Mukbang

Mukbang
Example of a mukbang
Korean name
Hangul
먹방
Revised Romanizationmeokbang
McCune–Reischauermŏkpang
IPA[mʌk̚p͈aŋ]
Original phrase
Hangul
먹는 방송
Hanja
먹는 放送
Revised Romanizationmeongneun bangsong
McCune–Reischauermŏngnŭn pangsong
IPA[mʌŋnɯn paŋsʰoŋ]

A mukbang (UK: /ˈmʌkbæŋ/ MUK-bang, US: /ˈmʌkbɑːŋ/ MUK-bahng; Korean: 먹방; RR: meokbang; pronounced [mʌk̚p͈aŋ] ⓘ; lit. 'eating broadcast') is an online audiovisual broadcast in which a host consumes various quantities of food while interacting with the audience. The genre became popular in South Korea in the early 2010s, and has become a global trend since the mid-2010s. Varieties of foods ranging from pizza to noodles are consumed in front of a camera. The purpose of mukbang is also sometimes educational, introducing viewers to regional specialties or gourmet spots.[1]

A mukbang may be either prerecorded or streamed live through a webcast on multiple streaming platforms such as AfreecaTV, YouTube, Instagram, TikTok, and Twitch. In live sessions, the mukbang host chats with the audience while the audience types in real time in the live chat-room. Eating shows are expanding their influence on internet broadcasting platforms and serve as virtual communities and as venues for active communication among internet users.[2][3][4][5]

Mukbangers from many different countries have gained considerable popularity on numerous social websites and have established the mukbang as a possible viable alternative career path with a potential to earn a high income for young South Koreans. By cooking and eating food on camera for a large audience, mukbangers generate income from advertising, sponsorships, endorsements, as well as viewers' support.[6] However, there has been growing criticism of mukbang's promotion of unhealthy eating habits, particularly eating disorders, animal cruelty and food waste.[7][8][9] With mukbang becoming more popular, dietitians have expressed concern about this trend.[10]

  1. ^ Kim, Yeran (4 June 2020). "Eating as a transgression: Multisensorial performativity in the carnal videos of mukbang (eating shows)". International Journal of Cultural Studies. 24 (1): 107–122. doi:10.1177/1367877920903435. ISSN 1367-8779. OCLC 8605908121. S2CID 219929261.
  2. ^ Cha, Frances (2 February 2014). "South Korea's online trend: Paying to watch a pretty girl eat". CNN. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  3. ^ Hu, Elise (24 March 2015). "Koreans Have An Insatiable Appetite For Watching Strangers Binge Eat". NPR. Archived from the original on 24 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  4. ^ Evans, Stephen (5 February 2014). "The Koreans who televise themselves eating dinner". BBC. Archived from the original on 11 March 2015. Retrieved 24 March 2015.
  5. ^ Choe, Hanwool (April 2019). "Eating together multimodally: Collaborative eating in mukbang, a Korean livestream of eating". Language in Society. 48 (2): 171–208. doi:10.1017/S0047404518001355. ISSN 0047-4045. OCLC 8271620492. S2CID 151148665.
  6. ^ Harris, Margot. "'I don't like to eat alone': Inside the world of 'mukbangs,' extreme-eating videos that are making YouTubers rich". Insider. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  7. ^ Kircaburun, Kagan; Harris, Andrew; Calado, Filipa; Griffiths, Mark D. (6 January 2020). "The Psychology of Mukbang Watching: A Scoping Review of the Academic and Non-academic Literature". International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. 19 (4): 1190–1213. doi:10.1007/s11469-019-00211-0. ISSN 1557-1874. OCLC 9149835871.
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :3 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Acuña, Anne (23 August 2020). "Mukbang vlogger under fire for allegedly spitting out food after chewing them". InqPOP!. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  10. ^ https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/22/health/mukbang-food-eating-video-wellness/index.html