Key Party Figures Leave Their Seats Just 10 Minutes After Exit Polls

Ahn Cheolsoo Remains Alone, Guarding His Post for Over Four Hours

Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, along with joint campaign chairpersons Ahn Cheolsoo and Na Kyungwon, showed serious expressions on the 3rd 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. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

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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 the 3rd. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

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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, as the exit poll results showed candidate Kim Moonsoo losing by more than 10%, the campaign committee chairpersons are leaving their seats. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

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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, as the exit poll results showed candidate Kim Moonsoo losing by more than 10%, the campaign committee chairs are leaving their seats. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

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Kim Yongtae, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party, is leaving the situation room after watching 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 the 3rd. Photo by Yoon Dongjoo

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On the afternoon of the 3rd, after the exit polls were announced, Ahn Cheolsoo, the co-chairman of the joint election committee, was seen guarding the People Power Party headquarters while most others had left their seats. People Power Party YouTube

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After the exit poll results were announced for the presidential election held on the 3rd, Ahn Cheolsoo, co-chairman of the joint election campaign committee, was seen guarding the People Power Party headquarters. The exit polls showed Kim Moonsoo, the People Power Party's presidential candidate, losing to Lee Jaemyung, the Democratic Party candidate, by more than 12 percentage points, and silence filled the party's vote counting situation room.

As the results deviated significantly from the People Power Party's initial hopes for a 'golden cross,' making defeat seem inevitable, the disappointment was evident in the expressions of the party leadership. Some bowed their heads, while many were seen sighing. About 10 minutes after the exit poll announcement, people who had filled the situation room began to leave one by one. Amid this, Ahn Cheolsoo stood out by remaining at his post for more than four hours after the exit poll announcement.

Ahn was seen sitting in his seat, silently watching the TV screen broadcasting the vote counting, or occasionally having quiet conversations with Kim Yongtae, the Emergency Response Committee Chairman, and Yang Hyungja, co-chair of the campaign committee, who came by his side. Even as most campaign officials left their seats or moved in and out of the situation room, he did not stand up.

Regarding this, a People Power Party official commented, "When the election results are unfavorable, there is little reason to remain on site. Nonetheless, by staying, he sent a message of commitment to the party regardless of the presidential election outcome." Some have interpreted his actions as stemming from disappointment over the defeat. Although Ahn had competed with Kim Moonsoo for the party's presidential nomination, he actively supported Kim during the campaign. He repeatedly emphasized the message of a 'one team' centered around Kim and frequently accompanied him on campaign events. However, some speculate that his actions may also be aimed at gaining an advantageous position in the upcoming party leadership race.