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

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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]
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.

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 Incheon mayor's race ride on the wing of a jumbo jet while smiling gleefully in an SBS exit poll graphic on June 3.
Avatars of candidates in the Daejeon mayor's race appear with anime-style hair 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.
A photo of a candidate appears in an MBC exit poll montage on June 3. [MBC]
A photo of a candidate appears in an MBC exit poll montage on June 3.
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]
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.
A photo of a candidate appears in an MBC exit poll montage on June 3. [MBC]
A photo of a candidate appears in an MBC exit poll montage on June 3.
Avatars of candidates ride in the back of a car on June 3. [SBS]
Avatars of candidates ride in the back of a car on June 3.
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 Democratic Party candidate for Busan mayor Chun Jae-soo wields a trident in an SBS exit poll graphic on June 3.
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]
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.
AI avatars of candidates partake in rebound exercises as results are read out on June 3. [SBS]
AI avatars of candidates partake in rebound exercises as results are read out on June 3.
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]
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.
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]
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.

BY FERGUS GOODALL SMITH [[email protected]]

korea election ai june 3 politics

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