Voter Turnout Reaches 57.4% by 5 PM in Local Elections, Up 9.8 Percentage Points from Four Years Ago As of 5 PM on June 3, the voter turnout for the 9th nationwide local elections stood at 57.4%. According to the National Election Commission, 25,617,431 of the 44,649,908 eligible voters participated in the elections. This figure includes votes cast during early voting, absentee voting, and shipboard voting conducted from May 29 to 30. Regionally, South Jeolla Province recorded the highest turnout at 63.6%, while Gwangju had the lowest at 51.5%. Other notable turnouts included Seoul at 5 June 3, 2026

Ottogi Launches 'Jin Ramen Slightly Spicy' in Cup and Bowl Formats Ottogi announced on June 3 that it will expand the availability of its 'Jin Ramen Slightly Spicy' in both cup and bowl formats. Initially launched as a bag noodle product, 'Jin Ramen Slightly Spicy' was first introduced as a limited edition in May of last year. Due to positive consumer feedback, it was officially released as a regular product in September of the same year. The flavor offers a level of spiciness that falls between the original Jin Ramen's mild and spicy varieties, garneri June 3, 2026

Korean American Congress Members Face Mixed Results in California Primary Korean American members of Congress received mixed results in California's primary elections. On June 2, Dave Min (Democrat) secured his place in the general election for California's 47th District with 44.7% of the vote based on 50% of ballots counted. Min's closest competitor, Republican Jenny Rae Le Roux, and other Republican candidates collectively garnered less than 40% of the vote, suggesting a strong likelihood of Min's victory in the general election. In contrast, Young Kim (Repu June 3, 2026

When Will the Results of the June 3 Local Elections Be Announced? The main voting for the 9th nationwide local elections concluded at 6 p.m. on June 3, drawing attention to the timing of exit poll results and the counting schedule. According to the National Election Commission and broadcasting companies, KBS, MBC, and SBS will announce the results of the exit polls at 6 p.m. However, predictions of winning candidates and estimated vote percentages can only be reported starting at 6:15 p.m., 15 minutes after polls close, in accordance with election law. June 3, 2026

Special Prosecutor Summons Former Interior Minister for Budget Misappropriation Inquiry The second comprehensive special prosecutor team, led by Kwon Chang-young, has summoned Han Chang-seob, the former Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety, as part of its investigation into allegations surrounding the relocation of the presidential residence. This move comes a day before the first interrogation of Lee Sang-min, the former Interior Minister, regarding the alleged misappropriation of funds for the residence's construction. According to legal sources on June 3, the special June 3, 2026

Voters from 110-Year-Old Grandmother to Island Fishermen Cast Meaningful Ballots On June 3, the main voting day for the 9th nationwide local elections, polling stations across the country were filled with stories that held more significance than just a single vote. From unique locations like a pottery shop and a gateball court transformed into polling places to island residents who traveled by boat, first-time voters, and a 110-year-old voter, a diverse group of citizens exercised their precious right to vote. One notable polling station was a pottery shop in Jangseon June 3, 2026

[WNMC 2026] AJP Director Seo Hye-seung: 'AI Native News Agency is the Answer' – Korean Model Unveiled in Marseille Seo Hye-seung, the editor-in-chief of Aju Media Group (AJP), participated as a panelist in the session titled "How AI Is Transforming the News Experience" at the 77th World News Media Congress (WNMC) held on June 3 in Marseille, France. The session was moderated by Dmitry Shishkin, a former BBC World Service journalist, and featured media leaders from Germany's Ippen Digital, dpa, and India's Scroll.in. During the discussion, Seo highlighted AJP's strength as a latecomer in the English June 3, 2026

KB Kookmin Card AI Center Head: The Goal is to Make AI Centers Obsolete Lee Cheong-jae, head of the AI Center at KB Kookmin Card, believes that the completion of AI transformation (AX) will mean the AI Center will no longer need to take the lead. He explained that the role of the AI Center is to establish a foundation that allows employees to utilize AI in their respective tasks, rather than having a dedicated team develop all services directly. In an interview with Aju Economy on June 3, Lee compared generative AI to Microsoft Office, stating, "In the future June 3, 2026

KB Kookmin Card's AI Chief Predicts Era of Clickless Payments The global payment market is experiencing a shift in competition. Traditionally, card payments involved consumers navigating apps or online stores to find products and compare benefits before selecting a card at checkout. However, with the rise of generative AI, experts predict a new model where AI will understand consumer preferences and facilitate everything from product discovery to recommendations and payments. This trend is referred to as 'Agent Pay.' Instead of customers clicking th June 3, 2026

Nexon's Mintrocket Unveils 'Bancho the Chef' Expanding 'Dave the Diver' IP Nexon subsidiary Mintrocket has announced a new game titled 'Bancho the Chef,' expanding the universe of 'Dave the Diver.' According to the gaming industry, Mintrocket unveiled the trailer for 'Bancho the Chef' during Sony Interactive Entertainment's online showcase, 'State of Play,' on June 2. 'Bancho the Chef' features Bancho, a sushi master from Mintrocket's marine adventure game 'Dave the Diver,' which was released in June 2023. The game explores Bancho's story before he meets the pr June 3, 2026