Jang Dong-hyeok leaves situation room in silence
Party angered by ballot shortage at some Seoul polling stations
By Jung Seok-jun, The Herald Business
The People Power Party watched in a somber mood Wednesday as exit polls for the 9th local elections showed the party leading in only North Gyeongsang Province among 16 regional governor and mayoral races.
About 30 members of the party's election committee — including PPP leader Jang Dong-hyeok, who serves as standing election campaign committee chair, and floor leader Song Eon-seog, a co-chair of the committee — gathered at the party's local election situation room at its Yeouido headquarters roughly 10 minutes before polls closed at 6 p.m.
Tension swept through the room as the exit poll results were announced. The polls projected the Democratic Party of Korea leading or in competitive races in most regions, with the PPP ahead only in North Gyeongsang Province. Jang stared at the screen with a stiff expression while attendees exchanged quiet words as they took in the results.
The mood grew heavier when exit polls showed PPP candidate Oh Se-hoon trailing Democratic Party candidate Jeong Won-o in the Seoul mayoral race, and the Democratic Party projected to lead in Gyeonggi Province, Incheon and other parts of the greater metropolitan area.
Attendees showed little visible reaction as results came in for Busan, South Gyeongsang Province and Ulsan. Even when the Daegu mayoral race was called a toss-up and the North Gyeongsang governorship was projected as a PPP lead, the faces of party leaders and lawmakers remained unchanged. Jang, who hails from South Chungcheong Province, was seen with reddened eyes as he watched the Daejeon mayoral race called in favor of the Democratic Party.
The situation room remained tense as the national tally showed the Democratic Party leading in 11 races to the PPP's one. National Assembly by-elections the party had hoped to contest also appeared to be close fights. The Pyeongtaek-eul constituency in Gyeonggi Province was projected as a three-way race, while the Busan Buk-gap race showed a tight contest between Democratic Party candidate Ha Jung-woo and independent candidate Han Dong-hoon.
Song shifted in his seat repeatedly as he reviewed the exit poll results, while other attendees alternated between checking their phones and watching the broadcast, keeping up a steady stream of conversation.
Jang left the situation room at around 6:40 p.m. after reviewing all the exit poll results, without making any statement.
In a KBS interview after the exit polls were released, Song said the final outcome in several races remained uncertain. "There are about four or five constituencies classified as competitive, and in those races we won't know the result until the very last votes are counted," he said. "Along with our gratitude to the supporters who chose the People Power Party to the end, we will be watching for the final results."
Meanwhile, frustration also surfaced in the situation room over a ballot shortage at some polling stations in Seoul. Before the exit polls were announced, Song complained that turnout had been higher in the previous election yet there had been no reports of ballot shortages then. "They must have taken the budget and spent it," he said, in an apparent reference to the National Election Commission. Co-chair Jung Jeom-sik also shook his head, calling the situation "unprecedented."
mp1256@heraldcorp.com
