Card usage at Gwanghwamun Plaza and the surrounding area rose 24 percent on-year, flagging 1.08 million transactions on the back of the six Saturday rallies against President Park Geun-hye, data by KB Kookmin Card showed Thursday.
 

In the latest protest on Dec. 3, a record high of over 2.32 million people took to the streets nationwide, calling on President Park to immediately resign over her involvement in the influence-peddling scandal.

Card usage at fast food stores in Seoul’s Jung-gu and Jongno-gu districts totaled 49,994 transactions, up 65.1 percent, over the past six Saturdays. Meanwhile, transactions at fast-food chain restaurants nationwide increased by an average 18.2 percent.

Transactions at convenience stores and luxury hotels also increased by 50.6 percent and 39.4 percent, respectively. “Card transactions at fast-food chains and convenience stores increased a lot more compared to other venues, due to the large crowd that gathered (for the rallies),” KB Kookmin Card explained.

In contrast, some sectors were dealt a blow by the candlelight vigils.

Card swipes at family restaurants in the mentioned areas plunged 35.9 percent, while a nationwide dip averaged 0.9 percent.

Theaters also saw a 23.5 percent drop in usage, although the national average decreased by a mere 0.5 percent. 

By Kim Bo-gyung  (lisakim425@heraldcorp.com)