan and provincial governor races as highly favorable. It had classified six regions — Seoul, Busan, Ulsan Metropolitan City, South Gyeongsang Province, Daegu Metropolitan City and North Jeolla Province — as battlegrounds, and judged the remaining areas, except North Gyeongsang Province, as leaning toward the party. Many lawmakers also gathered there, expecting the exit polls to favor the DPK.
As the 60-second countdown began on the broadcast, DPK officials looked tense, and party leader Jung Chung-rae briefly closed his eyes. But with 10 seconds left, party members began counting together, unable to hide their anticipation. When the results showed the DPK in the lead, cheers and applause broke out across the room. Jung Chung-rae and floor leader Han Byung-do, however, kept their composure. They appeared visibly tense, even clasping their hands together.
When the Daegu mayoral exit poll came out as a toss-up, the applause stopped and voices of disappointment could be heard. There were also sighs when Kim Yong-nam, the DPK candidate, was shown trailing in the Pyeongtaek-eul, Gyeonggi by-election, where he was expected to face a close race against Cho Kuk of the Rebuilding Korea Party and Yu Eui-dong of the People Power Party. Relief followed when Lee Won-taek, who is in a head-to-head contest with independent candidate Kim Kwan-young, was shown edging ahead slightly.
Lee Yeon-hee, head of the situation room, said, "These forecast poll results confirm public sentiment in favor of giving the capable Lee Jae-myung administration the strength it needs to stabilize state affairs." She added, "Even in the Yeongnam region, close races are unfolding, but in the end, the public sentiment there that supports Lee Jae-myung's efforts to stabilize state affairs has been confirmed. I hope the final count will also deliver good results."
\r\n\r\nOnly silence echoed quietly through the People Power Party's election situation room at the party headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul. Although the election was being fought from a disadvantageous position, hopes had risen as the number of battlegrounds increased late in the local election campaign. But on election day, the room showed little energy, with People Power Party lawmakers only beginning to take their seats late.
Before the exit poll countdown began, anger remained in the air after reports that some polling stations in the Songpa District, Seoul area had run out of ballots. Still, once the countdown started, Jang Dong-hyeok watched the TV screen in silence with a stiff expression.
The moment the exit poll results were announced, the situation room was filled with silence. Party officials kept their faces tense, no one spoke, and only sighs could be heard. Even when it was reported that Lee Cheol-woo was projected to finish first in the North Gyeongsang governor's race, there was no reaction, only dry swallows. The People Power Party had classified two areas — Daegu Metropolitan City and North Gyeongsang Province — as strongholds and eight as close races, but the results fell short of that expectation, leaving the party unable to hide its disappointment.
There was little reaction even when Yu Eui-dong was said to be locked in a close race in Pyeongtaek-eul, Gyeonggi constituency, and Park Min-sik was projected to place third in the Busan Buk-gu-gap constituency. When the results showed Ha Jung-woo slightly ahead of Han Dong-hoon, only a brief murmur was heard. Jang remained silent for more than 40 minutes after the exit poll announcement before leaving the situation room.
In a KBS interview, floor leader Song Eon-seok said, "We will only know the final result after seeing the vote count until the very end." He added, "If we win three or four of the 14 by-election races, that would be a very good result."
haeram@fnnews.com Lee Hae-ram Song Ji-won Kim Hyeong-gu Reporter