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Live from DP Campaign HQ: Party watches vote counts following exit poll results

2025/06/04 00:00

As the nation awaits the final election results, the candidates and their parties are likely feeling the tension more than anyone. For a look at the atmosphere inside the major rival camps, we turn to our political correspondents on the ground. Let's begin with Shin Ha-young, who's standing by at the Democratic Party's headquarters. Ha-young, what's it like there? Mok-yeon, I'm currently at the campaign headquarters of the Democratic Party of Korea, where, as you can see behind me, none of the members of the election campaign committee are present. Unlike a couple of hours ago when the exit poll predicted Lee with 51-point-7percent of the vote, and applause and cheers broke out here at the headquarters, they have all left. Candidate Lee Jae-myung is also not here. Separate from the campaign headquarters, the DP has been holding an event for the past two hours at an outdoor stage in Yeouido, near the National Assembly, where party members and supporters are watching the vote count together. Lee is expected to head there and deliver a speech once his victory becomes more certain. Meanwhile, regarding the exit poll results, DP Floor Leader and Acting Chairman Park Chan-dae, who also serves as a chair of the campaign committee, told reporters that the people have sent a strong message to the previous administration. While he noted that the final results still need to be watched, he added that if Lee wins a majority, it will help unite the country and overcome the crisis. Mok-yeon.

Live from ballot counting station for S. Korea's next president

2025/06/04 00:00

Ballot counting is now in full swing at hundreds of counting stations across the country, with over 50 percent of the votes counted. For more on how the process is unfolding on the ground, we turn to our reporter Park Kun-woo, who's standing by at one of the key sites tonight. Kun-woo, good to have you back with us. Great to be back, Mok-yeon. So Kun-woo, walk us through what you're seeing there. How is the ballot counting progressing in your location? Yes, I'm currently standing at the ballot counting station set up at Seoul National University in Gwanak-gu District, southern Seoul. This is one of the 2-hundred-54 counting stations nationwide, including 25 here in Seoul. As counting began at around 8:30 PM, it's been about three to four hours since the process started. As we just learned, the nationwide ballot counting rate stands at around 40 percent, and I can report that the process here has been running smoothly and orderly. In some places, there were minor disturbances as a few observers shouted that the process seemed suspicious or that the CCTV inside wasn't working properly. Police intervened to restore order and allow the counting to continue. Since the voter turnout had already surpassed that of the previous presidential election an hour before polls closed, the counting process is expected to take a bit more time. Now, about how the counting works. There are eight key sections involved in the process. First, after the ballot boxes are safely transported to counting stations under a police escort and election observers, they are received by the ballot reception team to check for any issues. Then, the boxes are passed on to the box-opening team, where the ballots are taken out and neatly organized. The ballots are then fed into a sorting machine that automatically classifies them by candidate. Introduced in 2002, the machine has significantly sped up the process. And the machines aren't connected to any network, making hacking them impossible. Classified ballots are known to be manually checked in this election. The ballots are then moved to the review team, where they're manually checked once more to filter out any invalid votes. It then goes through two final rounds of verification before being confirmed and officially announced by the commissioner. Early votes or votes from overseas are also being counted as soon as they arrive. It's a lengthy process indeed—and a crucial one. I understand election authorities are making every effort to ensure transparency throughout the ballot counting process. Tell us more. That's right. A total of around 70-thousand personnel have been deployed. That includes election observers -6 from each party with a candidate, and 3 for each independent candidate. Police authorities raised the national emergency level alert to the highest, "Gapho," from 6 AM this morning nationwide, enabling full mobilization, including special security forces outside counting centers. The National Fire Agency has been mobilized in case of emergencies as well. The National Election Commission expects the counting to be completed by 6 AM Wednesday. But normally, the leading candidate is revealed earlier. In the 20th presidential election, the projected winner was announced at 2 AM due to a neck-and-neck race. And it was announced around 10 PM during the 19th election. This time, the projection is expected to be made around midnight, so I'll be bringing you updates in our later newscasts.

Polling stations close for 21st presidential election

2025/06/04 00:00

While candidates and parties have dominated the headlines, the voices that matter most in any election are those of the voters. My colleague Ahn Sung-jin hit the streets to hear directly from citizens about what this presidential race has meant to them, and what they hope to see moving forward. The 21st presidential election has come to an end. "From 6 AM to 8 PM on Tuesday, more than 14,000 voting stations nationwide, including this one in Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, were open." Starting early in the morning with the older members of the population showing up as soon as the polling stations opened, to families with young children, throughout the 14 hours of voting, people continued to show up to cast their ballots, right up until the last minute before polling stations closed. "This is my first vote ever, and I'm proud to be participating in it. I would like them to work on making Korea a better country to live in." "Now that I've finished voting, I'm going to go to work right away. I hope someone honest becomes the president." "Our economy is going through a difficult time right now, so I hope the new president can boost our economy domestically and internationally and also improve people's livelihoods." After they headed out of the polling booths, many were seen taking pictures in front of the polling station with a ballot stamp on their hand. This shows that a lot of Koreans are participating in an "I voted" movement. There are also these kinds of certification sheets with art or characters on them, where people can get stamps to show that they've voted. Voters came to exercise their right to vote in hopes of electing a president who'll lead South Korea through a pivotal period. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

Live: PPP camp's situation room as media call DP's Lee as projected winner

2025/06/04 00:00

Now, let's turn to Kim Do-yeon, who's standing by at the PPP's campaign headquarters. Do-yeon, how's the mood over there at the moment? Mok-yeon, as you can see, not much has changed since we last spoke about two hours ago. Most of the camp members had left by eight thirty, and since the exit poll results it has been largely quiet here with something of a somber atmosphere. Kim Moon-soo is believed to be still at his home in southern Seoul. As Ha-young mentioned, much of the media have already called DP's Lee Jae-myung as being the projected winner. The media is still waiting to see if Kim will make his stop here at the situation room to accept the loss, but last time an official from the camp met with reporters, he said no words have come from Kim yet. Kim, as you know, has consistently trailed DP's Lee Jae-myung in national polls, often well outside the margin of error — largely due to backlash over the martial law declaration and the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol. Still, there was cautious hope that Kim's relentless campaign might have sparked a late turnaround — banking on support from shy conservatives and undecided voters. But again, that doesn't seem to be the case. That's the latest for now. Back to you. Thank you for bringing us the updates Doyeon and Hayoung, much appreciated.

Halfway through vote counting: Expert analysis of what voting numbers already tell us

2025/06/03 22:00

For those of you who are just joining us, you're watching Arirang TV's special coverage of South Korea's 21st presidential election. It's just past 10 PM here in Seoul, and ballot counting has been underway for about two hours now. Preliminary results are beginning to come in with exit polls showing a lead for Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung. As we continue to track how voting unfolded throughout the day and what the early numbers may signal moving forward, we're joined now by Hans Schattle, Professor of Political Science at Yonsei University. Professor, thank you for being with us at this late hour. 1.So, Professor, as we approach the halfway point in tonight's ballot counting, and early results are slowly coming in alongside exit poll results forecasting Lee Jae-myung of the DP to take 50 percent of the votes. So far what stands out to you about the day? 2. Also, something to note is that early voting this year hit 34.74 percent, the second-highest on record. We've seen both camps claim different meanings from early turnout. How should we interpret these competing narratives? 3. Lately, we saw candidates focus on specific regional strongholds during their final campaign pushes. Prof., how much do these geographic strategies still matter in South Korean elections? 4. We cannot rule out cooperation with the legislative body when speaking about politics. As of now, the Democratic Party and its allies hold around 188 seats—surpassing the 180-seat fast-track threshold. Then what does this mean for the next president's ability to govern? Also, how might this affect the balance of power between the presidency and the legislature? 5. So while the numbers in parliament will shape the president's legislative reality, the bigger picture is also about the kind of public support they walk into office with. Regardless of the winner tonight, what kind of mandate do you think this election result will give the next administration? 6. From a regional standpoint, how might the outcome of this election reshape South Korea's approach to diplomacy, especially with the U.S., China, and North Korea? 7. In your view, what will be the first real test of leadership for the incoming president—what challenge will define their opening months in office?

Polling stations close for 21st presidential election

2025/06/03 22:00

While candidates and parties have dominated the headlines, the voices that matter most in any election are those of the voters. My colleague Ahn Sung-jin hit the streets to hear directly from citizens about what this presidential race has meant to them, and what they hope to see moving forward. The 21st presidential election has come to an end. "From 6 AM to 8 PM on Tuesday, more than 14,000 voting stations nationwide, including this one in Sadang-dong, Dongjak-gu, Seoul, were open." Starting early in the morning with the older members of the population showing up as soon as the polling stations opened, to families with young children, throughout the 14 hours of voting, people continued to show up to cast their ballots, right up until the last minute before polling stations closed. "This is my first vote ever, and I'm proud to be participating in it. I would like them to work on making Korea a better country to live in." "Now that I've finished voting, I'm going to go to work right away. I hope someone honest becomes the president." "Our economy is going through a difficult time right now, so I hope the new president can boost our economy domestically and internationally and also improve people's livelihoods." After they headed out of the polling booths, many were seen taking pictures in front of the polling station with a ballot stamp on their hand. This shows that a lot of Koreans are participating in an "I voted" movement. There are also these kinds of certification sheets with art or characters on them, where people can get stamps to show that they've voted. Voters came to exercise their right to vote in hopes of electing a president who'll lead South Korea through a pivotal period. Ahn Sung-jin, Arirang News.

South Korea Election 2025: Exit polls and latest on voter turnout

2025/06/03 22:00

Now, let’s turn to Bae Eun-ji, who’s standing by at our election wall, where she’ll walk us through the exit poll results and voter turnout figures—with the numbers visualized in real time. Eun-ji, what can you tell us? Mok-yeon, this year's election recorded a very high voter turnout, with many people heading to the polling stations, especially after the country went through six months of turmoil sparked by a failed martial law attempt, then followed by the impeachment of the president. The ballots are now being counting,.. and while we wait for the final results, let's take a look at the exit polls first.

Live: PPP camp's situation room empty shortly after exit poll results

2025/06/03 22:00

Now, let's turn to Kim Do-yeon, who's standing by at the PPP's campaign headquarters. Do-yeon, how's the mood over there at the moment? Mok-yeon, many of the People Power Party members left the situation room at around eight thirty. No official response from the party yet. And with the exit poll results showing a digit difference, the camp, of course, has a somber atmosphere. The only thing we heard from the interim leader, Kim Yong-tae, was that he'll be watching the vote count. Kim Moon-soo has not shown himself to the public yet, either; he's currently at his home in southern Seoul. Now the result, to some camp members here, was a surprise, as they believed a comeback was made during the past few days. Of course, there were no open surveys published but they felt the momentum building. Kim, as you know, has consistently trailed DP's Lee Jae-myung in national polls, often well outside the margin of error — largely due to backlash over the martial law declaration and the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol. Still, there was cautious hope that Kim's relentless campaign might have sparked a late turnaround — banking on support from shy conservatives and undecided voters. That's the latest for now. Back to you. Thank you for bringing us the updates Doyeon and Hayoung, do keep us updated throughout.

Live from DP Campaign HQ: Party watches vote counts following exit poll results

2025/06/03 22:00

As the nation awaits the final election results, the candidates and their parties are likely feeling the tension more than anyone. For a look at the atmosphere inside the major rival camps, we turn to our political correspondents on the ground. Let's begin with Shin Ha-young, who's standing by at the Democratic Party's headquarters. Ha-young, what's it like there? Mok-yeon, I'm currently at the campaign headquarters of the Democratic Party of Korea, set up inside the National Assembly Members' Office Building. A few hours ago, when the exit poll predicted Lee with 51-point-7percent of the vote, applause and cheers broke out here at the headquarters. But now, as you can see behind me, not many members of the election campaign committee are still here. Candidate Lee Jae-myung is not here yet, as he is currently at his home in Incheon's Gyeyang-gu District. Regarding the exit poll results, DP Floor Leader and Acting Chairman Park Chan-dae, who also serves as a chair of the campaign committee, told reporters that the people have sent a strong message against the previous administration. Meanwhile, separate from this campaign headquarters, the DP is now holding an event at an outdoor stage in Yeouido, near the National Assembly, where some party members and supporters are watching the vote count together. Lee is expected to head either to the headquarters, here, or both, and deliver a speech once his victory becomes more certain. Mok-yeon.

Live from ballot counting station for S. Korea's 21st presidential election

2025/06/03 22:00

Just hours after polls closed at 8 PM, ballot counting is now in full swing at hundreds of counting stations across the country. For more on how the process is unfolding on the ground, we turn to our reporter Park Kun-woo, who's standing by at one of the key sites tonight. Kun-woo, good to have you with us. Evening, Mok-yeon. So Kun-woo, walk us through what you're seeing there. How is the ballot counting progressing in your location? Yes, I'm currently standing at the ballot counting station set up at Seoul National University in Gwanak-gu District, southern Seoul. This is one of the 2-hundred-54 counting stations nationwide, including 25 here in Seoul. Voting ended at 8 PM Korea time, and counting began shortly afterwards at around 8:30 PM starting from Gyeongsangbuk-do Province, so it's been about one or two hours since the process started. As of 10 PM, we just learned that the nationwide ballot counting rate stands at around 1 percent, and so far, the process has been running smoothly and orderly. Since the voter turnout had already surpassed that of the previous presidential election an hour before polls closed, the counting process is expected to take a bit more time. Now, about how the counting works. There are eight key sections involved in the process. First, after the ballot boxes are safely transported to counting stations under a police escort and election observers, they are received by the ballot reception team to check for any issues. Then, the boxes are passed on to the box-opening team, where the ballots are taken out and neatly organized. The ballots are then fed into a sorting machine that automatically classifies them by candidate. Introduced in 2002, the machine has significantly sped up the process. And the machines aren't connected to any network, making hacking them impossible. Classified ballots are known to be manually checked in this election. The ballots are then moved to the review team, where they're manually checked once more to filter out any invalid votes. It then goes through two final rounds of verification before being confirmed and officially announced by the commissioner. Early votes or votes from overseas are also being counted as soon as they arrive. It's a lengthy process indeed—and a crucial one. I understand election authorities are making every effort to ensure transparency throughout the ballot counting process. Tell us more. That's right. A total of around 70-thousand personnel have been deployed. That includes election observers -6 from each party with a candidate, and 3 for each independent candidate. Police authorities raised the national emergency level alert to the highest, "Gapho," from 6 AM this morning nationwide, enabling full mobilization. The National Fire Agency has been mobilized in case of emergencies as well. The National Election Commission expects the counting to be completed by 6 AM Wednesday. But normally, the leading candidate is revealed earlier. In the 20th presidential election, the projected winner was announced at 2 AM due to a neck-and-neck race. And it was announced around 10 PM during the 19th election. This time, the projection is expected to be made around midnight, so I'll be bringing you updates in our later newscasts.

PPP campaign awaits exit poll results, hoping for comeback

2025/06/03 19:30

Now to our Kim Do-yeon, who's been with the People Power Party's Kim Moon-soo campaign. Do-yeon, what's the atmosphere there like? Jung-min, the atmosphere here is picking up with just about 30 minutes left until the exit polls come out. Key figures from the PPP have started arriving to watch the results together. Candidate Kim Moon-soo himself isn't here yet — he's expected to stay at his home in southern Seoul to watch the initial results. We've seen interim leader Kim Yong-tae and several of Kim Moon-soo's former primary rivals, now standing united behind him. Despite the busy scene, there's little laughter — the mood is tense, almost anxious. This could be because the PPP entered this race on the back foot. Kim has consistently trailed DP's Lee Jae-myung in national polls, often well outside the margin of error — largely due to backlash over the martial law declaration and the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol. Still, there's cautious hope that Kim's relentless campaign might spark a late turnaround — banking on support from shy conservatives and undecided voters. Earlier today, Kim posted a statement on Facebook, urging voters to stop DP's Lee Jae-myung from taking power, calling this election the "final opportunity" to block what he described as "monstrous autocracy." He also once again highlighted his pledge to strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance — a key theme throughout his campaign. That's the latest for now. Back to you. Thanks for that. We will be connecting to you guys again in a few minutes. Don't go anywhere.

Live from DP Campaign HQ: DP election campaign committee gathers to watch exit poll; Lee remains at home

2025/06/03 19:30

Let's first check in with our campaign correspondents. Our Shin Ha-young has been following the campaign of the Democratic Party of Korea's Lee Jae-myung. Ha-young, what are you hearing from inside the campaign? Jung-min. I'm currently at the campaign headquarters of the Democratic Party of Korea, set up inside the National Assembly Members' Office Building. As you can see behind me, this place is now bustling with media crews ready to capture the moment the exit polls are released. Members of the election campaign committee have started gathering here to watch the exit poll results together, which are set to be announced in about 30 minutes. However, DP candidate Lee Jae-myung is not here, as he is currently staying at his home in Incheon's Gyeyang-gu District and has no official schedule for the day. He's expected to come here to the campaign headquarters once the election results begin to take shape. Earlier today, in a social media post, Lee urged people to vote, saying that only voting can stop what he describes as an insurrection that has continued since the December martial law declaration and bring a new era of hope. He added that he would serve as a faithful tool for the people to help them overcome the crisis. The DP believes Lee has the upper hand, given that he was leading in national polls before the blackout for new polls six days ago. But still, there's a sense of caution, with party members saying they can't let their guard down until the very end. Jung-min.

21st Presidential Election: What to Take Away

2025/06/03 19:30

We are about ?? minutes away from the exit poll being released. Joining us are Choi Hyunsun, Professor of Public Administration at Myongji University and Youngshik Bong, Visiting Professor at Yonsei University. Good to have you on the program. 1. It's the second snap election to be held after a president was impeached, with the previous one following Park Geun-hye's impeachment in 2017. How would you describe this election? 2. The country witnessed the short-lived martial law some six months ago, and now it's holding a snap election. How would you assess the system of Korea's democracy and its resilience? 3. Social division and ideological conflict are nothing new, but they have been highlighted more than ever. What would be the task of the next president with this issue in mind? 3-1. This time, the DP's Lee Jae-myung had to give speeches behind bulletproof glass. Should South Korea be concerned about extremism? 4. In the 80s and 90s, voter turnout was relatively high, at over 80-percent. The lowest was in 2007 at 63-percent. How does voter turnout affect the election outcome? 5. This year's overseas voter turnout hit the highest of almost 80-percent. This time, more polling stations have been added, including in Cuba. What does this tell about voter engagement from overseas? 6. Which groups are swing voters? 7. Is there a particular region, age or gender that you're keeping an eye on? 8. What should we be on the lookout for tonight? 9. A candidacy merger within the conservative bloc, involving Kim Moon-soo and Lee Jun-seok, did not happen. Do you think this would affect the result of the race?

Foreign media outlets reporting in real time on S. Korea's presidential election

2025/06/03 19:30

Meantime, the political events taking place here in South Korea have been making quite a bit of international headlines as well. Here's our Kim Bo-kyoung. Those in South Korea are not the only ones eagerly waiting to see who will be the next president. Many foreign media outlets are reporting on South Korea's presidential election in real time, as they pay close attention to who the next leader might be. Reuters, said South Koreans were voting "to cap six months of turmoil triggered by a shock martial law by former leader, " and highlighted the challenges new leader would face: a society scarred by the attempt at military rule, and an export-heavy economy reeling from unpredictable protectionist moves by the United States. CNN, pointed out how significant this election is, to the country. as it has floundered for months with interim leaders that keep changing while navigating Yoon's impeachment trial and an investigation into the short-lived martial law. It highlighted how voters are most interested in the country's flailing economy and rising cost of living, that were partly caused due to Trump's trade war as it hit South Korea's export-reliant economy hard. That is why both candidates focused on the economy, CNN said, while underlining other problems such as the demographic crisis and regional tensions that must be tackled as well. BBC shed light on how some voters are having a dilemma, of whether they would vote or not as neither of the leading candidates are very popular in the polls, while British newspaper Independent focused on high early voting turnout. Neighboring countries' media outlets, including Japanese broadcaster NHK, and Chinese Xinhua News Agency covered the election, with Xinhua explaining that this snap election is being held due to the failed attempt at martial law by former President Yoon and his subsequent removal from office. Kim Bo-kyoung, Arirang News.

South Korea Election 2025: Latest on voter turnout

2025/06/03 19:30

Now, let’s go over to our Bae Eun-ji who’s standing by in our VR studio for the latest on voter turnout. Eun-ji, what's the latest? Well, Jung-min, many expected a high voter turnout in this election, especially after the country went through six months of turmoil sparked by a failed martial law attempt, followed by the impeachment of the president. Now that the polls are closed, let's take a look at just how many South Koreans headed to the polls today, while we wait for the final results of this election.

21st Presidential Election on Security & Foreign Policy

2025/06/03 19:30

South Korea's 21st presidential election, also a snap election, comes at a time of increasingly complex geopolitics: The world is dealing with the latest trade war, North Korea continues advancing its nuclear capabilities and wars drag on in Ukraine and the Middle East, meaning the new Korean government has a lot on its plate. Let's get some insight. Joining me live from Washington, D.C. is Bruce Klingner, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation. Mr. Klingner, good to have you on. 1. How is Washington watching the South Korean election unfold? 2. How do you expect the election outcome to affect the Korea-U.S. relationship going forward? 3. This election comes at a critical time with Korea, like other countries, is navigating trade challenges posed by the U.S. What's the prospect of tariff talks with the new Korean government, taking into account continuing uncertainty over tariffs? 4. What are the tasks facing the new South Korean government, considering the Trump administration's diplomatic approach when it comes to the bilateral alliance that has lasted for over 70 years, involving issues like the U.S. troops in Korea or the allies' defense-cost sharing? 5. How would you compare the policy positions of the DP's Lee Jae-myung and the PPP's Kim Moon-soo when it comes to the denuclearization of North Korea and South Korea's own nuclear armament? 6. Two major wars are happening in the world, and the North Korea issue may not a pressing concern for the Trump administration, but President Trump previously did signal possible dialogue with North Korea's Kim Jong-un after re-entering the White House. What is the chance of another Trump-Kim meeting? And what are the chances of South Korea being bypassed over the course of the dialogue? Bruce Klingner, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation. Thank you for your insights.

PPP camp reacts to exit polls

2025/06/03 19:30

Now, to the PPP's campaign headquarters. Do-yeon, how's it looking there at the moment? Not a word Jung-min. Silence continues toloom in this room ever since the exit polls came out. When the TV showed that the gap is more than 10 percent all we heard was the TV sound. Now, some of them doing interviews in here. Here at the situation room were the interim-leader Kim Yong-tae, floor leader Kweon Seong-dong and former primary rivals of Kim Moon-soo. Kim has consistently trailed DP's Lee Jae-myung in national polls, often well outside the margin of error — largely due to backlash over the martial law declaration and the impeachment of former president Yoon Suk Yeol. Still, there was cautious hope that Kim's relentless campaign might spark a late turnaround — banking on support from shy conservatives and undecided voters. That's the latest for now. Back to you. I'm sure you guys will be updating us on that all throughout the night and the morning.

Live from DP Campaign HQ: Party reactions following exit poll results

2025/06/03 19:30

Let's head over to the election situation rooms once again. Our campaign correspondents are standing by. First, Ha-young, how is the party reacting now that the exit polls are out? 1) Jung-min, when the exit poll predicted Lee with ___ percent of the vote, applause and cheers broke out here at the Democratic Party's campaign headquarters. Members of the election campaign committee stood up, shook hands, and couldn't hide their excitement. Some reactions suggested it was expected, as many believed Lee had the upper hand, given his lead in national polls. At the same time, although it's not a majority**, the widened gap with rival candidate Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party brought some relief to Lee's campaign, which had been on edge until the last minute. Still, since the result isn't final and is based only on exit polls, there's a mix of hope and patience as members wait to see how the vote count plays out. Meanwhile, apart from this campaign headquarters, the DP is reportedly planning to hold an event at an outdoor stage in Yeouido, near the National Assembly, where party members and supporters will watch the vote count together. Lee is expected to head there and deliver a speech once his victory becomes more certain. Jung-min. 2) Jung-min, when the exit poll predicted Lee with ___ percent of the vote, a heavy silence fell over the Democratic Party's campaign headquarters. The mood turned tense as the gap with rival Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party was smaller than expected despite earlier public opinion polls showing Lee in the lead and seemingly holding the upper hand. Members of the election campaign committee, wearing matching blue campaign jackets, watched the broadcast quietly, their faces tense. But at the same time, applause and cheers broke out when exit polls for certain regions, including Jeollanam-do Province, known as its stronghold, were announced. Still, since the result isn't final and is based only on exit polls, there's a mix of hope and patience as members wait to see how the vote count plays out. Meanwhile, apart from this campaign headquarters, the DP is reportedly planning to hold an event at an outdoor stage in Yeouido, near the National Assembly, where party members and supporters will watch the vote count together. Lee is expected to head there and deliver a speech if his victory becomes more certain. Jung-min.

Voter turnout for S. Korea's 21st presidential election at 77.8% as of 7 PM

2025/06/03 19:30

Up next, our Lee Eun-hee is standing by at the National Election Commission. Eun-hee, bring us up to speed how voter turnout looks like at this hour. Good evening, Jung-min. As you say, I'm at the National Election Commission in Gwacheon City, where officials are keeping track of the voter turnout. It's been over 13 hours since the polls opened this morning at 6 AM. Over 30 million people have cast their ballots for the 21st presidential election, and as of 7 PM, the voter turnout is 77-point-8 percent, which includes early voters. Figures by region are as of 7 PM. Gwangju is showing the highest total voter turnout at 82-point-9 percent. The lowest turnout is on Jeju Island at 73-point-4 percent. Jeollanam-do Province, which showed the highest early voter turnout rate, is at 82-point-8 percent. Daegu, which had the lowest early voter turnout, now stands at 78-point-3 percent. Busan is at 76-point-5 percent while Incheon stands at 76-point-2 percent, and Daejeon stands at 77-point-2 percent. The capital Seoul is seeing a turnout of 78-point-3 percent. Gyeonggi-do Province stands at 77-point-8 percent, while Jeollabuk-do Province is at 81-point-5 percent. For other provinces, turnout in Chungcheongbuk-do is 75-point-7 percent, Chungcheongnam-do 74-point-5 percent, Gyeongsangbuk-do 77-point-4 percent, and Gyeongsangnam-do 77-point-1 percent. So far, the hourly voter turnout has been slightly higher than in the 2022 presidential election, with record levels reached at several points, the highest ever for a Korean presidential election. The 2022 election ended with a final turnout of 77-point-1 percent with polls closing at 6 PM. However this year's snap presidential election will end two hours later, at 8 PM. With voter turnout already surpassing the previous final figure, all eyes are now on whether the turnout for the 21st presidential election will exceed 80 percent. Right and Eun-hee when might we learn about the result of this latest election? Yes, Jung-min. Once the voting ends at 8 PM, the ballot boxes will be sealed and taken to counting centers under police escort. Counting begins soon after, and the National Election Commission expects counting to be finished by around 6:00 AM Wednesday morning. The result should become clear by midnight, once 70 to 80 percent of votes are counted. However, final results of course may take longer depending on voter turnout and how close the race is. Once counting is done, the NEC will hold a full committee meeting in which the new president will be formally declared. This meeting is expected to happen between 7 and 9 AM on Wednesday, and the process should only take 5 to 10 minutes. The new president's term will immediately begin. On Monday, Noh Tae-ak, Chairman of the National Election Commission, urged active voter participation, emphasizing the importance of creating a united South Korea through voting. Noh assured the public that the NEC has prioritized transparency, highlighting measures such as 24-hour CCTV at early voting stations and a vote paper inspection system, both implemented in last year's general election. Authorities are focusing on safety management as well. The National Fire Agency has launched special emergency operations at over 15-thousand polling and counting stations nationwide, running until ballot counting ends. Also, this morning at 6 AM, police declared the highest level of emergency alert, mobilizing all available personnel. This heightened readiness will continue until the new president's inauguration is complete and he arrives at his office on Wednesday. Around 60-thousand officers are assigned to polling station security, 45-thousand to ballot transport, and 7-thousand to counting center protection. That's all I have for you. Back to you, Jung-min. All right Eun-hee thank you for the latest from the National Election Commission.

Polling station live: Voting in S. Korea's presidential election nears the end

2025/06/03 19:30

Voting in the 21st presidential election is still underway at this final hour. Our Ahn Sung-jin has been out at one of the polling stations, where voters stop by to exercise their sovereign rights and make their voices heard. Sung-jin, how are things looking there? Right, Jung-min, I am currently standing in front of a polling location in Sadang-dong, in Seoul's Dongjak-gu District. We have less than 30 minutes left, seeing an end to the 14 hours of voting today. I've been out here since the early hours, and the polling station seemed to have been busiest when it first opened and at around lunchtime. Now we can feel that it has become a bit calmer as we head towards the final hour. The polling station I'm at is one of 14,295 nationwide and 2,260 in Seoul. Jung-min, if I were to point out something that I spotted more frequently is that a lot of people are taking pictures in front of the polling station with a ballot stamp on their hand. This shows that a lot of Koreans are participating in an "I voted" movement. There are also these kinds of certification sheets with art or characters on them, where people can get stamps to show that they've voted. Voters have come here to exercise their right to vote, so have a listen to what some of them have had to say. "This is my first ever vote, and I'm proud to be participating. I would like them to work on making Korea a better country to live in." "I came to vote to pick someone who can lead our country. Because our country is so polarized and going through a difficult time, we need someone who can bring harmony as a transparent politician." Polling places nationwide will be open until 8 PM. For those casting their ballots at this final hour, what should they keep in mind? Well, anyone who still wishes to cast their ballots must be 18 or above and will need to bring a government-issued ID with them. Also, even though time is running out, anyone who arrives and stands in line before the polls close has the right to vote. But unlike early voting, voters can only cast their ballot based on their registered address. Which polling station they can vote at can be found on a voting guide delivered to each household or through the National Election Commission website. Taking selfies or pictures of the ballots while inside the polling booths is strictly prohibited. That will be a wrap for our live coverage from polling stations for today. Back to you, Jung-min. Our Ahn Sung-jin live from a polling station at Dongjak-gu district. Thank you.