In the People Power Party vote-count situation room on the 3rd, silence fell as the exit poll results for the June 3 local elections came out. Leader Jang Dong-hyeok remained silent throughout the announcement, hands clasped, with a grave expression.

That day, Leader Jang Dong-hyeok and the People Power Party leadership watched the exit poll results from the three broadcasters in the vote-count situation room set up at the party headquarters in Yeouido. Tension filled the room just before the announcement. Jang appeared in the room at around 5:58 p.m., just before the exit poll was released.

In exit poll results released at 6 p.m. that day by the three broadcasters, the Democratic Party of Korea was leading in 11 races, the People Power Party in 1, with 4 too close to call. The single lead was North Gyeongsang Province; the four battlegrounds were Daegu, Busan, Gangwon, and North Jeolla. After the results were announced, silence lingered in the room for more than 30 minutes, with only the sound of the broadcast audible. Leader Jang stared at the monitor without moving. Floor leader Song Eon-seok fidgeted with his fingers without saying a word. Supreme council member Kim Jae-won lowered his head with his eyes closed.

The mood grew even heavier when results indicated a tight race in Daegu, traditionally a conservative stronghold, between People Power Party candidate Choo Kyung-ho and Democratic Party of Korea candidate Kim Boo-kyum. Sighs could be heard in the room. Even exit polls projecting a lead for North Gyeongsang governor candidate Lee Cheol-woo did not break the heavy silence.

Even when an announcement said a three-way contest was continuing in Pyeongtaek B among Kim Yong-nam of the Democratic Party, Yoo Ui-dong of the People Power Party, and Cho Kuk of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, Leader Jang showed no reaction, simply staring at the monitor. In the Busan Buk-gap National Assembly by-election, results were announced that Ha Jung-woo of the Democratic Party and independent Han Dong-hoon were neck and neck, with People Power Party candidate Park Min-shik trailing, yet the room remained silent.

Leader Jang, who maintained silence throughout the exit poll announcements, at times appeared to have reddened eyes. About 39 minutes after the results were released, he left the room with a heavy expression. ‘How did you view the exit poll results’ was asked by reporters, but he offered no comment.

Supreme council member Cho Gwang-han met reporters in the room immediately after the exit poll announcement and said, “I think we fought this election on terrain far more difficult than in 2018,” and, “There were many risks in the nomination process and in both internal and external strategy.”

Floor leader Song said in a KBS interview right after the exit poll results were released, “For the battlegrounds, I think we will have to wait for the final tallies to know,” and, “With thanks to those who supported the People Power Party to the end, we will watch for the final results.”