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‘Democratic Party leads in 11 metropolitan/provincial races’ in exit polls, Han Byung-do “It is fortunate to be ahead in Seoul” Song Eon-seok “We accept the choice of the people”

6·3 Local Elections

‘Democratic Party leads in 11 metropolitan/provincial races’ in exit polls, Han Byung-do “It is fortunate to be ahead in Seoul” Song Eon-seok “We accept the choice of the people”

입력 2026.06.03 20:45

By Kang Han-Deul

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Jung Cheong-rae, the Democratic Party's general standing campaign committee chair (third from left), and Han Byung-do, the co-standing campaign committee chair (fourth from left), look at the exit poll results in the ballot-counting situation room set up at the National Assembly Members Office Building on the 3rd for the 9th nationwide simultaneous local elections and National Assembly by-elections, while lawmakers cheer. Park Min-gyu, Senior Reporter

As exit polls by the three terrestrial broadcasters (KBS·MBC·SBS) for the 6·3 local elections projected the Democratic Party to win 11 of the 16 metropolitan/provincial posts nationwide and the People Power Party to win 1, the two parties offered contrasting reactions. Democratic Party floor leader Han Byung-do said, “It is fortunate that we are ahead in Seoul and elsewhere,” while People Power Party floor leader Song Eon-seok said, “We humbly accept the choice of the people.”

In an interview with KBS immediately after the release of the exit poll at 6 p.m. on the 3rd, floor leader Han said, “Results similar to what polling agencies predicted before voting are coming out,” adding, “Four places were announced as competitive, so we cannot be certain yet.”

Regarding key battlegrounds identified by the party, Han said, “We regarded Seoul as the most important strategic area for the overall race, so it is fortunate that we appear to be slightly ahead in Seoul,” and added, “In the Gyeongnam region, unexpectedly very good projections have left us encouraged.”

On the exit poll results for the National Assembly by-elections held alongside the local elections, he said, “A flow similar to the local elections is appearing,” and added, “We assess it positively and as encouraging.”

Jang Dong-hyuk, the People Power Party's standing campaign committee chair, and Song Eon-seok, the co-campaign committee chair, talk in the ballot-counting situation room set up at the People Power Party headquarters in Yeouido on the 3rd. Han Su-bin, Reporter

Regarding the exit poll result showing the People Power Party ahead in one place, floor leader Song said, “Because results can come out differently in places classified as close races, we must watch to the end,” and added, “I am grateful to the supporters who chose the People Power Party through to the end.”

On the competitive result in Daegu, called the ‘conservative heartland’, Song said, “The nomination process was not smooth and took a long time, which seems to have caused inconvenience to citizens,” and added, “As candidate Chu Kyung-ho worked very hard, I expect that in the end the People Power Party will win.”

Regarding the by-election exit polls, he said, “If the People Power Party wins even three or four constituencies, that would be a very good result,” adding, “It could lead to an increase in seats.”

Seo Wang-jin, floor leader of the Cho Kuk Innovation Party, said of the result in which the party's candidate led within the margin of error in the Pyeongtaek-eul National Assembly by-election in Gyeonggi Province, “Even while competing with the candidates of the two major parties, candidate Cho built a strong momentum toward victory in the final stretch.”