Why is Spam a luxury food in South Korea?

Read it here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24140705

I'm not a big fan of Spam.When I think of Spam I don't see it as a luxury, but in South Korea its really popular.

When I lived in South Korea I always wondered why Spam was so popular. I never asked anyone. I just thought it was one of many odd differences between the US and Korea. Around the holidays stores sell Spam gift sets. Spam gift sets? Really. I don't think America would ever catch on to that trend.

Today I found an interesting article on BBC that explains Korea's love for spam.
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South Korea is the biggest consumer of Spam outside of the USA.

A Spam gift set is a desirable gift in South Korea around the big holidays such as Chuseok and Lunar New Year. (Koreans are celebrating Chuseok now).

Spam became a luxury item in South Korea during the Korean war. Food was in short supply so Spam was smuggled from the army base. Koreans had to make meals out of whatever they could find.

South Korea's love for Spam has remained years later. Spam is one of the main ingredients in budae jiggae or army stew. Ho Gi-suk, a restaurant owner, says she invented army stew back in 1954 when someone smuggled some spam, sausages and bacon from the army base. She turned them into a soup. Now army soup is a popular dish in South Korea.

world’s first invisible skyscraper?

Read it here: http://travel.yahoo.com/blogs/compass/tower-infinity-world-first-invisible-skyscraper-222051298.html

The world's first invisible skyscraper will be built outside of Seoul, South Korea. It's not really invisible, but that is the concept of the building. 

"The building will be covered in a skin of LED mesh bars along with 18 weatherproofed cameras, which will capture surrounding views and project them back onto the building."

The Tower Infinity skyscraper will be 1476 feet high. The building will have the third-highest observation deck in the world. The building will include a 4D theater, restaurants, a water park and landscaped gardens.
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The building sounds cool. I read on another site that it will be completed in 2014. Maybe I can see it when I go to visit Korea.

First Public Gay Wedding in Korea

Read more here:
 http://english.yonhapnews.co.kr/national/2013/09/07/38/0302000000AEN20130907002600315F.html

**South Korea does not legally recognize same sex marriage.

A gay couple held a public wedding near Cheonggye Stream on September 7th, 2013. About 1,000 people attended the ceremony.

Music Video: G-Dragon "Coup D'etat"