Mukbang: What It Is and Why It’s So Popular
Mukbang 101: Everything You Need to Know About the Korean Eating Trend
In recent years, a unique phenomenon has captured the attention of audiences worldwide: Mukbang.
먹방 (mukbang) also referred to as Mukbang in English is a South Korean acronym for 먹는 방송 (muk-neun bang-song) which translates to eating show.
The idea of 먹방 (mukbang) features hosts consuming large quantities of food while interacting with viewers. Originally gaining popularity in Korea, Mukbang has since spread globally, thanks to the rise of social media and streaming platforms.
But what exactly is 먹방 (mukbang), and why do so many people find it captivating? Let’s explore its origins, appeal, and impact!
What is Mukbang | Origins of Mukbang
What is Mukbang | Why People Watch Mukbang
What is Mukbang | The Impact of Mukbang
What is Mukbang | FAQ
What is Mukbang | Origins of Mukbang
먹방 (mukbang) originated in South Korea in the early 2010s, emerging from live streaming platforms such as AfreecaTV.
When live streaming was a popular way of attracting viewers, streamers would stream for over 20 hours which made eating a part of the stream. People enjoyed the eating part of the stream and this is how it gained popularity and became content of its own.
The First-Generation Mukbang
The very beginning of Mukbang was all about big eaters. How much and how quickly an influencer could eat was the key to success.
All the first-generation Mukbang influencers ate a surprising quantity of food (20 ramen noodles, 10 cakes, and 8 boxes of chicken were some of the most popular contents to watch.
대식가
dae-shik-ga
Big eaters
밴쯔 Banzz – One of the pioneers of mukbang, Banzz is famous for his massive food portions while maintaining a healthy lifestyle. He started mukbang before it became mainstream and is known for engaging with viewers while eating.
쯔양 Tzuyang – Tzuyang is celebrated for her ability to eat huge quantities of food in one sitting, sometimes featuring up to tens of servings. Her cheerful and friendly personality, along with impressive eating speed, has earned her millions of followers and is still popular today.
Transitional Stage Of Mukbang
Mukbang then evolved into eating foods that are exotic or very spicy.
The use of ASMR became popular during this time and became ASMR Mukbang. The initial popularity of ASMR Mukbang was with themed foods such as ASMR Mukbang with chocolate ice cream, pink food, rainbow candies, and aloe vera.
Some influencers gained popularity for eating foods that people would usually avoid eating in large quantities but would love to watch others eat. Some examples are:
| KOREAN | ROMAJA | ENGLISH |
| 벌집 | bul-jip | Honeycombs |
| 초두부 | cho-du-bu | Fermented tofu |
| 젤리 | jelly | Sweet jellys |
| 바다포도 | ba-da podo | Sea grapes |
Jane ASMR is a popular South Korean YouTuber known for her ASMR videos, especially featuring eating sounds. She became popular for eating edible hairbrushes, themed foods, and sweets.
문복희 Eat with Boki – Boki is known for her cute appearance and impressive ability to consume large amounts of food, often with a focus on Korean cuisine. Her style combines ASMR with mukbang, which draws in viewers from around the world.
쿡방 (cookbang) and 먹방 (mukbang)
Then the trend transitions into a combination of 쿡방 (cookbang) and 먹방 (mukbang).
쿡방 (cookbang) – an acronym of 쿠킹 방송 (cooking bang-song)
쿠킹 방송
cooking bang-song
Cooking show
At this stage, influencers showed viewers the cooking process before eating became popular.
도로시 Dorothy – Also one of the pioneers of mukbang, Dorothy’s mukbang videos are known for featuring extremely spicy food, and she’s gained popularity for her reactions and ability to handle the heat.
The Chinese flat noodles called 납작다당면 (nap-jak-dang-myeon) gained popularity thanks to Dorothy.
햄지 Hamzy – Hamzy combines cooking and mukbang, often preparing traditional Korean dishes in her videos before diving into large portions. Her relaxed, cozy setup and home-cooked meal style attract viewers looking for a more personal mukbang experience.
How to Read a Korean Menu // Tips and Tricks With Popular Dishes and Key Words
When you’re visiting another country, the first thing you want to do is try out the food. Learn how to read a Korean menu to make ordering a lot easier.
What is Mukbang | Why People Watch Mukbang
Sensory Experience
One of the primary reasons people watch Mukbang is the sensory experience it provides. The visual appeal of delicious food, combined with the sounds of eating, makes it irresistible to stop watching.
For many, watching Mukbang can be just as satisfying as eating the food itself.
Escape from Reality
Mukbang videos bring a sense of pleasure for some people as in reality, they aren’t able to eat that much. It brings a sense of satisfaction as someone else is eating the food they want to eat. Also, the sound of certain foods gives some people pleasure.
Entertainment When Eating Alone
Many people enjoy watching Mukbang when they eat alone. It gives them virtual company and eating alone is less boring. It’s a psychological thing that if you see someone eating and enjoying their food, you tend to enjoy it too.
However, it’s important to note that Mukbang can have mixed effects on viewers. While many enjoy it for entertainment and connection, some may develop unhealthy relationships with food or feel pressure to eat more than they normally would. Both creators and viewers must approach Mukbang mindfully.
The Best Korean Food 🇰🇷 The Top 10 Korean Dishes for New Eaters to Try Out
There’s LOTS of various dishes in the Korean gastronomy. It might be hard to know what to try out first, so we selected the best Korean food for you to try.
What it Mukbang | The Impact of Mukbang
In addition to the Hallyu Wave, Mukbang has also introduced the culinary side of Korean culture to the world. Many international Mukbang YouTubers create content eating Korean food. This helped introduce Korean cuisine to the global audience. Some popular foods worth noting is:
불닭볶음면
bul-dak bokk-eum-myeon
Spicy chicken fire noodles
치킨
chicken
Fried chicken
떡볶이
ttok-bbok-kki
Korean spicy rice cakes
Mukbang is more than just a trend now, it has become a part of entertainment and Mukbang influencers have gained celebrity status in Korea.
If watching eating shows is something you enjoy, explore more Korean Mukbang influencers and dive deeper into Korean cuisine.
What is Mukbang | FAQ
What does “mukbang” mean?
“Mukbang” (먹방) is a Korean term combining “muk-da” (먹다, meaning “to eat”) and “bang-song” (방송, meaning “broadcast”). It refers to online videos or live streams where hosts eat large quantities of food while interacting with their audience.
Where did mukbang originate?
Mukbang originated in South Korea around 2010 on platforms like AfreecaTV. It quickly gained popularity for its mix of eating entertainment and real-time viewer interaction.
Why is mukbang so popular?
Mukbang appeals to viewers for various reasons — from satisfying food visuals and ASMR sounds, to the feeling of eating “together” with someone, especially for those who live alone.
Who is a popular Mukbang influencer in Korea now?
GONGSAM TABLE 이공삼 is another popular Mukbang influencer with 12M followers on YouTube.
What is a popular Mukbang food in Korea?
라면 (ramen) – Korean instant noodles
This is a favorite food in Korea and also a very popular food to watch in Mukbang videos.
How do you say cook in Korean?
요리 (yo-ri) – cook
Want More From LTL?
FANCY LEARNING KOREAN? Check out our online Korean courses here.
We offer a 7-day free trial to all online students where you can study Korean 24/7.
Want to study Korean in Korea instead? Our Korean courses in Seoul can either be taken in small groups of no more than 5 students or individually for a more tailored experience.
We even offer incredible homestay experiences in Seoul too.
It doesn’t end here, sign up to the newsletter for even more free resources and news from LTL ⬇️