Local Elections: South Koreans voted in nationwide local elections and by-elections, with turnout reaching 51.9% by 3 p.m. and some Seoul polling stations briefly running short of ballots due to higher-than-expected turnout. Election Watch: Exit polls from KBS/MBC/SBS project the ruling Democratic Party ahead in key races, including Gyeonggi governor (Choo Mi-ae 60.4%) and Incheon mayor (Park Chan-dae 53.7%), while North Jeolla governor is projected tight (DP Lee Won-taeg 48.5% vs independent Kim Kwan-young 46.3%). Nuclear Talks: South Korea and the U.S. agreed to push for “tangible outcomes” quickly in nuclear cooperation, including nuclear-powered submarines and civil fuel-cycle autonomy, with a progress-review mechanism planned for the year. Economy & Trade: The OECD raised South Korea’s 2026 growth outlook to 2.6% on strong AI-chip exports, while U.S. tariff proposals tied to forced-labor findings would hit South Korea at a 12.5% rate. Business: DB Insurance completed its acquisition of Fortegra, setting up expansion in specialty insurance across the U.S., Europe and Asia. Tech & Energy: KSTAR reported success holding super-hot plasma stable for over 100 seconds, reaching 100 million degrees Celsius. World Cup: South Korea’s 26-man squad began full training together in Utah ahead of the expanded 2026 World Cup, with Opta giving the team a 70.35% chance to reach the knockout stage.