A closer look
When your entire national infrastructure is obliterated by war, a perpetually shelf-stable block of salty, mystery pork becomes liquid gold. Introduced by the US military during the Korean War, Spam evolved from a desperate survival food into a luxury status symbol. It became so valuable in South Korea that people actively used it as an informal currency to bribe officials and trade for essential services. Today, beautifully packaged Spam gift sets are heavily exchanged during Korean holidays.
