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Foreign visitors' card spending in Seoul jumped nearly 58 percent from a year earlier to 8.84 trillion won ($6.57 billion) in the first nine months of 2026, surpassing last year's annual total and setting a record, Seoul city government data showed Tuesday. Yonhap reports the increase was driven by a record number of visitors, with spending growing faster than tourist numbers. The Dong-A Ilbo notes consumption expanded beyond Myeong-dong and Gangnam to Seongsu, alleyway commercial districts, and traditional markets.