BTS and Director Bong Joon Ho Make Symbolic Appearance During South Korea’s 21st Presidential Election Broadcast
On June 3, MBC hosted a special election program titled “Democracy Again: Choice 2025,” capturing the spirit of the moment with AI-generated visuals that highlighted themes like democracy and unity. The broadcast was designed to create an immersive experience for viewers, blending historical and contemporary narratives.
As the clock struck 7:58 p.m., just moments before the joint exit poll results from Korea’s major broadcasters—KBS, MBC, and SBS—were revealed, familiar faces graced the screen. BTS and celebrated filmmaker Bong Joon Ho were part of the presentation, emphasizing the impactful contributions of these figures to Korean culture and society.
BTS was featured prominently for their historic speech at the United Nations General Assembly back in 2018. Leader RM delivered a poignant message that encouraged today’s youth to assert their voices. MBC highlighted a notable quote from RM:
"Instead of dreaming while looking at the stars, let’s all take one more step forward." RM
This moment not only underscored BTS’s role in promoting social issues but also reconnected viewers with the importance of activism and representation.
In a similar vein, Director Bong Joon Ho was remembered for his remarkable achievements when he made history at the 92nd Academy Awards in 2020. His film Parasite became the first film from Asia to clinch the Best Picture award, in addition to winning Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Feature Film. His presence in the election coverage further amplified a sense of national pride and cultural significance.
At exactly 8 p.m., the joint exit poll results came in. The leader, Lee Jaemyung, secured 51.7% of the vote, while Kim Moonsoo followed with 39.3%, marking a 12.4 percentage point difference. Other candidates included Lee Junseok from the Reform Party at 7.7%, Kwon Youngguk from the Democratic Labor Party with 1.3%, and independent candidate Song Jinho, who gathered a mere 0.1%.
These exit polls were meticulously gathered by Korea Research, Ipsos, and Hankook Research across 325 polling stations nationwide. They surveyed a total of 80,146 voters from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m. on election day, presenting a reliability margin of ±0.8 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.
The blend of political coverage with cultural icons like BTS and Bong Joon Ho created a narrative thread that celebrates both the democratic process and the cultural resonance of these public figures in Korean society.