SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Koreans have waited 16 long years for a savory, crispy bite that would satisfy their taste buds and right an infamous wrong. This week, they finally could fill a bowl with the cereal they wanted all along: green onion-flavored Chex.

Kellogg's Korea's limited-edition flavor released this week, complete with a catchy ad and an apology for the wait, has taken on surprising cultural significance for an odd culinary experiment.

In 2004, the company advertised a public vote for a new product: chocolate-flavored Cheki or green onion-flavored Chaka.

Chaka led by an over...