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Published: 10 Apr. 2024, 06:25 Updated: 11 Apr. 2024, 22:29

LIVE COVERAGE: Korea's 2024 general election

Koreans cast their ballots for a new National Assembly during Wednesday’s general election. [YONHAP/NEWS1]

The liberal Democratic Party (DP) won in a landslide victory in the 2024 general election, dealing a blow to President Yoon Suk Yeol and the conservative People's Power Party (PPP).

Voter turnout for the April 10 general election reached 67 percent as of 6 p.m., according to the National Election Committee.

Follow along with the Korea JoongAng Daily as our reporters continue to bring you the latest about the 2024 general election, including the characters and quirks beyond the ballot box.

April 11 election results

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- 12: 00 p.m. The liberal DP and its satellite party, the Democratic United Party (DUP), secured a total of 175 seats including 14 proportional representation seats, while the PPP and its affiliated People Future Party (PFP) claimed 108 seats, including 18 proportional spots.

- 11: 30 a.m. President Yoon Suk Yeol said that he will "humbly accept" his party's crushing electoral defeat.

- 11 a.m. Prime Minister Han Duck-soo, presidential aides and PPP interim chief Han Dong-hoon offered to resign Thursday morning following the PPP’s crushing defeat.

- 10 a.m. Crucial battlefield results — The DP swept 102 out of 122 seats in the Seoul metropolitan area, while the PPP clinched just 19 seats. Here are the results of some of the most closely watched races, which include former PPP chief Lee Jun-seok earning his first parliamentary seat.

- 9:00 a.m. In a Cabinet meeting Thursday morning, Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said, “The government will humbly accept the public sentiment through the general election and reflect on the overall state of affairs."

Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks in a Cabinet meeting at the government complex in central Seoul Thursday morning, addressing the general election results. [YONHAP]

- 8:30 a.m. PPP interim chief Han Dong-hoon said he will announce his position on his party’s general election defeat at 10:30 a.m. Thursday.

- 7:00 a.m. The liberal Democratic Party (DP) clinched a resounding victory, retaining a majority in the 300-seat National Assembly following Korea’s general election Wednesday. The DP took the lead in 161 out of 254 regional constituencies and the conservative People Power Party (PPP) in 90 districts, according to the National Election Commission (NEC) as of 7 a.m. Thursday, with over 99.8 percent of votes tallied.

DP clinches resounding victory in Korea's general election

April 10 Election Day highlights

Election staffers tally ballots at a counting station set up at a gymnasium at Seoul National University in Gwanak District, southern Seoul, Wednesday evening after polls closed for Korea’s parliamentary elections. [YONHAP]

- 2:00 a.m. The Korea JoongAng Daily's live coverage of the 2024 general election will pause and resume at 7 a.m. Thursday.

- 2:00 a.m. As of 2:00 a.m. Thursday, 88.53 percent of votes had been tallied, with the DP taking the lead in 156 out of 254 regional constituencies and the conservative People Power Party (PPP) ahead in 95 districts.

- 1:30 a.m. As of 1:30 a.m. Thursday, 84.75 percent of votes had been tallied, with the DP taking the lead in 156 out of 254 regional constituencies and the PPP ahead in 95 districts.

Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung, center, speaks to his supporters at his campaign office in Incheon, early Thursday, as he was projected to be re-elected in Incheon's Gyeyang-B District. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

- 12:00 a.m. As of 12 a.m. Thursday, 70 percent of votes had been tallied, with the DP taking the lead in 159 out of 254 regional constituencies and the People Power Party ahead in 92 districts.

- 11:00 p.m. Tight races — Some of the closest races include political heavyweights and future presidential hopefuls vying for key seats in districts in the Seoul metropolitan area.

- 10:00 p.m. The Democratic Party appears on track to increase its majority in the 300-member National Assembly. As of 10 p.m., 36.40 percent of votes had been tallied, with the DP taking the lead in 143 out of 254 regional constituencies and the People Power Party ahead in 107 districts.

DP on track for landslide victory, veto override in reach

People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon speaks to reporters after seeing the exit poll results which forecast a victory for the rival Democratic Party at the PPP situation room in the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, Wednesday. He said the results were “disappointing,” but added that he would “observe the choices made by the people until the very end.” [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

- 7:46 p.m. Voter turnout was 67 percent as of 6 p.m., or 29,661,951 voters, according to the NEC, including early votes. Turnout was up 0.8 percent compared to that of the previous general election, in 2020. This is the final turnout tally of the night.

LIVE GRAPHIC: Voter turnout for Korea's general election

- 7:37 p.m. Election day mischief — While we're waiting for election officials and volunteers to tally votes nationwide — which is expected to finish early Thursday morning — catch up on a bit of ballot box brouhaha: Election Day misdeeds reported nationwide

Police arrested a woman in her 60s for allegedly damaging a ballot box at a Goyang, Gyeonggi middle school around 1:15 p.m. Wednesday. She reportedly put her ballot in the ballot box before breaking the box’s seal. Police escorted the woman to a nearby police station.

Plus, a candidate of a minor political party surnamed Lee was accused of interfering with voting by blocking the entrance to a Daejeon polling station when his request to change the ballot paper was denied.

- 6:45 p.m. Exit polls predict big DP win — The liberal Democratic Party (DP) looks set to increase its majority in the 300-member National Assembly, according to exit polls after voting closed Wednesday.

Democratic Party Chairman Lee Jae-myung, second from right, is cheerful after seeing exit poll results in favor of his party at the DP’s situation room in the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The acrimonious election was framed as a referendum on either President Yoon Suk Yeol or DP leader Lee Jae-myung, whose party has held a parliamentary majority for the past four years.

The DP and the Democratic United Party (DUP) together are likely to win 183 to 197 seats, while the PPP and the People Future Party (PFP) are expected to win 85 to 100 seats combined, according to SBS, which conducted an exit poll with fellow broadcasters KBS and MBC that surveyed 359,750 voters at 1,980 polling stations nationwide Wednesday.

People Power Party interim leader Han Dong-hoon listens solemnly to a report from a party official after seeing the exit poll results for the general election at a PPP situation room in the National Assembly in Yeouido, western Seoul, Wednesday. [NEWS1]

Read more: DP likely to trounce PPP, veto override in reach: Exit polls

A 100-year-old woman casts her ballot for the general election at a middle school in Ulsan on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

- 6:28 p.m. JTBC exit polling results — According to an exit poll conducted by cable broadcaster JTBC, an affiliate of the Korea JoongAng Daily, the Democratic Party (DP) and its satellite party are expected to secure a combined 168-193 seats, and the People Power Party (PPP) and its affiliated party are likely to win 87-111 seats.

- 6 p.m. POLLS CLOSE

- 5:58 p.m. Subtitle snafu: 'Sorry' — Local news channel YTN released a statement apologizing for misrepresenting the number of proportional candidates in the Rebuilding Korea Party in subtitles in its morning broadcast.

YTN subtitles write the candidate number of the Rebuilding Korea Party as "10" instead of the correct "9" on Wednesday. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

The party, led by former Justice Minister Cho Kuk, had earlier requested an apology and explanation.

YTN apologizes for airing wrong ballot number for Rebuilding Korea Party

“Today, we sent out a caption misinforming the candidate number of the Rebuilding Korea Party as 10 for 57 seconds from 7:47 a.m.,” YTN said in the press release. “We would like to apologize to the party and viewers [for the caption].”

The party’s proportional candidate number is, in fact, 9.

- 5:47 p.m. State of the art — Election graphics in Korea have been known to carry a sort of childlike energy — and that's become true for people casting their ballots, too. Young Koreans nowadays consider not only who to vote for but also how to show off how they voted, literally, on social media.

A design carrying an ″I voted″ stamp featuring the cartoon character Manggom. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Some voters bring an additional slip of paper, with a cartoon, a graphic or the face of an idol, to be stamped in a new twist to the “#IVOTED” movement.

Photographing an actual ballot can land someone up to two years in prison — or 4 million won (nearly $3,000) in fines, but bringing in a slip of paper and stamping it does not violate the Public Official Election Act.

- 5 p.m. Voter turnout is 64.1 percent as of 5 p.m., or 28,385,276 voters, according to the NEC, including early votes.

Voters stranded at sea — Many voters living in remote areas traveled by boat to reach the nearest polling station and cast their ballots. A boat carrying voters from Ogok Island near Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang was stranded for 20 minutes due to an engine problem before the Coast Guard was able to remove the passengers to another nearby island, Haglimdo.

The Coast Guard helps transport six voters stranded on a 29-ton cruise ship near Ogok Island off the coast of Tongyeong, South Gyeongsang, to a polling station on another island Wednesday. [COAST GUARD]

More: ‘I broke my ankle, but came out to vote’: Koreans share their Election Day stories

- 4:40 p.m. Total tally time — The April 10 general election ticket, at 51.7 centimeters (20.3 inches), is Korea's longest-ever ballot — as 38 parties registered for the 46 proportional representation slots.

Voters are lined up to cast ballots at an elementary school in Songpa District, southern Seoul on Wednesday. [YONHAP]

Counting ballots will take at least two hours longer than usual, according to the National Election Commission.

Some 76,000 personnel, including volunteers, will participate in tallying.

Here's how it will work: After voting closes at 6 p.m., all ballot boxes will be transferred from polling stations to counting stations in each region. Likewise, early ballot boxes stored at provincial and municipal NEC offices will also be transported to the counting stations under police escort.

Read more: All hands on deck at Korea's election watchdog

- 4:09 p.m. Stamp of approval — Uploading a photo of one's "I voted" stamp to social media has become a tradition for Korean voters in recent general election years. Celebrities are getting in on the trend, too.

A voter takes a photo of a stamp showing off that they voted for the general election after exiting a polling station in Seocho District, southern Seoul on Wednesday. [NEWS1]

- 4 p.m. Voter turnout is 61.8 percent as of 4 p.m., or 27,370,609 voters, according to the NEC, including early votes.

LIVE PHOTO: Korean celebrities, idols cast their votes on Election Day

- 3:43 p.m. Green onion gripes — Green onions landed at the center of criticism toward President Yoon Suk Yeol in the lead-up to election day and have become a symbol for the liberal DP as voters continue to blast the conservative leader for being out of touch.

Yoon, during a visit to a discount mart in southern Seoul on March 18 where green onions had been substantially discounted, said “875 won (65 cents) for a bunch of green onions looks like a fair price.” The average price of green onions on that day was around 3,000 won.

The number of online mentions of “green onions” surged from around 300 per every 100,000 online posts on March 18, to 486 on March 20 and 932 on March 24.

A person holds up green onions and a poster during a visit to Daegu by Former Justice Minister Cho Kuk of the Rebuilding Korea Party on Thursday, the day before election day. [NEWS1[

The green onion controversy gained traction again when the National Election Commission banned “bringing green onions for political intentions” to polling stations during the two-day early voting period.

DP leader Lee Jae-myung carried a helmet decorated with green onions during his campaign activities on April 6, while former Justice Minister Cho Kuk of the Rebuilding Korea Party declared the general election as the “Green Onion Revolution” in a social media post on April 7.

Read more: Candidate controversies take over online sphere during election lead-up

- 3 p.m. Voter turnout is 59.3 percent as of 3 p.m., or 26,259,770 voters, according to the NEC, including early votes.

Polling party favors — Major broadcasters are handing out gifts to voters who participate in their exit polls as they leave polling stations nationwide. People are sharing photos to social media of a green box of bandaids they received for participating in the exit poll.

Broadcasters KBS, MBC and SBS are conducting a joint exit poll on some 500,000 voters at over 2,000 polling stations across Korea from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A pollster hands out gifts to voters who respond to an exit poll being conducted jointly by the three major broadcasters in front of a polling station at Yonsei University in Seodaemun District, central Seoul, Wednesday. [NEWS1]

- 2 p.m. Voter turnout is 56.4 percent as of 2 p.m., or 24,974,380 voters, according to the NEC, including early votes.

- 1 p.m. Voter turnout is 53.4 percent as of 1 p.m., or 23,637,476 voters, according to the NEC, including early votes.

- ‘I broke my ankle, but came out to vote’: Koreans share their Election Day stories

- Voting disturbances emerge at Gwangju polling stations, including a YouTuber filming voters and people tampering with ballot papers

A future voter watches his mother cast her ballot at a polling station at a middle school in Michuhol District in Incheon Wednesday. [YONHAP]

LIVE GRAPHIC: Voter turnout for Korea's general election

- 12 p.m. Voter turnout is 18.5 percent as of 12 p.m., or 8,184,220 voters, according to the NEC. This didn’t include early votes.

- Major political figures, including former presidents and first ladies, showed up to the polls Wednesday morning.

Elderly people living in remote rural areas arrive by bus at a polling station set up at an elementary school in Gokseong County, South Jeolla, on Wednesday to cast their ballots for the 2024 general election. [YONHAP]

- 11 a.m. Voter turnout is 14.5 percent as of 11 a.m., or 6,424,367 voters, according to the NEC. This didn’t include early votes.

A mother poses for a selfie with her daughter, showing off the ballot stamp on the back of her hand after voting at a polling station in Dalseong County, Daegu, Wednesday. [NEWS1]

- 10 a.m. Voter turnout is 10.4 percent as of 10 a.m., or 4,610,155 voters, according to the NEC. This didn’t include early votes.

Voters cast their ballots at a polling station in Nonsan, South Chungcheong, Wednesday. [NEWS1]

- 9 a.m. Voter turnout is 6.9 percent as of 9 a.m., or 3,071,328 voters, according to the NEC. This didn’t include early votes.

Roh Tae-ak, head the National Election Commission, casts his ballot at a polling station at an elementary school in Bangbaebon-dong in Seocho District, southern Seoul, Wednesday morning. [NEWS1]

A dog watches voters cast ballots at a polling station in Hannam-dong in Yongsan District, central Seoul, Wednesday morning. [NEWS1]

- 8 a.m. Voter turnout is 4.2 percent as of 8 a.m., or 1,857,606 voters, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). This didn’t include early votes.

People are standing in a long line to vote at a polling station in Namdong District in Incheon Wednesday morning. [YONHAP]

- 6 a.m. Voting begins for the April 10 general election from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. at 14,259 polling stations nationwide.

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