Time now for our "Life & Info" segment,... where we focus on information useful for your everyday lives.<br />Coffee is one of the most loved drinks anywhere you go in the world.<br />But here in South Korea, demand for it has been soaring, and many people say what gradually started as a habit has become a culture of its own.<br />Today we take a look at the wide spectrum of the coffee market in South Korea -- particularly in terms of price.<br />Happy to be joined in the studio by our Kim Mok-yeon.<br />Hi Mok-yeon, let's talk coffee then <br />Good morning Mark, before we get started, do you like coffee?<br />How often do you drink coffee each day?<br />Well... I also love coffee. For me, it's more like a habit after I get out of bed, or when I finish having lunch.<br />So you mentioned that South Korea's love for coffee knows no bounds.<br />Recent data shows that an average person living in Korea drinks more than 500 cups of coffee a year.... that's around one-and-a-half cups a day on average.<br />Demand is continuing to rise too and the size of the coffee market is still growing at a rapid pace.<br />If we take a look at the screen here, we can see that the local coffee market size is nearly four times bigger in the latest data than it was just a decade ago. <br />And especially in South Korea, the trend has been even more evident in coffee shops, with annual sales by the major franchise's sitting in the world's top three. <br />Yeah, certain franchises in Korea are always packed with people and finding a seat -- especially a comfy one -- can be a challenge. But gone are the days of ready-mix coffee in Korea, you can get coffee from all of the world, big, small, hot and cold, right?<br />Very true. Well Mark, let me ask you a question, how much do you usually spend on coffee if you go to a coffee shop?<br />Well I normally get a regular hot black coffee so... three to four dollars? <br />Ok, so it seems like you're not too fancy when it comes to coffee (Haha)<br />Did you know that coffee prices in shops range from 70 cents to up to 9 U.S. dollars... perhaps even more?<br />Yes, I did. I refuse to pay more than five dollars for a black coffee, regardless of where it's from, but we can see the wide range of prices -- a more than ten-fold difference from the cheapest to the most expensive... <br />Yes, South Korea's coffee market is booming right now, with demand for BOTH affordable and costly coffees growing.<br />As the market size expands, local consumers' tastes are also maturing.<br />In recent years, specialty coffee brands have been booming in Korea and public demand for such premium coffee has been spiking.<br />Last year, the premium coffee market size reached some 865 million dollars, taking up to 20 percent of the total market share.<br />Specialty coffees are premium coffees which score 80 or more out of a hundred from the Specialty Coffee Association of America.<br />Due to intense demand, one popular specialty coffee brand has decided to launch its first shop in Korea. <br />I popped along and had a chance to meet the CEO.<br />" I'm deeply honored by the fact
