Election Integrity Crisis: South Korea’s election chief Rho Tae-ak resigned after ballot shortages disrupted the June 3 local elections, with riot police clearing protesters who blocked officials from retrieving ballot boxes in Seoul’s Songpa area; the NEC said ballots were printed for only about half of eligible voters at some sites due to turnout miscalculation, and legal challenges are now swirling. Local Power Shift: The ruling Democratic Party won most nationwide races but lost the key Seoul mayoral contest in a razor-thin result, intensifying pressure on the government and opposition to explain campaign and policy gaps. North Korea Nuclear Escalation: Kim Jong-un unveiled a new nuclear material production facility and called for “exponential” expansion of the atomic arsenal ahead of a high-profile Xi-Kim meeting. China-NK Diplomacy: Chinese President Xi Jinping will visit North Korea next week for the first trip since 2019, signaling Beijing’s push to reassert influence as Pyongyang deepens ties with Russia. AI Profit-Sharing Debate: South Korea’s labor minister urged tech firms to share excess AI windfalls with suppliers and workers, drawing sharp criticism from the People Power Party over “state intervention.” Markets & Tech Mood: South Korean stocks slid as global risk sentiment cooled after Broadcom’s outlook and ahead of major economic data.