Exit polls suggest a big win by South Korea’s liberal opposition parties in parliamentary election

(10 Apr 2024)
FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4487880

AGENCY POOL
Seoul, South Korea - 10 April 2024
1. Wide South Korean main opposition Democratic Party lawmakers and members cheering after exit polls are announced
2. Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung applauding
3. Party members cheering
4. Mid of Lee and party members
5. Close tilt-up of Lee

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seoul, South Korea - 10 April 2024
6. Wide of South Korean ruling People's Power Party lawmakers and members at election situation room
7. Mid of People's Power Party leader Han Dong-hoon watching exit poll results
8. Wide of party members watching exit poll results
9. Wide of party members
10. Wide of Han going up to podium
11. SOUNDBITE (Korean) Han Dong-hoon, People's Power Party leader: ++PARTLY OVERLAID WITH SHOT 14++
"We tried our best to practice politics in following the will of the people, but I am disappointed with the exit poll results. However, I will be watching the people's choice and the vote count until the end."
12. Various of South Korean election officials counting votes for parliamentary election

STORYLINE:
South Korea’s liberal opposition parties were expected to win a landslide victory in Wednesday’s parliamentary election, initial exit polls suggested, a result that if confirmed would make conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol a lame duck for his remaining three years in office.

The joint exit polls by South Korea’s three major TV stations – KBS, MBC and SBS – showed the main opposition Democratic Party and its satellite party were forecast to win combined 178-197 seats in the 300-member National Assembly.

They expected another new liberal opposition party to win 12-14 seats.

The polls suggested the ruling People Power Party and its satellite party were projected to win 85-105 seats.

Wednesday's election was widely seen as a mid-term confidence vote on President Yoon, a former top prosecutor who took office in 2022 for a single five-year term.

He has been grappling with low approval ratings and a liberal opposition-controlled parliament that has limited his major policy platforms.

Regardless of the results, Yoon will stay in power, but if his party fails to regain a parliamentary majority it could set back Yoon’s agenda and further intensify conservative-liberal fighting.

Of the 300 seats, 254 will be elected through direct votes in local districts, and the other 46 to the parties according to their proportion of the vote.

Election observers say candidates in about 50 to 55 local districts are in neck-and-neck races.

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