Seoul: The local election race in South Korea is reaching its final stage, with significant focus on key figures and pivotal issues. According to Yonhap News Agency, the keyword 'Lee Jae Myung' has become central to the political discourse, as highlighted by Kyunghyang Shinmun. The tight race for the Seoul mayoral position is notably influenced by the engagement of 30-something voters and the turnout in Gangnam, as reported by Kookmin Daily. Donga Ilbo notes that candidates from the same party are presenting overlapping campaign promises, including initiatives aimed at attracting institutions. Meanwhile, Seoul Shinmun points out a general economic trend where various sectors are experiencing growth, yet individual paychecks remain stagnant. Segye Times reports that early voting turnout has hit a record high, with the Democratic Party emphasizing the need for administrative stabilization, while the People Power Party urges voters to check the ruling party's dominance. Chosun Ilbo highlights efforts by the ruling party to rally support for the Lee administration, in contrast to the main opposition's attempts to attract conservative voters. JoongAng Ilbo reveals that both rival parties are making extensive efforts as the election race intensifies, with former President Lee Myung-bak involved in supporting the campaigns. Hankyoreh reports a clash between the Democratic Party and the People Power Party, with the former criticizing the involvement of former presidents Lee Myung-bak and Park Geun-hye as a political regression, while the latter calls on voters to scrutinize Lee Jae Myung. The issue of political neutrality has become prominent in the school superintendent election race, as candidates align themselves visibly with either blue or red, according to Hankook Ilbo. Maeil Business Newspaper provides insight into the economic sphere, where 72 percent of economists positively assess the government's capital market revitalization policy. Additionally, Korea Economic Daily outlines the interest shown by SpaceX in South Korean precision manufacturers. In the realm of English-language media, Korea JoongAng Daily reports on Hegseth's call for balance in the timeline for the Operational Control (OPCON) transfer. The Korea Times and Korea Herald emphasize the record early voting turnout of 23.51 percent and the contrasting perspectives on this phenomenon within the campaign narratives.