The Reform Party's presidential election situation room could not hide its disappointment when the exit poll results from the three major broadcasters, KBS, MBC, and SBS, were announced on the 3rd.
The Reform Party, which set up its situation room in a small conference room of the National Assembly Members’ Office Building, expected Lee Jun-seok, the candidate, to demonstrate resilience through TV debates and achieve a double-digit vote percentage, but it fell short of expectations. According to the exit poll results from the three major broadcasters, candidate Lee recorded 7.7%.
Starting from 7:30 p.m. that day, the Reform Party leadership and party officials began gathering at the situation room, waiting anxiously for the exit poll results. Cheon Ha-ram, the standing election campaign chairman, along with co-chairpersons Lee Joo-young and Jeon Sung-kyun, stared solemnly at the TV screen.
When the results, falling short of expectations, were announced, Chairman Cheon watched the screen with a momentarily somber expression, his disappointment apparent. Co-Chairperson Lee Joo-young also could not take his eyes off the screen.
Lee Jun-seok, the Reform Party's presidential candidate, met with reporters in front of his home shortly after the exit poll announcement, saying, “You have given a lot of hope and expectations to the younger generation, and I am sorry for not being able to fully embody them.”
Candidate Lee stated, “Through this election, I will continue to study, learn, and refine areas for improvement to contribute to Korea and politics,” adding, “I am grateful to the Reform Party members and supporters for coming together in such a difficult environment and conducting the election so well.”
He continued, “Above all, I sincerely thank the people of Korea for their tremendous support.” He added, “I will repay this grace by continuing my political work.”