Nothing Says Chuseok Quite Like SPAM

Half a century ago, most South Koreans would never have imagined that in the 21st century, canned meat from the U.S. would be the most popular gift for Chuseok, the Korean holiday marking the harvest season. Back in the 1950s and 60s, holiday gifts were usually limited to crops, chicken, sugar and whatever else they could get their hands on …

Still, it’s Spam that remains the most popular and iconic gift of them all. Minnesota-based Hormel Foods licensed Spam to CJ CheilJedang Corp in the late 80s, cementing the product’s status as a household dish and “the national ham.” (South Koreans are the second-largest consumers of Spam in the world, following the U.S.)

Chuseok this year is right around the corner, falling on Oct. 4. Participate in the South Korean tradition, and buy that ham for the ones you love.