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First the vote, then the visuals: Korea's exit poll animations are back — in pictures

Published: 03 Jun. 2026, 19:36

Avatars of Seoul mayoral candidates Chong Won-o of the Democratic Party, left, and incumbent Oh Se-hoon of the People Power Party sprint like video game characters in an SBS exit poll graphic on June 3. [SBS]

With a Korean election comes a favorite tradition: wacky, sometimes tacky, animated exit poll results.

This year, SBS took the humorous cake with its AI-generated graphics powered by OpenAI. Candidates appeared to come straight out of a Mortal Kombat face-off, waving tridents or riding on the wings of jumbo jets as exit poll results broke at 6 p.m.

Other networks went for something a bit more moderate. MBC created touching montages of politicians throughout key moments of their lives, from childhood to the campaign trail.

KBS kept it toned down, with only a few animated artworks flashing behind the results.

Avatars of candidates in the Incheon mayor's race ride on the wing of a jumbo jet while smiling gleefully in an SBS exit poll graphic on June 3. [SBS]

Avatars of candidates in the Daejeon mayor's race appear with anime-style hair in an SBS exit poll graphic on June 3. [SBS]

A photo of a candidate appears in an MBC exit poll montage on June 3. [MBC]

Avatars of candidates in the Gyeonggi governor's race with apparent superpowers are color-coded to their respective parties in an SBS exit poll graphic on June 3. [SBS]

A photo of a candidate appears in an MBC exit poll montage on June 3. [MBC]

Avatars of candidates ride in the back of a car on June 3. [SBS]

An avatar of Democratic Party candidate for Busan mayor Chun Jae-soo wields a trident in an SBS exit poll graphic on June 3. [SBS]

An avatar of incumbent Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon, running for re-election as the People Power Party candidate, waves a sword in an SBS exit poll graphic on June 3. [SBS]

AI avatars of candidates partake in rebound exercises as results are read out on June 3. [SBS]

An avatar of Seoul mayoral candidate Chong Won-o of the Democratic Party came out ahead in an exit poll montage on SBS on June 3. [SBS]

Avatars of Democratic Party, left, and People Power Party candidates for South Chungcheong governor meditate together in an SBS exit poll graphic on June 3. [SBS]

BY FERGUS GOODALL SMITH [[email protected]]