The Democratic Party of Korea's ballot counting situation room cheered when the exit poll results from the three major terrestrial broadcasters for the 21st presidential election were announced. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party's presidential candidate, showed a smooth start with a voter turnout exceeding 50% in the exit poll.

Members and officials of the Democratic Party of Korea cheer as the results of the exit poll for the 21st presidential election show candidate Lee Jae-myung leading with 51.7% at the vote counting room in the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, on Mar. 3. /Courtesy of News1

At around 7:05 p.m., officials from the election campaign committee and affiliated lawmakers gathered in the Democratic Party's ballot counting situation room, located in the National Assembly's conference room. As the announcement of the exit poll approached at 8 p.m., the campaign committee chairpersons watched the broadcast with somewhat tense expressions.

Upon the announcement of the exit poll, cheers and applause erupted in the ballot counting situation room. Lee Jae-myung, the Democratic Party candidate, recorded a voter turnout of 51.7%, leading Kim Moon-soo of the People Power Party (39.3%) by more than 10 percentage points.

Democratic Party campaign committee officials were seen congratulating each other with handshakes. Yoon Yeo-joon and Park Chan-dae, co-chairs of the Democratic Party, restrained their joy as much as possible and exchanged applause with fellow co-chairs. Political elders Kim Won-ki, Lim Chae-jeong, and Kwon No-gap, who visited the situation room, also shook hands with campaign committee officials, saying, 'You worked hard.'

Yoon Yeojun and Park Chan-dae, co-chairmen of the Democratic Party of Korea, shake hands as the results of the exit poll for the 21st presidential election show candidate Lee Jae-myung leading with 51.7% at the vote counting room in the National Assembly building in Yeouido, Seoul, on Mar. 3. /Courtesy of News1

Kang Geum-sil, the co-chair of the Democratic Party, let out a sigh of relief and covered her face with her hands. The affiliated lawmakers seated behind the campaign chairpersons also gasped in amazement and stood up to applaud, raising their arms in celebration.

After that, cheers and applause continued every time the results of the regional exit polls were announced. Especially, when the exit poll from Ulsan revealed that Lee Jae-myung was ahead with 46.5% over Kim Moon-soo (44.3%), the shouts of 'Wow!' grew louder. They also showed excitement when the exit poll revealed a reduction in the voter turnout gap to single digits in Busan and Gyeongnam.

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