[21st General Election] Exit Polls Show Sim Sang-jung Leading Alone... Justice Party 'Sombre'

[Asia Economy Reporter Jeon Jin-young] On the 15th, the joint exit poll results of the 21st National Assembly general election by the three major broadcasters (KBS, MBC, SBS) were announced, and the Justice Party fell into a somber mood. According to the forecast, it appeared difficult for the Justice Party candidates, except for Shim Sang-jung, the Standing Election Committee Chairperson, to survive in their constituencies. The expected proportional representation seats were also projected to be between 4 and 8, far from the party's initial goal of securing more than 20 seats to form a parliamentary negotiation group.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Shim Chairperson, Ryu Ho-jeong, co-chair of the election committee, and Park Chang-jin, proportional representation candidate, watched the exit poll results on the TV in the Justice Party's situation room located in Yeouido-dong, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, around 6:15 PM. When candidate Yoon So-ha, running in Mokpo, Jeonnam, ranked third with 11.2%, and candidates Yeo Young-guk, Lee Jeong-mi, and Chu Hye-sun also showed unfavorable results, sighs were heard from various places. Some candidates silently shook their heads.

When the result showed Shim Chairperson leading with 39.9% in Goyang-gap, Gyeonggi Province, there was a brief applause and cheers among the candidates. However, Shim Chairperson remained unmoved and watched the results quietly with a firm expression.

At around 6:37 PM, the expected list of proportional representation winners was announced, but the Justice Party maintained a subdued atmosphere. Candidates Ryu Ho-jeong, Jang Hye-young, Kang Eun-mi, and Bae Jin-kyo were in the winning zone but also kept firm expressions.

At around 6:46 PM, Shim Chairperson said to the candidates, "Everyone, didn't we do our best?" He added, "The Justice Party fought the election under very difficult circumstances due to the proportional satellite parties, but we worked hard and did our best, and the results depend on the will of heaven."

He continued, "The forecast polls have often been wrong. Please humbly accept the will of the people until the end. I think the actual results might be better," calmly encouraging the candidates.

At around 7 PM, Shim Chairperson left, saying, "The Justice Party will humbly observe the will of the people throughout the night. Thank you." Some candidates stayed in the situation room, cheering and fist-bumping candidate Ryu Ho-jeong, who was in the proportional representation winning zone, and comforted each other by saying, "You worked hard."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.