Pyeongtaek-eul and Busan Buk-gap: Outcome Remains Unclear in Exit and Forecast Polls for Top Battlegrounds

[Exit Polls by Three Major Broadcasters] Jo Guk 31.1% vs Yoo Eidong 30.6% vs Kim Yongnam 30.3%... Ha Jeongwoo 42.6% vs Han Donghun 41.6%
[JTBC Forecast Poll] Kim Yongnam 34.20% vs Jo Guk 31.60%... Han Donghun 48.10% vs Ha Jeongwoo 37.60%

The districts of Pyeongtaek-eul in Gyeonggi Province and Buk-gap in Busan, considered the most fiercely contested battlegrounds in the National Assembly by-elections held alongside the June 3 nationwide local elections, were also found to be neck-and-neck according to the exit polls conducted by the three major broadcasters.

In the JTBC projection survey, Pyeongtaek-eul was predicted to be a close race between Kim Yongnam, the Democratic Party of Korea candidate, and Jo Guk, the Innovation Party candidate. However, in the Buk-gap district of Busan, independent candidate Han Donghoon was shown to be ahead of Democratic Party candidate Ha Jeongwoo.

According to the exit polls released by KBS, MBC, and SBS at 6 p.m. on June 3, immediately after voting ended, Jo Guk received 31.1%, Yoo Euidong of the People Power Party received 30.6%, and Kim Yongnam received 30.3% in Pyeongtaek-eul.

(Pyeongtaek = Yonhap News) Reporter Hong Giwon = On May 25, 2026, Kim Yongnam of the Democratic Party of Korea (left), Yoo Euidong of the People Power Party, and Jo Guk of the Innovation Party, candidates for the National Assembly by-election in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, greet citizens in Pyeongtaek City, Gyeonggi-do. Photo by Hong Giwon

In the JTBC projection survey, Kim received 34.20%, while Jo received 31.60%, indicating a close contest.

The by-election in Pyeongtaek-eul was held after former Democratic Party lawmaker Lee Byeongjin lost his seat due to a violation of the Public Official Election Act. The district drew attention as five candidates ran: three from the progressive camp (Kim Yongnam, Jo Guk, and Kim Jaeyeon) and two from the conservative camp (Yoo Euidong and Hwang Kyo-ahn).

Throughout the campaign period, the region maintained a three-way race among Kim Yongnam, Jo Guk, and Yoo Euidong, and the exit poll results did not indicate a clear frontrunner.

With former Democratic Party lawmaker Jun Jae-soo running for mayor of Busan, the seat in Busan Buk-gap became vacant, leading to a competitive race between Democratic Party candidate Ha Jeongwoo and independent candidate Han Donghoon.

Exit poll results from the three broadcasters showed Ha with 42.6% and Han with 41.6%. Park Minsik of the People Power Party was shown at 15.8%.

In the JTBC projection survey, Han led with 48.10%, 10.5 percentage points ahead of Ha, who had 37.60%.

Meanwhile, the exit polls by the three broadcasters (KBS, MBC, SBS) were conducted by Korea Research, Ipsos, and Korea Research International. The survey was carried out from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. on the day of the election, targeting 108,727 people at 615 polling stations nationwide. The margin of error was ±1.7 to ±4.1 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

JTBC announced its projection survey results after the close of voting at 6 p.m. using its own analysis framework.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.