South Korea’s Election Night More Entertaining Than Hollywood Blockbusters

Foreign media paid attention to this year’s April 10 general election vote-counting broadcast, which featured dazzling graphics and parodies of famous drama scenes.

On April 10 (local time), the UK’s BBC posted an article titled Is this K-drama? No, it’s South Korea’s election night, noting the dramatic flair of Korea’s election broadcasts. The BBC reported, “Anyone switching on their television set in South Korea tonight will be able to take their pick of exciting viewing options – parliamentary candidates starring in a romantic melodrama, fighting it out on a Hollywood-famous train, or even engaging in a rap battle.”

The broadcaster added, “The TV networks will each roll out visual, entertaining programs using pop culture, artificial intelligence, and fancy graphics.”

BBC also highlighted scenes parodied from SBS’s 2003 Hallyu hit ‘Stairway to Heaven’ and the globally renowned Tom Cruise movie ‘Mission Impossible.’

Additionally, the media reported that the effort for SBS’s vote-counting broadcast was the culmination of a year’s work, involving 70 team members in preparation and about 200 staff working on election night. An SBS official said, “It feels like we are preparing for the Olympics among the team members. It seems like we are showing all our efforts in the vote-counting broadcast.”

Meanwhile, MBC recorded the highest viewership on April 10, the day of the 22nd National Assembly elections.

According to Nielsen Korea, MBC’s Selection 2024: The 22nd National Assembly Election Counting Broadcast part three, aired at 21:50 on April 10, scored a viewership of 11.7%, the highest among all terrestrial, comprehensive, and cable broadcasts on the same day.

MBC’s vote-counting broadcasts, parts one and two, also scored high viewerships of 8.2% and 11.4%, respectively. Part four also recorded a high rate of 6.3% for its time slot.

Following MBC, KBS 1TV’s 2024 General Election Special KBS 9 PM News achieved a viewership of 7.7%. Despite BBC’s coverage, SBS’s ‘2024 People’s Choice Special SBS 8 News’ had a lower viewership of 6.2%.

Other programs included SBS’s 2024 People’s Choice Part Four, which scored 5.6%, and KBS 1TV’s 2024 Your Choice: The 22nd National Assembly Election Counting Broadcast Part Three, which had a viewership of 5.3%.

In the comprehensive channel category, TV Chosun’s Decision 2024 Special TV Chosun News9 The 22nd National Assembly Election part two led with 3.2%. Channel A’s Special News A followed closely with 2.9%, and My Choice 2024 part one recorded 2.5%.

Broadcasters developed various statistical analysis systems and AI technologies to predict election results in real time and captivate viewers with elaborate computer graphics.

Among the entertaining broadcasts noted by netizens was a scene featuring Lee Jae Myung and Won Hee Ryong, candidates from Incheon Gyeyang-eul, appearing as tragic characters from Romeo and Juliet. Another highlight was a dance-off set to the hit song “How Did We Meet” by the band Songgolmae, featuring candidates Ahn Cheol Soo from Gyeonggi Bundang-gab and Lee Kwang Jae from the Democratic Party.

In Seoul Yeongdeungpo-eul, candidates Kim Min Seok from the Democratic Party and Park Yong Chan from the People Power Party were featured in a sit-up scene from Secret Garden, with their faces superimposed, eliciting laughter from viewers.

SBS showcased real-time voting rates using an AI chatbot and virtual voice technology, preparing for the broadcast with one-on-one deep learning sessions. KBS also actively utilized AI to feature avatars of candidates competing in rap and dance on a ring.

MBC, boasting the highest viewership, focused on childlike innocence in its broadcasts. It introduced concepts like an Animal Olympics where a lynx participated in a cycling event or showed independence activists as toy block figures to present the vote counting in a friendly manner.