Budae jjigae, also known as “army stew” among English-speaking foodies, has a sad origin story.

After the Korean War, when food was scarce, people scavenged leftovers from US army bases and got creative with whatever items they could find. The result? A mash-up masterpiece originally nicknamed “pig stew” or “UN stew,” a nod to the United Nations forces supporting South Korea during the war.

The thick soup combines Western meats — such as sausages, ham and Spam — with traditional Korean ingredients like kimchi, gochujang (red chile paste) and a variety of vegetables.

Some versions take it further, adding sliced American cheese, baked beans, instant noodles or tofu to enhance the flavor.

As strange — or even scary — as this combination might sound, its flavor exceeds all expectations. There’s a reason it’s a must-try dish for anyone visiting Korea.

(army stew, Korean army base soup, spicy sausage stew, mixed meat and kimchi hot pot)