Jump to content

Mukbang: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
BattyBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
1,920,195 edits
m Removed/fixed incorrect author parameter(s), performed general fixes
→‎Promotion of unhealthy eating habits: The Philippine Department of Health announced on Friday that it will ban mukbang videos after a content creator died by a stroke from eating large amounts of food (on this case, chicken).
(33 intermediate revisions by 18 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Short description|Online broadcast involving eating}}
{{Short description|Online broadcast involving eating}}
{{Advert|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2015}}
{{Infobox Korean name
{{Infobox Korean name
Line 21: Line 20:
}}
}}


A '''mukbang''' or '''meokbang''' ({{lang-ko|먹방}}, {{IPA-ko|mʌk̚.p͈aŋ|pron|Ko-먹방.ogg|}}), also known as an '''eating show''', 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.<ref name=":62">{{Cite journal |last=Kim |first=Yeran |date=2020-06-04 |title=Eating as a transgression: Multisensorial performativity in the carnal videos of mukbang (eating shows) |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877920903435 |journal=[[International Journal of Cultural Studies]] |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=107–122 |doi=10.1177/1367877920903435 |issn=1367-8779 |oclc=8605908121 |s2cid=219929261}}</ref>
A '''mukbang''' ({{Korean|hangul=먹방|rr=meokbang|lit=eating room}}, {{IPA-ko|mʌk̚.p͈aŋ|pron|Ko-먹방.ogg|}}), also called '''eating show''', 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.<ref name=":62">{{Cite journal |last=Kim |first=Yeran |date=2020-06-04 |title=Eating as a transgression: Multisensorial performativity in the carnal videos of mukbang (eating shows) |url=https://doi.org/10.1177/1367877920903435 |journal=[[International Journal of Cultural Studies]] |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=107–122 |doi=10.1177/1367877920903435 |issn=1367-8779 |oclc=8605908121 |s2cid=219929261}}</ref>


A mukbang may be either prerecorded or streamed live through a [[webcast]] on multiple [[Streaming media|streaming]] platforms such as [[AfreecaTV]], [[YouTube]], [[TikTok]], and [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]]. In the live version, 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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cha|first=Frances|date=2 February 2014|title=South Korea's online trend: Paying to watch a pretty girl eat|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/29/world/asia/korea-eating-room/|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=24 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324050703/http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/29/world/asia/korea-eating-room|archive-date=24 March 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hu |first=Elise |author-link=Elise Hu |date=24 March 2015 |title=Koreans Have An Insatiable Appetite For Watching Strangers Binge Eat |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/03/24/392430233/koreans-have-an-insatiable-appetite-for-watching-strangers-binge-eat |url-status=live |access-date=24 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324150147/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/03/24/392430233/koreans-have-an-insatiable-appetite-for-watching-strangers-binge-eat |archive-date=24 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Stephen|date=5 February 2014|title=The Koreans who televise themselves eating dinner|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31130947|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=24 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311090258/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31130947|archive-date=11 March 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite journal |last1=Choe |first1=Hanwool |date=April 2019 |title=Eating together multimodally: Collaborative eating in mukbang, a Korean livestream of eating |journal=[[Language in Society]] |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=171–208 |doi=10.1017/S0047404518001355 |issn=0047-4045 |oclc=8271620492 |s2cid=151148665}}</ref>
A mukbang may be either prerecorded or streamed live through a [[webcast]] on multiple [[Streaming media|streaming]] platforms such as [[AfreecaTV]], [[YouTube]], [[TikTok]], and [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]]. In the live version, 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.<ref>{{cite news|last=Cha|first=Frances|date=2 February 2014|title=South Korea's online trend: Paying to watch a pretty girl eat|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/29/world/asia/korea-eating-room/|publisher=[[CNN]]|access-date=24 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324050703/http://www.cnn.com/2014/01/29/world/asia/korea-eating-room|archive-date=24 March 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Hu |first=Elise |author-link=Elise Hu |date=24 March 2015 |title=Koreans Have An Insatiable Appetite For Watching Strangers Binge Eat |publisher=[[NPR]] |url=https://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/03/24/392430233/koreans-have-an-insatiable-appetite-for-watching-strangers-binge-eat |url-status=live |access-date=24 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150324150147/http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2015/03/24/392430233/koreans-have-an-insatiable-appetite-for-watching-strangers-binge-eat |archive-date=24 March 2015}}</ref><ref name="BBC">{{cite news|last=Evans|first=Stephen|date=5 February 2014|title=The Koreans who televise themselves eating dinner|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31130947|publisher=[[BBC]]|access-date=24 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150311090258/http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-31130947|archive-date=11 March 2015|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":6">{{cite journal |last1=Choe |first1=Hanwool |date=April 2019 |title=Eating together multimodally: Collaborative eating in mukbang, a Korean livestream of eating |journal=[[Language in Society]] |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=171–208 |doi=10.1017/S0047404518001355 |issn=0047-4045 |oclc=8271620492 |s2cid=151148665}}</ref>
Line 28: Line 27:


==Etymology==
==Etymology==
The word mukbang ({{Korean|hangul=먹방|rr=meokbang|labels=no}}) is a [[portmanteau]] of the Korean words for "eating" ({{Korean|hangul=[[wikt:먹다|먹는]]|rr=mugneun|labels=no}}) and "broadcast/show" ({{Korean|hangul=[[wikt:방송|방송]]|rr=bangsong|labels=no}}).<ref name="BBC"/> It would thus be morphologically comparable to "eat[[wikt:-cast#Suffix|cast]]" or "eatshow".
The word mukbang ({{Korean|hangul=먹방|rr=meokbang|labels=no}}) is a [[portmanteau]] of the Korean words for "eating" ({{Korean|hangul=[[wikt:먹다|먹는]]|rr=meongneun|labels=no}}) and "broadcast/show" ({{Korean|hangul=[[wikt:방송|방송]]|rr=bangsong|labels=no}}).<ref name="BBC"/> It would thus be morphologically comparable to "eat[[wikt:-cast#Suffix|cast]]" or "eatshow".


==Historical background and origins==
==Historical background and origins==
Prior to the 21st century, [[Korea]] had traditionally had a [[Korean cuisine|food culture]] based on healthy eating practices and strict [[Confucian]] [[etiquette]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=박소정 |last2=홍석경 |date=2016 |title=미디어 문화 속 먹방과 헤게모니 과정 |trans-title=Mukbang and Hegemony Process in Media Culture |url=http://www.dbpia.co.kr/Article/NODE06616212 |journal=언론과 사회 |language=ko |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=105–150 }}</ref> However, a new food culture since the late 2000s has emerged in South Korea characterized by internet eating culture (mukbang). It was first introduced on the real-time internet TV service [[AfreecaTV]] in 2009, it now has become a trend in cable channels as well as terrestrial broadcasting. This form of programming emphasizes the attractiveness of the person who prepares the food. Eating and cooking shows are becoming effective programs for broadcasting companies as production costs are lower than reality entertainment programs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.economyinsight.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=2757|title=[Culture & Biz] 대한민국 왜 '먹방'에 열광하나|website=www.economyinsight.co.kr|trans-title=Why is Korea so crazy about eating show?|access-date=2018-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210111205/http://www.economyinsight.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=2757|archive-date=10 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
Prior to the 21st century, [[Korea]] had traditionally had a [[Korean cuisine|food culture]] based on healthy eating practices and strict [[Confucian]] [[etiquette]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=박소정 |last2=홍석경 |date=2016 |title=미디어 문화 속 먹방과 헤게모니 과정 |trans-title=Mukbang and Hegemony Process in Media Culture |url=http://www.dbpia.co.kr/Article/NODE06616212 |journal=언론과 사회 |language=ko |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=105–150 }}</ref> However, a new food culture since the late 2000s has emerged in South Korea characterized by internet eating culture (mukbang). It was first introduced on the real-time internet TV service [[AfreecaTV]] in 2009, it now has become a trend in cable channels as well as terrestrial broadcasting. This form of programming emphasizes the attractiveness of the person who prepares the food. Eating and cooking shows are becoming effective programs for broadcasting companies as production costs are lower than reality entertainment programs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.economyinsight.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=2757|title=[Culture & Biz] 대한민국 왜 '먹방'에 열광하나|website=www.economyinsight.co.kr|trans-title=Why is Korea so crazy about eating show?|access-date=2018-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210111205/http://www.economyinsight.co.kr/news/articleView.html?idxno=2757|archive-date=10 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>


Academics have also attributed the origins of mukbang in South Korea as being a part of widespread anxiety, loneliness and unhappiness in many South Koreans with their [[wikt:hypercapitalist|hypercapitalist]] country's socioeconomic situation and society, which they deem as "hellish" and "hopeless", known as [[Hell Joseon]] ({{lang-ko|헬조선|label=none}}).<ref name="origin">{{cite journal |last1=Kircaburun |first1=Kagan |last2=Harris |first2=Andrew |last3=Calado |first3=Filipa |last4=Griffiths |first4=Mark D. |title=The Psychology of Mukbang Watching: A Scoping Review of the Academic and Non-academic Literature |journal=International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction |date=1 August 2021 |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=1190–1213 |doi=10.1007/s11469-019-00211-0 |s2cid=209893148 |doi-access=free }}</ref> Consequently, mukbang gives them an opportunity to relieve some of these stressors.<ref name="origin"/>
Academics have also attributed the origins of mukbang in South Korea as being a part of widespread anxiety, loneliness and unhappiness in many South Koreans with their hyper competitive country's socioeconomic situation and society. Consequently, mukbang gives them an opportunity to relieve some of these stressors.<ref name="origin">{{cite journal |last1=Kircaburun |first1=Kagan |last2=Harris |first2=Andrew |last3=Calado |first3=Filipa |last4=Griffiths |first4=Mark D. |title=The Psychology of Mukbang Watching: A Scoping Review of the Academic and Non-academic Literature |journal=International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction |date=1 August 2021 |volume=19 |issue=4 |pages=1190–1213 |doi=10.1007/s11469-019-00211-0 |s2cid=209893148 |doi-access=free }}</ref>


In each broadcast, a host will interact with their viewers through [[online chat]] rooms. Many hosts generate revenue through mukbang by accepting donations or partnering with [[advertising network]]s.<ref name="BBC"/> The popularity of mukbang streams has spread outside of Korea, with online streamers doing their own mukbang streams in other countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mashable.com/2016/07/03/twitch-social-eating-category/#xOAhOA_VdOqM|title=No vomiting allowed on Twitch's new social eating channel|last=BOGLE|first=ARIEL|website=[[Mashable]] |date=2016|access-date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328043904/https://mashable.com/2016/07/03/twitch-social-eating-category/#xOAhOA_VdOqM|archive-date=28 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] introduced new categories like "social eating" to spotlight them.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/twitch-social-eating-channel-broadcast-630/ |title=Twitch Viewers Can Now Watch People Eat |date=30 June 2016 |access-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328005403/https://gamerant.com/twitch-social-eating-channel-broadcast-630/ |archive-date=28 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/twitch-social-eating-channel-broadcast-630/|title=Twitch Viewers Can Now Watch People Eat|last=Jones|first=Brad|date=2016|website=Gamerant|access-date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328005403/https://gamerant.com/twitch-social-eating-channel-broadcast-630/|archive-date=28 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>
In each broadcast, a host will interact with their viewers through [[online chat]] rooms. Many hosts generate revenue through mukbang by accepting donations or partnering with [[advertising network]]s.<ref name="BBC"/> The popularity of mukbang streams has spread outside of Korea, with online streamers doing their own mukbang streams in other countries.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://mashable.com/2016/07/03/twitch-social-eating-category/#xOAhOA_VdOqM|title=No vomiting allowed on Twitch's new social eating channel|last=BOGLE|first=ARIEL|website=[[Mashable]] |date=2016|access-date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328043904/https://mashable.com/2016/07/03/twitch-social-eating-category/#xOAhOA_VdOqM|archive-date=28 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref> In 2016, [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] introduced new categories like "social eating" to spotlight them.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://gamerant.com/twitch-social-eating-channel-broadcast-630/ |title=Twitch Viewers Can Now Watch People Eat |date=30 June 2016 |access-date=5 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328005403/https://gamerant.com/twitch-social-eating-channel-broadcast-630/ |archive-date=28 March 2019 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/twitch-social-eating-channel-broadcast-630/|title=Twitch Viewers Can Now Watch People Eat|last=Jones|first=Brad|date=2016|website=Gamerant|access-date=5 December 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190328005403/https://gamerant.com/twitch-social-eating-channel-broadcast-630/|archive-date=28 March 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>


Articles about mukbang have also appeared in ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' and ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2015/06/27/the-food-show-craze|title=The food-show craze|date=2015-06-27|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=2018-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210111109/https://www.economist.com/asia/2015/06/27/the-food-show-craze|archive-date=10 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The Korean word for eating show, "mukbang," has been widely adopted in other types of eating shows, such as those featuring [[ASMR]] on platforms such as [[YouTube]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.joins.com/article/22831070|title=라면 먹방 연 수입 10억|last=종선|first=함|date=2018-07-25|website=중앙일보|language=ko|trans-title=1 billion won in annual income of ramen noodles|access-date=2018-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210111005/https://news.joins.com/article/22831070|archive-date=10 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> This eating performance from South Korea has also rapidly spread in influence and popularity to other Asian countries, such as [[Japan]] and [[China]]. In China, mukbang is called "Chibo"; hosts make their content into [[short video]]s and [[vlog]]s and upload them onto social media platforms like [[Sina Weibo|Weibo]].<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Babenskaite |first1=Greta |last2=Yang |first2=Mengyu |title=Mukbang Influencers: Online eating becomes a new marketing strategy: A case study of small sized firms in China's food industry |year=2019 }}</ref>
Articles about mukbang have also appeared in ''[[The Huffington Post]]'' and ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]''.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2015/06/27/the-food-show-craze|title=The food-show craze|date=2015-06-27|newspaper=The Economist|access-date=2018-12-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210111109/https://www.economist.com/asia/2015/06/27/the-food-show-craze|archive-date=10 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> The term "mukbang" has been widely adopted in other types of eating shows, such as those featuring [[ASMR]] on platforms such as [[YouTube]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://news.joins.com/article/22831070|title=라면 먹방 연 수입 10억|first=종선|last=함|date=2018-07-25|website=[[JoongAng Ilbo]]|language=ko|trans-title=1 billion won in annual income of ramen noodles|access-date=2018-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181210111005/https://news.joins.com/article/22831070|archive-date=10 December 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> This eating performance from South Korea has also rapidly spread in influence and popularity to other Asian countries, such as [[Japan]] and [[China]]. In China, mukbang is called "Chibo"; hosts make their content into [[short video]]s and [[vlog]]s and upload them onto social media platforms like [[Sina Weibo|Weibo]].<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Babenskaite |first1=Greta |last2=Yang |first2=Mengyu |title=Mukbang Influencers: Online eating becomes a new marketing strategy: A case study of small sized firms in China's food industry |year=2019 }}</ref>


==Culture==
==Culture==
Mukbang emerged from a solo-eating population in South Korea, that found entertainment in watching actors and actresses eating in TV shows and movies.<ref name=":62"/> The contrast to the traditional eating culture that revolves around eating from the same communal dishes at the family dinner table has been acknowledged.<ref name=":62" />
The contrast to the traditional eating culture that revolves around eating from the same communal dishes at the family dinner table has been acknowledged.<ref name=":62" />


It has been suggested one can vicariously satisfy the desire for food by viewing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kim (김)|first=Hye Jin (혜진)|date=2015|title=문화학 : 하위문화로서의 푸드 포르노(Food Porn) 연구 - 아프리카TV의 인터넷 먹방을 중심으로 -|trans-title=A Study on Food Porn as a Sub-Culture - Centering on Internet "Meokbang" (eating scene) in Afreeca TV -|url=http://kiss.kstudy.com/thesis/thesis-view.asp?key=3370153|journal=인문학연구|language=ko-KR|volume=50|pages=433–455 |access-date=22 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022153319/http://kiss.kstudy.com/thesis/thesis-view.asp?key=3370153|archive-date=22 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In Korea, individuals who stream mukbang are called [[broadcast jockey]]s (BJs).<ref name=":7">{{cite journal |last1=Choe |first1=Hanwool |title=Eating together multimodally: Collaborative eating in mukbang, a Korean livestream of eating |journal=Language in Society |date=2019 |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=171–208 |doi=10.1017/S0047404518001355 |s2cid=151148665 }}</ref> As a result, high level of interaction BJ-to-viewer and viewer-to-viewer contributes to the sociability aspect of producing and consuming mukbang content.<ref name=":7" /> For example, during broadcast jockey Changhyun's interaction with his audience he temporarily paused to follow a fan's directions on what to eat next and how to eat it.<ref name=":7" /> Viewers may influence the direction of the stream but the BJ retains control over what he or she eats.<ref name=":7" /> [[Ventriloquism]], by which BJs mime the actions of their fans by directing food to the camera in a feeding motion and eating in their stead, is another technique that creates the illusion of a shared experience in one room.<ref name=":7" />
It has been suggested one can vicariously satisfy the desire for food by viewing.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Kim (김)|first=Hye Jin (혜진)|date=2015|title=문화학 : 하위문화로서의 푸드 포르노(Food Porn) 연구 - 아프리카TV의 인터넷 먹방을 중심으로 -|trans-title=A Study on Food Porn as a Sub-Culture - Centering on Internet "Meokbang" (eating scene) in Afreeca TV -|url=http://kiss.kstudy.com/thesis/thesis-view.asp?key=3370153|journal=인문학연구|language=ko-KR|volume=50|pages=433–455 |access-date=22 October 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022153319/http://kiss.kstudy.com/thesis/thesis-view.asp?key=3370153|archive-date=22 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref> In Korea, individuals who stream mukbang are called [[broadcast jockey]]s (BJs).<ref name=":7">{{cite journal |last1=Choe |first1=Hanwool |title=Eating together multimodally: Collaborative eating in mukbang, a Korean livestream of eating |journal=Language in Society |date=2019 |volume=48 |issue=2 |pages=171–208 |doi=10.1017/S0047404518001355 |s2cid=151148665 }}</ref> As a result, high level of interaction BJ-to-viewer and viewer-to-viewer contributes to the sociability aspect of producing and consuming mukbang content.<ref name=":7" /> For example, during broadcast jockey Changhyun's interaction with his audience he temporarily paused to follow a fan's directions on what to eat next and how to eat it.<ref name=":7" /> Viewers may influence the direction of the stream but the BJ retains control over what he or she eats.<ref name=":7" /> [[Ventriloquism]], by which BJs mime the actions of their fans by directing food to the camera in a feeding motion and eating in their stead, is another technique that creates the illusion of a shared experience in one room.<ref name=":7" />


A study conducted by [[Seoul National University]] found that within a two-year time frame (April 2017 to April 2019) the term "mukbang" was used in over 100,000 videos from YouTube. It reported that alleviating the feelings of [[loneliness]] associated with eating alone may be the primary reason for mukbang's popularity.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Kang |first1=EunKyo |last2=Lee |first2=Jihye |last3=Kim |first3=Kyae Hyung |last4=Yun |first4=Young Ho |title=The popularity of eating broadcast: Content analysis of 'mukbang' YouTube videos, media coverage, and the health impact of 'mukbang' on public |journal=Health Informatics Journal |date=September 2020 |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=2237–2248 |doi=10.1177/1460458220901360 |pmid=31992111 |doi-access=free }}</ref> In a pilot study from February 2022 on mukbang watching and mental health, psychologists lay the foundation for future investigation into the potential detriments of using mukbang, or virtual eating, as a substitute for social experiences.<ref name=":03">{{Cite journal |last1=Kircaburun |first1=Kagan |last2=Savcı |first2=Mustafa |last3=Emirtekin |first3=Emrah |last4=Griffiths |first4=Mark D. |date=2022-02-01 |title=Uses and gratifications of problematic mukbang watching – The role of eating and social gratification: A pilot study |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.12.036 |journal=Journal of Psychiatric Research |volume=146 |pages=28–30 |doi=10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.12.036 |pmid=34952300 |s2cid=245347393 |issn=0022-3956}}</ref> Another reason for mukbang viewing could be its potential sexual appeal. Researchers have argued that mukbangs can be viewed to satisfy eating-related fetishes, and have commented on the sexualized gaze brought about by watching hosts in such a private and intimate state.<ref name=":2" />
A study conducted by [[Seoul National University]] found that within a two-year time frame (April 2017 to April 2019) the term "mukbang" was used in over 100,000 videos from YouTube. It reported that alleviating the feelings of [[loneliness]] associated with eating alone may be the primary reason for mukbang's popularity.<ref name=":0">{{cite journal |last1=Kang |first1=EunKyo |last2=Lee |first2=Jihye |last3=Kim |first3=Kyae Hyung |last4=Yun |first4=Young Ho |title=The popularity of eating broadcast: Content analysis of 'mukbang' YouTube videos, media coverage, and the health impact of 'mukbang' on public |journal=Health Informatics Journal |date=September 2020 |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=2237–2248 |doi=10.1177/1460458220901360 |pmid=31992111 |doi-access=free }}</ref> In a pilot study from February 2022 on mukbang watching and mental health, psychologists lay the foundation for future investigation into the potential detriments of using mukbang, or virtual eating, as a substitute for social experiences.<ref name=":03">{{Cite journal |last1=Kircaburun |first1=Kagan |last2=Savcı |first2=Mustafa |last3=Emirtekin |first3=Emrah |last4=Griffiths |first4=Mark D. |date=2022-02-01 |title=Uses and gratifications of problematic mukbang watching – The role of eating and social gratification: A pilot study |url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.12.036 |journal=Journal of Psychiatric Research |volume=146 |pages=28–30 |doi=10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.12.036 |pmid=34952300 |s2cid=245347393 |issn=0022-3956}}</ref> Another reason for mukbang viewing could be its potential sexual appeal. Researchers have argued that mukbangs can be viewed to satisfy eating-related fetishes, and have commented on the sexualized gaze brought about by watching hosts in such a private and intimate state.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":62" /> Other studies argue that individuals who watch mukbang do so for entertainment, as an escape from reality, or to get satisfaction from the [[ASMR]] aspects of mukbang such as the eating sounds and sensations.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{cite book|author=Noreena Hertz|url=https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-lonely-century/noreena-hertz/9781529329254|title=The Lonely Century: Coming Together in a World that's Pulling Apart|publisher=[[Sceptre (imprint)|Sceptre]]|year=2020|isbn=978-1529329254|chapter=Chapt. 4|author-link=Noreena Hertz}}</ref><ref name=":5">Adema, Pauline. "Vicarious consumption: Food, television and the ambiguity of modernity." The Journal of American Culture 23.3 (2000): 113.</ref> Watching mukbang videos often creates an [[parasocial interaction]] between the mukbanger and the viewer, and it could also increase the likelihood of solo-dining of viewers.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=What is a mukbang? Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with Junction Trio {{!}} WQXR Features |url=https://www.wqxr.org/story/what-is-a-mukbang-junction-trio |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=WQXR |date=5 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>

Mukbang has also been described as a multi-sensory experience and compared to a similar carnal video type, [[pornography]]. It has been proposed that strict regulation on pornography and sexual material in Korea could be a contributing factor to the popularity of mukbang. Researchers liken the reduced satisfaction of eating from fervid viewership of mukbang to the diminished satisfaction of sex from overconsumption of pornography.<ref name=":62" /> Other studies argue that individuals who watch mukbang do so for entertainment, as an escape from reality, or to get satisfaction from the [[ASMR]] aspects of mukbang such as the eating sounds and sensations.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{cite book|author=Noreena Hertz|url=https://www.waterstones.com/book/the-lonely-century/noreena-hertz/9781529329254|title=The Lonely Century: Coming Together in a World that's Pulling Apart|publisher=[[Sceptre (imprint)|Sceptre]]|year=2020|isbn=978-1529329254|chapter=Chapt. 4|author-link=Noreena Hertz}}</ref><ref name=":5">Adema, Pauline. "Vicarious consumption: Food, television and the ambiguity of modernity." The Journal of American Culture 23.3 (2000): 113.</ref> Watching Mukbang videos often creates an [[parasocial interaction]] between the mukbanger and the viewer, and it could also increase the likelihood of solo-dining of viewers.<ref name=":22">{{Cite web |title=What is a mukbang? Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with Junction Trio {{!}} WQXR Features |url=https://www.wqxr.org/story/what-is-a-mukbang-junction-trio |access-date=2022-11-19 |website=WQXR |date=5 May 2022 |language=en}}</ref>


==Varieties==
==Varieties==
A popular sub-genre of the trend is "cook-bang" ({{Korean|hangul=쿡방|labels=no}}) show, in which the streamer includes the preparation and cooking of the dishes featured as part of the show.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ikunkang.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=22294|title=TV를 삼킨 먹방 & 쿡방 열풍이 불편한 이유|last=문종환|date=Nov 2017|work=건강다이제스트|trans-title=Why the A and B craze that swallowed TV is uncomfortable?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022113430/http://www.ikunkang.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=22294|archive-date=22 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
A popular sub-genre of the trend is "cook-bang" ({{Korean|hangul=쿡방|labels=no}}) show, in which the streamer includes the preparation and cooking of the dishes featured as part of the show.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.ikunkang.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=22294|title=TV를 삼킨 먹방 & 쿡방 열풍이 불편한 이유|last=문 |first=종환|date=Nov 2017|work=건강다이제스트|trans-title=Why the A and B craze that swallowed TV is uncomfortable?|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181022113430/http://www.ikunkang.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=22294|archive-date=22 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>


South Korean video game players have sometimes broadcast mukbang as breaks during their overall streams. The popularity of this practice among local users led the video game streaming service [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] to begin trialing a dedicated "social eating" category in July 2016; a representative of the service stated that this category is not necessarily specific to mukbang, but would leave the concept open to interpretation by streamers within its guidelines.<ref name="polygon-eating">{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/7/11/12149446/twitch-social-eating-interview|title=Why eating and gaming is a thing on Twitch|website=Polygon|date=11 July 2016|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=18 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714091550/http://www.polygon.com/2016/7/11/12149446/twitch-social-eating-interview|archive-date=14 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
South Korean video game players have sometimes broadcast mukbang as breaks during their overall streams. The popularity of this practice among local users led the video game streaming service [[Twitch (service)|Twitch]] to begin trialing a dedicated "social eating" category in July 2016; a representative of the service stated that this category is not necessarily specific to mukbang, but would leave the concept open to interpretation by streamers within its guidelines.<ref name="polygon-eating">{{cite web|url=http://www.polygon.com/2016/7/11/12149446/twitch-social-eating-interview|title=Why eating and gaming is a thing on Twitch|website=Polygon|date=11 July 2016|publisher=Vox Media|access-date=18 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160714091550/http://www.polygon.com/2016/7/11/12149446/twitch-social-eating-interview|archive-date=14 July 2016|url-status=live}}</ref>
Line 56: Line 53:
Mukbangers incurring income from such videos can earn from advertising.<ref name=":1" /> This performance of eating can allow top broadcasters to earn as much as $10,000 a month which does not include sponsorships. Live-streaming platforms like AfreecaTV and Twitch allow viewers to send payments to their favorite streamers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/03/24/392430233/koreans-have-an-insatiable-appetite-for-watching-strangers-binge-eat|title=Koreans Have An Insatiable Appetite For Watching Strangers Binge Eat|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2020-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311005955/https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/03/24/392430233/koreans-have-an-insatiable-appetite-for-watching-strangers-binge-eat|archive-date=11 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>
Mukbangers incurring income from such videos can earn from advertising.<ref name=":1" /> This performance of eating can allow top broadcasters to earn as much as $10,000 a month which does not include sponsorships. Live-streaming platforms like AfreecaTV and Twitch allow viewers to send payments to their favorite streamers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/03/24/392430233/koreans-have-an-insatiable-appetite-for-watching-strangers-binge-eat|title=Koreans Have An Insatiable Appetite For Watching Strangers Binge Eat|website=NPR.org|language=en|access-date=2020-04-05|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200311005955/https://www.npr.org/sections/thesalt/2015/03/24/392430233/koreans-have-an-insatiable-appetite-for-watching-strangers-binge-eat|archive-date=11 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>


Creators can also earn income through endorsements, e-books, and product reviews. Bethany Gaskin, under the name Bloveslife for her channel, has made over $1 million from advertising on her videos as reported by ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref name=":1" />
Creators can also earn income through endorsements, e-books, and product reviews. Bethany Gaskin, under the name Bloveslife for her channel, has made over $1 million from advertising on her videos as reported by ''[[The New York Times]]''.<ref name=":1" /> Popular mukbanger Soo Tang, also known as MommyTang, claimed that successful mukbangers can earn about $100,000 in a year.<ref name=":1" />

Soo Tang, also known as MommyTang on YouTube, is a mukbanger with 490,000 subscribers on her channel. In an interview with ''Today Food'', Tang claimed that successful mukbangers can earn about $100,000 in a year.<ref name=":1" />

==Top Mukbangers==
The following list of top mukbangers around the world include those people who have been quoted in News channels and broadcasts worldwide.
{| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="width:99%;"
|+
|-
! scope="col" | Channel(s)
! scope="col" | Country
!Primary Platform
! scope="col" | Host(s)
! scope="col" class="unsortable" | Notes
|-
|'''blndsundoll4mj'''
|[[United States|America]]
|[[YouTube]]
|[[Trisha Paytas]]
|She is one the earliest YouTubers to "''catch the trend''" and post mukbang videos. Described as "''Queen of Mukbang".''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Inside the rise of 'mukbang' eating videos |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/inside-rise-mukbang-eating-videos/story?id=100440506 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=ABC News |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Harris |first=Margot |title='I don't like to eat alone': Inside the world of 'mukbangs,' extreme-eating videos that are making YouTubers rich |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/mukbang-video-the-extreme-eating-trend-making-youtube-rich-2020-2 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Business Insider |language=en-US}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[Matt Stonie]]'''
|[[United States|America]]
|[[YouTube]]
|[[Matt Stonie]]
|Has won many eating contests, including 2015 [[Nathan's Hot Dog Eating Contest]].
|-
|'''Hamzy'''
|[[South Korea]]
|[[YouTube]]
|Hamzy
|Her vlogging videos feature home-cooked foods.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Esperanza |first=Raven |date=2020-06-24 |title=[KREW Says] Powerful Mukbang Channels: A Way to Suffer Yourself from Cravings |url=https://kccsupportersblog.wordpress.com/2020/06/24/krew-says-powerful-mukbang-channels-a-way-to-suffer-yourself-from-cravings/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=THE KREW {{!}} MNL |language=en}}</ref> Caught in a controversy for liking comment calling Kimchi, Chinese Food.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-01-21 |title=YouTuber sparks storm in China for liking comment calling Kimchi Korean dish |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/world/youtube-china-kimchi-south-korea-row-7154444/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|'''[[Nikocado Avocado]]'''
|[[United States|America]]
|[[YouTube]]
|Nicholas Perry
|His videos feature "''comedic and'' ''theatrical performances''".
|-
|'''Ssoyoung'''
|[[South Korea]]
|[[YouTube]]
|Ssoyoung
|Was caught in a controversy related to "''animal cruelty"'' in her videos.<ref name=":9" />
|-
|'''Eat with Boki'''
|[[South Korea]]
|[[YouTube]]
|Moon Bok-hee
|Caught in a controversy in early 2020 for allegedly cutting her videos.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-09-13 |title=After Eat With Boki’s sponsorship scandal, is Korean YouTube culture broken? |url=https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3101201/eat-bokis-moon-bok-hee-just-latest-mukbang-star-be |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref><ref name=":11" />
|-
|'''Zac Choi ASMR'''
|[[United States|America]]
|[[YouTube]]
|Zac Choi
|[[South Korea]]n-born [[United States|American]] Mukbanger, referred to as "king of mukbang"<ref>{{Cite web |last=Quinn |first=Sue |date=2020-09-11 |title=Are noisy YouTube binge eating videos triggering more than just joy? |url=https://metro.co.uk/2020/09/11/youtube-asmr-binge-eating-mukbang-videos-triggering-13120714/ |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Metro |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|'''hangryblogger'''
|[[United States|America]]
|[[TikTok|Tiktok]]
|Richard Chao
|[[TikTok|Tiktoker]] who shoots continuously in non-stop food content production.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ewe |first=Koh |date=2021-09-08 |title=Mukbang Creators Tell Us What It’s Really Like To Eat for Content |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/z3x9gw/mukbang-food-content-viral-bts |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=Vice |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|'''Saapattu Raman'''
|[[India]]
|[[YouTube]]
|Sabari Kumar, Porchezhiyan
|The host is a ''certified [[Doctor (title)|Doctor]]''. Videos usually have timers to show the time taken to finish eating the food.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Venugopalan |first=Anjali |date=2019-09-07 |title=Feast & stream: Meet India's biggest mukbangers |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/magazines/panache/feast-stream-meet-indias-biggest-mukbangers/articleshow/71027715.cms?from=mdr |access-date=2024-02-18 |work=The Economic Times |issn=0013-0389}}</ref><ref name=":14">{{Cite web |date=2021-11-26 |title=4kg of jackfruit, 50 omelettes: Indian binge-eating vloggers scoff it all |url=https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/food-drink/article/3157170/indian-mukbang-videos-youtube-soar-popularity-binge-eating |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|'''Maddyeats'''
|[[India]]
|[[YouTube]]
|Madhuri Lahiri
|Gained fame for "''impossible''" mukbang tasks, for e.g. 100 momos challenge.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-11-26 |title=BuzzFix: Inside the Cholesterol-filled World of Mukbang in India |url=https://www.news18.com/news/buzz/inside-the-cholesterol-filled-world-of-mukbang-in-india-4487882.html |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=News18 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=YouTuber takes up challenge to finish 100 momos. Old video with 7 million views goes viral |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/trending-news/story/youtuber-takes-up-challenge-to-finish-100-momos-old-video-with-7-million-views-goes-viral-1895741-2022-01-04 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>
|-
|'''Foodie Bobby'''
|[[India]]
|[[YouTube]]
|Deepika Verma
|She is quoted as India's "''first women mukbanger''".<ref name=":14" />
|-
| '''Ashifa ASMR'''
| [[India]]
|[[YouTube]]
| Ashifa
| Beauty Model who rose to popularity through YouTube; was quoted as "''honest mukbanger''" for adding disclaimers in her videos<ref name=":8" />
|}


==Criticism==
==Criticism==
===Promotion of unhealthy eating habits===
===Promotion of unhealthy eating habits===
⚫
In July 2018, the [[South Korean government]] announced that it would create and regulate mukbang guidelines by launching the "National Obesity Management Comprehensive Measures". The [[Ministry of Health and Welfare (South Korea)|Ministry of Health and Welfare]] announced the measures, which were intended to address [[binge eating]] and harm to the public [[health in South Korea|health]] caused by mukbang. Criticisms were levied against the ministry: the [[Blue House]] petition board received about 40 petitions against mukbang regulations, which maintained arguments such as "there is no correlation between mukbang and binge eating" and "the government is infringing on individual freedom."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/07/29/2018072900941.html|title=해외선 'mukbang'(먹방)은 고유명사..'먹방 규제' 놓고 시끌|first=동희|last=한|date=2018-07-29|website=[[The Chosun Ilbo]]|language=ko|trans-title=The foreign line 'mukbang' (Yoobang) is a proper noun...|access-date=2018-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007133705/http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/07/29/2018072900941.html|archive-date=7 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>
The volume of food and the manner of its consumption in mukbang has been criticized for normalizing and glorifying [[gluttony]] or [[overeating]].

⚫
In July 2018, the [[South Korean government]] announced that it would create and regulate mukbang guidelines by launching the "National Obesity Management Comprehensive Measures". The [[Ministry of Health and Welfare (South Korea)|Ministry of Health and Welfare]] announced the measures, which were intended to address [[binge eating]] and harm to the public [[health in South Korea|health]] caused by mukbang. Criticisms were levied against the ministry: the [[Blue House]] petition board received about 40 petitions against mukbang regulations, which maintained arguments such as "there is no correlation between mukbang and binge eating" and "the government is infringing on individual freedom."<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/07/29/2018072900941.html|title=해외선 'mukbang'(먹방)은 고유명사..'먹방 규제' 놓고 시끌|last=동희|first=한|date=2018-07-29|website=news.chosun.com|language=ko|trans-title=The foreign line 'mukbang' (Yoobang) is a proper noun...|access-date=2018-12-10|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007133705/http://news.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/07/29/2018072900941.html|archive-date=7 October 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>


A study, which investigated the popularity of mukbang and its health impacts on the public, analyzed media coverage, articles, and YouTube video content related to "mukbang" and concluded that people who frequently watch mukbang may be more susceptible to adopting poor eating habits.<ref name=":0" /> In a survey involving 380 non-nutrition majors at a university in [[Gyeonggi Province]], and their tendencies to watch mukbang and its close variant, cookbang, a significant 29.1% of frequent mukbang-watchers self-diagnosed negative habits, such as increased intake of processed and delivered foods or eating out.<ref name=":33">{{Cite journal |last1=Yun |first1=Sowon |last2=Kang |first2=Hyunjoo |last3=Lee |first3=Hongmie |date=2020 |title=Mukbang- and Cookbang-watching status and dietary life of university students who are not food and nutrition majors |journal=Nutrition Research and Practice |language=en |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=276–285 |doi=10.4162/nrp.2020.14.3.276 |issn=1976-1457 |pmc=7263901 |pmid=32528634}}</ref> Mukbang has also been credited as a dietary restriction device for curbing food cravings and excessive watching may be correlated with the exacerbation or relapse of [[eating disorder]]s.<ref name=":72">{{Cite journal |last1=Kircaburun |first1=Kagan |last2=Yurdagül |first2=Cemil |last3=Kuss |first3=Daria |last4=Emirtekin |first4=Emrah |last5=Griffiths |first5=Mark D. |date=2021-12-01 |title=Problematic Mukbang Watching and Its Relationship to Disordered Eating and Internet Addition: A Pilot Study Among Emerging Adult Mukbang Watchers |journal=International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction |language=en |volume=19 |issue=6 |pages=2160–2169 |doi=10.1007/s11469-020-00309-w |s2cid=218772269 |issn=1557-1882|doi-access=free }}</ref>
A study, which investigated the popularity of mukbang and its health impacts on the public, analyzed media coverage, articles, and YouTube video content related to "mukbang" and concluded that people who frequently watch mukbang may be more susceptible to adopting poor eating habits.<ref name=":0" /> In a survey involving 380 non-nutrition majors at a university in [[Gyeonggi Province]], and their tendencies to watch mukbang and its close variant, cookbang, a significant 29.1% of frequent mukbang-watchers self-diagnosed negative habits, such as increased intake of processed and delivered foods or eating out.<ref name=":33">{{Cite journal |last1=Yun |first1=Sowon |last2=Kang |first2=Hyunjoo |last3=Lee |first3=Hongmie |date=2020 |title=Mukbang- and Cookbang-watching status and dietary life of university students who are not food and nutrition majors |journal=Nutrition Research and Practice |language=en |volume=14 |issue=3 |pages=276–285 |doi=10.4162/nrp.2020.14.3.276 |issn=1976-1457 |pmc=7263901 |pmid=32528634}}</ref> Mukbang has also been credited as a dietary restriction device for curbing food cravings and excessive watching may be correlated with the exacerbation or relapse of [[eating disorder]]s.<ref name=":72">{{Cite journal |last1=Kircaburun |first1=Kagan |last2=Yurdagül |first2=Cemil |last3=Kuss |first3=Daria |last4=Emirtekin |first4=Emrah |last5=Griffiths |first5=Mark D. |date=2021-12-01 |title=Problematic Mukbang Watching and Its Relationship to Disordered Eating and Internet Addition: A Pilot Study Among Emerging Adult Mukbang Watchers |journal=International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction |language=en |volume=19 |issue=6 |pages=2160–2169 |doi=10.1007/s11469-020-00309-w |s2cid=218772269 |issn=1557-1882|doi-access=free }}</ref>


A [[Netnography|netnographic]] analysis of popular mukbang videos on YouTube revealed a significant number of viewer comments expressing fascination with the ability to remain thin after ingesting large amounts of unhealthy foods, a major subcategory of which attempted to explain this phenomenon by citing intense physical exercise by the hosts, physiological quirks such as a "fast metabolism", or by attributing it to the host's Asian ethnicity.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last1=Strand |first1=Mattias |last2=Gustafsson |first2=Sanna Aila |date=2020-04-10 |title=Mukbang and Disordered Eating: A Netnographic Analysis of Online Eating Broadcasts |journal=Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry |language=en |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=586–609 |doi=10.1007/s11013-020-09674-6 |issn=0165-005X |pmc=7497418 |pmid=32277331}}</ref> BJs' experiences with [[fat shaming]] and their underweight counterparts' with speculation for purging and engaging in other unhealthy eating habits off-camera were also noted.<ref name=":12" />
A [[Netnography|netnographic]] analysis of popular mukbang videos on YouTube revealed a significant number of viewer comments expressing fascination with the ability to remain thin after ingesting large amounts of unhealthy foods, a major subcategory of which attempted to explain this phenomenon by citing intense physical exercise by the hosts, physiological quirks such as a "fast metabolism", or by attributing it to the host's Asian ethnicity.<ref name=":12">{{Cite journal |last1=Strand |first1=Mattias |last2=Gustafsson |first2=Sanna Aila |date=2020-04-10 |title=Mukbang and Disordered Eating: A Netnographic Analysis of Online Eating Broadcasts |journal=Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry |language=en |volume=44 |issue=4 |pages=586–609 |doi=10.1007/s11013-020-09674-6 |issn=0165-005X |pmc=7497418 |pmid=32277331}}</ref> BJs' experiences with [[fat shaming]] and their underweight counterparts' with speculation for [[purging disorder|purging]] and engaging in other unhealthy eating habits off-camera were also noted.<ref name=":12" />


In 2019, Ukrainian-born American mukbanger Nicholas Perry, known as [[Nikocado Avocado]], shared that the amount of [[binge eating]] from mukbang has taken a toll on his health, leading to issues such as [[erectile dysfunction]], frequent [[diarrhea]], [[sleep apnea]], mobility problems and [[weight gain]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Matthews |first1=Melissa |title=These Viral 'Mukbang' Stars Get Paid to Gorge on Food—at the Expense of Their Bodies |url=https://www.menshealth.com/health/a25892411/youtube-mukbang-stars-binge-eat/ |website=Men's Health |access-date=January 9, 2022 |date=January 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Matthews |first1=Melissa |title=Why Mukbang Is Huuuuuuuge |journal=Men's Health Singapore |date=June 2019 |url=https://www.magzter.com/stories/2520/347542/5cdd927c0f1c2 |access-date=24 February 2021 |archive-date=10 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010182440/https://www.magzter.com/stories/2520/347542/5cdd927c0f1c2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
In 2019, Ukrainian-born American mukbanger Nicholas Perry, known as [[Nikocado Avocado]], shared that the amount of [[binge eating]] from mukbang has taken a toll on his health, leading to issues such as [[erectile dysfunction]], frequent [[diarrhea]], [[sleep apnea]], mobility problems and [[weight gain]].<ref>{{cite web |last1=Matthews |first1=Melissa |title=These Viral 'Mukbang' Stars Get Paid to Gorge on Food—at the Expense of Their Bodies |url=https://www.menshealth.com/health/a25892411/youtube-mukbang-stars-binge-eat/ |website=Men's Health |access-date=January 9, 2022 |date=January 18, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Matthews |first1=Melissa |title=Why Mukbang Is Huuuuuuuge |journal=Men's Health Singapore |date=June 2019 |url=https://www.magzter.com/stories/2520/347542/5cdd927c0f1c2 |access-date=24 February 2021 |archive-date=10 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211010182440/https://www.magzter.com/stories/2520/347542/5cdd927c0f1c2 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


In 2023, Indian Mukbanger Ashifa, known as Ashifa ASMR, shared that the food shown in mukbang videos cannot be consumed all in one go. She resorts to eating the food in multiple sittings and just edit the videos to make it a continuously shot video. According to her, this fact has been disclosed in her [[disclaimer]]s as a caution to the viewers to prevent [[Unhealthy|unhealthy eating habits]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=They eat, millions watch: The mukbang story of treats and tricks |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sunday-special/story/mukbang-india-food-eating-challenge-tricks-how-indian-mukbangers-show-affects-health-2433684-2023-09-10 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>
In 2023, Indian Mukbanger Ashifa, known as Ashifa ASMR, shared that the food shown in mukbang videos cannot be consumed all in one go. She resorts to eating the food in multiple sittings and just edit the videos to make it a continuously shot video. According to her, this fact has been disclosed in her [[disclaimer]]s as a caution to the viewers to prevent [[Unhealthy|unhealthy eating habits]].<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=They eat, millions watch: The mukbang story of treats and tricks |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/sunday-special/story/mukbang-india-food-eating-challenge-tricks-how-indian-mukbangers-show-affects-health-2433684-2023-09-10 |access-date=2024-02-18 |website=India Today |date=10 September 2023 |language=en}}</ref>

In 2024, the [[Department of Health (Philippines)|Philippine Department of Health]] considered of banning mukbang videos in the [[Philippines]] following the death of a content creator in [[Iligan|Iligan City]] after a [[stroke]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=News |first=GMA Integrated |date=2024-07-05 |title='Mukbang' ban mulled by DOH after vlogger dies of stroke |url=https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/topstories/nation/912420/mukbang-ban-doh-herbosa/story/ |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=GMA News Online |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cabato |first=Luisa |date=2024-07-06 |title=DOH mulling health regulations after ‘mukbang’ vlogger’s death |url=https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1958425/doh-mulling-health-regulations-after-mukbang-vloggers-death |access-date=2024-07-06 |website=INQUIRER.net |language=en}}</ref>


===Food wastage ===
===Food wastage ===
Excessive amounts of food can be consumed and wasted during mukbang.
Excessive amounts of food can be consumed and wasted during mukbang.


To prevent weight gain, some mukbangers chew food and then spit it out, but edit their videos to remove the spitting, to create the false impression that a large volume of food has been consumed. In 2020, South Korean mukbanger Moon Bok Hee, who uploaded on YouTube under Eat With Boki, was criticized for spitting out her food in her videos. This came after dubious editing portions was observed in her videos, leading many of her viewers to doubt their authenticity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-23|title=Mukbang vlogger under fire for allegedly spitting out food after chewing them|url=https://pop.inquirer.net/98562/mukbang-vlogger-under-fire-for-allegedly-spitting-out-food-after-chewing-them|access-date=2021-04-09|website=InqPOP!|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{cite web |last1=Turner |first1=Jasmine |title=Mukbang YouTuber "Eat With Boki" Under Suspicions For Spitting Out Food After Chewing Due To Over-Editing |url=https://www.koreaboo.com/news/mukbang-youtuber-moon-boki-eat-boki-suspicions-spitting-food-after-chewing-editing/ |website=Koreaboo |access-date=3 July 2023 |date=18 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=General |first1=Ryan |title=Mukbang Vlogger With 4.4 Million Followers Called Out For Cheating By Allegedly Spitting Out Food |url=https://nextshark.com/mukbang-vlogger-with-4-4-million-followers-called-out-for-cheating-by-allegedly-spitting-out-food |website=NextShark |access-date=3 July 2023 |language=en |date=26 August 2020}}</ref>
To prevent weight gain or other health risks as a result of overeating, some mukbangers chew food and then spit it out, but edit their videos to remove the spitting, to create the false impression that a large volume of food has been consumed. In 2020, South Korean mukbanger Moon Bok Hee, channel name Eat With Boki, was criticized for allegedly spitting out her food in her videos. This came after dubious editing portions was observed in her videos, leading many of her viewers to doubt their authenticity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-23|title=Mukbang vlogger under fire for allegedly spitting out food after chewing them|url=https://pop.inquirer.net/98562/mukbang-vlogger-under-fire-for-allegedly-spitting-out-food-after-chewing-them|access-date=2021-04-09|website=InqPOP!|language=en}}</ref><ref name=":11">{{cite web |last1=Turner |first1=Jasmine |title=Mukbang YouTuber "Eat With Boki" Under Suspicions For Spitting Out Food After Chewing Due To Over-Editing |url=https://www.koreaboo.com/news/mukbang-youtuber-moon-boki-eat-boki-suspicions-spitting-food-after-chewing-editing/ |website=Koreaboo |access-date=3 July 2023 |date=18 August 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=General |first1=Ryan |title=Mukbang Vlogger With 4.4 Million Followers Called Out For Cheating By Allegedly Spitting Out Food |url=https://nextshark.com/mukbang-vlogger-with-4-4-million-followers-called-out-for-cheating-by-allegedly-spitting-out-food |website=NextShark |access-date=3 July 2023 |language=en |date=26 August 2020}}</ref>


In 2020, General Secretary of the [[Chinese Communist Party]] [[Xi Jinping]] launched the [[Clean Plate Campaign in China|'Clean Plate' campaign]], calling on the nation to guard against food waste. This campaign prompted state-run media outlets such as [[China Central Television|CCTV]] to run reports critical of mukbangers. Users on several Chinese apps received warnings about their mukbang contents and faced an influx of negative comments.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tidy|first=Joe|date=2020-08-20|title=Why China is clamping down on mukbang videos|language=en-GB|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53840167|access-date=2020-08-20}}</ref> Later, [[TikTok|Douyin]] promised to have stricter verification on food-related videos. Other media platforms, including [[Bilibili]] and [[Kuaishou]], have encouraged not wasting food.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-13|title=State media slams popular mukbang for food wastage|url=https://kr-asia.com/state-media-slams-popular-mukbang-for-food-wastage|access-date=2021-04-09|website=KrASIA|language=en}}</ref>
In 2020, General Secretary of the [[Chinese Communist Party]] [[Xi Jinping]] launched the [[Clean Plate Campaign in China|'Clean Plate' campaign]], calling on the nation to guard against food waste. This campaign prompted state-run media outlets such as [[China Central Television|CCTV]] to run reports critical of mukbangers. Users on several Chinese apps received warnings about their mukbang contents and faced an influx of negative comments.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Tidy|first=Joe|date=2020-08-20|title=Why China is clamping down on mukbang videos|language=en-GB|work=[[BBC News]]|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/technology-53840167|access-date=2020-08-20}}</ref> Later, [[TikTok|Douyin]] promised to have stricter verification on food-related videos. Other media platforms, including [[Bilibili]] and [[Kuaishou]], have encouraged not wasting food.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-08-13|title=State media slams popular mukbang for food wastage|url=https://kr-asia.com/state-media-slams-popular-mukbang-for-food-wastage|access-date=2021-04-09|website=KrASIA|language=en}}</ref>


===Incidents of animal cruelty===
===Incidents of animal cruelty===
{{See also|Cruelty to animals|Shock site}}
{{See also|Cruelty to animals|Shock site}}


Several mukbang streamers, particularly Ssoyoung, have received attention and much criticism for inflicting cruelty to living sea creatures before and during their consumption in their mukbang videos. Examples of live animals that Ssoyoung has subjected to prolonged bodily harm while alive include [[fish]], [[shark]]s, [[crab]]s, [[squid]], and [[octopus]]es, and include an incident where Ssoyoung poured [[table salt]] onto a basin of live eels, and an incident where squids had their mantles cut off, but were supposedly kept alive before having [[soy sauce]] poured over their exposed nerves, inflicting excessive pain and suffering to the animals.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2021-01-14 |title=The sounds of torture: Ssoyoung's Animal cruelty ASMR on Youtube |url=https://www.diggitmagazine.com/articles/ssoyoungs-animal-cruelty-asmr |access-date=2022-05-18 |website=Diggit Magazine |language=en}}</ref> In reality the squid were dead before consumption and the supposed "dancing" was the result of involuntary movement.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |date=April 2019 |title=Octopus-Eating YouTuber Uploaded Another Shocking Video of Pig's Head Mukbang, Receives Heavy Criticism |url=http://www.koreaboo.com/news/korean-youtuber-ssoyoung-shocking-pig-head-mukbang-video-netizen-criticism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327225103/https://www.koreaboo.com/news/korean-youtuber-ssoyoung-shocking-pig-head-mukbang-video-netizen-criticism/ |archive-date=27 March 2020 |access-date=27 March 2020 |website=Koreaboo}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web|title=YouTuber Ssoyoung Is Facing Animal Cruelty Accusations for Eating Live Seafood for Views|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/ssoyoung-youtube-animal-cruelty|access-date=2020-09-16|website=Distractify|date=10 April 2020|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Margot|title=A YouTuber with over 3 million followers responded to backlash after eating live squids and octopuses on her channel, which critics call 'cruel'|url=https://www.insider.com/youtuber-ssoyoung-live-squid-octopus-video-h3h3-mukbang-2020-4|access-date=2020-09-16|website=Insider}}</ref>
Several mukbang streamers have received attention and much criticism for inflicting cruelty to living sea creatures before and during their consumption in their mukbang videos. Streamer Ssoyoung has been accused of inflicting excess harm to creatures such as [[fish]], [[shark]]s, [[crab]]s, [[squid]], and [[octopus]]es. In one instance, Ssoyoung poured [[table salt]] onto a basin of live eels. In another, squid that Ssoyoung poured soy sauce on were observed moving, but this was perhaps the result of involuntary movement due to salt interacting with the nerves of dead squid.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |date=April 2019 |title=Octopus-Eating YouTuber Uploaded Another Shocking Video of Pig's Head Mukbang, Receives Heavy Criticism |url=http://www.koreaboo.com/news/korean-youtuber-ssoyoung-shocking-pig-head-mukbang-video-netizen-criticism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327225103/https://www.koreaboo.com/news/korean-youtuber-ssoyoung-shocking-pig-head-mukbang-video-netizen-criticism/ |archive-date=27 March 2020 |access-date=27 March 2020 |website=Koreaboo}}</ref><ref name=":10">{{Cite web|title=YouTuber Ssoyoung Is Facing Animal Cruelty Accusations for Eating Live Seafood for Views|url=https://www.distractify.com/p/ssoyoung-youtube-animal-cruelty|access-date=2020-09-16|website=Distractify|date=10 April 2020|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Harris|first=Margot|title=A YouTuber with over 3 million followers responded to backlash after eating live squids and octopuses on her channel, which critics call 'cruel'|url=https://www.insider.com/youtuber-ssoyoung-live-squid-octopus-video-h3h3-mukbang-2020-4|access-date=2020-09-16|website=Insider}}</ref>


=== Health impacts ===
=== Health impacts ===
Line 176: Line 87:


====Alcohol consumption====
====Alcohol consumption====
A '''sulbang''' ({{Korean|hangul=술방|labels=no}}, pronounced [[Help:IPA/Korean|[sulpaŋ]]]) or '''eating show''' with '''alcohol''' videos can be watched by anyone including minors, which may inadvertently stimulate alcohol consumption among teenagers.<ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last1=Kang |first1=EunKyo |last2=Lee |first2=Jihye |last3=Kim |first3=Kyae |last4=Yun |first4=Young Ho |year=2020 |title=The popularity of eating broadcast: Content analysis of "Mukbang" Youtube videos, media coverage, and the health impact of "mukbang" on public |journal=Health Informatics Journal |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=2237–2248|doi=10.1177/1460458220901360 |pmid=31992111 |s2cid=210948566 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
A sulbang ({{Korean|hangul=술방|labels=no}}, pronounced [[Help:IPA/Korean|[sulpaŋ]]]) or eating show with alcohol videos can be watched by anyone including minors, which may inadvertently stimulate alcohol consumption among teenagers.<ref name=":13">{{Cite journal |last1=Kang |first1=EunKyo |last2=Lee |first2=Jihye |last3=Kim |first3=Kyae |last4=Yun |first4=Young Ho |year=2020 |title=The popularity of eating broadcast: Content analysis of "Mukbang" Youtube videos, media coverage, and the health impact of "mukbang" on public |journal=Health Informatics Journal |volume=26 |issue=3 |pages=2237–2248|doi=10.1177/1460458220901360 |pmid=31992111 |s2cid=210948566 |doi-access=free }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 193: Line 104:


[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Articles containing video clips]]
[[Category:Korean slang|Mukbang]]
[[Category:Korean words and phrases|Mukbang]]
[[Category:Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors]]
[[Category:Behavioural syndromes associated with physiological disturbances and physical factors]]
[[Category:Eating behaviors]]
[[Category:Eating behaviors]]
Line 201: Line 114:
[[Category:Streaming television]]
[[Category:Streaming television]]
[[Category:Internet culture]]
[[Category:Internet culture]]
[[Category:2000s neologisms]]

Revision as of 06:44, 6 July 2024

Mukbang
Example of a mukbang
Korean name
Hangul
Revised Romanizationmeokbang
McCune–Reischauermŏkpang
IPA[mʌk̚.p͈aŋ]
Original word
Hangul
Hanja
먹는 放送
Revised Romanizationmeongneun bangsong
McCune–Reischauermŏngnŭn pangsong
IPA[mʌŋ.nɯn.baŋ.soŋ]

A mukbang (Korean: 먹방; RR: meokbang; lit. eating room, pronounced [mʌk̚.p͈aŋ] ⓘ), also called eating show, 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, TikTok, and Twitch. In the live version, 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 and 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]

Etymology

The word mukbang (먹방; meokbang) is a portmanteau of the Korean words for "eating" (먹는; meongneun) and "broadcast/show" (방송; bangsong).[4] It would thus be morphologically comparable to "eatcast" or "eatshow".

Historical background and origins

Prior to the 21st century, Korea had traditionally had a food culture based on healthy eating practices and strict Confucian etiquette.[10] However, a new food culture since the late 2000s has emerged in South Korea characterized by internet eating culture (mukbang). It was first introduced on the real-time internet TV service AfreecaTV in 2009, it now has become a trend in cable channels as well as terrestrial broadcasting. This form of programming emphasizes the attractiveness of the person who prepares the food. Eating and cooking shows are becoming effective programs for broadcasting companies as production costs are lower than reality entertainment programs.[11]

Academics have also attributed the origins of mukbang in South Korea as being a part of widespread anxiety, loneliness and unhappiness in many South Koreans with their hyper competitive country's socioeconomic situation and society. Consequently, mukbang gives them an opportunity to relieve some of these stressors.[12]

In each broadcast, a host will interact with their viewers through online chat rooms. Many hosts generate revenue through mukbang by accepting donations or partnering with advertising networks.[4] The popularity of mukbang streams has spread outside of Korea, with online streamers doing their own mukbang streams in other countries.[13] In 2016, Twitch introduced new categories like "social eating" to spotlight them.[14][15]

Articles about mukbang have also appeared in The Huffington Post and The Wall Street Journal.[16] The term "mukbang" has been widely adopted in other types of eating shows, such as those featuring ASMR on platforms such as YouTube.[17] This eating performance from South Korea has also rapidly spread in influence and popularity to other Asian countries, such as Japan and China. In China, mukbang is called "Chibo"; hosts make their content into short videos and vlogs and upload them onto social media platforms like Weibo.[18]

Culture

The contrast to the traditional eating culture that revolves around eating from the same communal dishes at the family dinner table has been acknowledged.[1]

It has been suggested one can vicariously satisfy the desire for food by viewing.[19] In Korea, individuals who stream mukbang are called broadcast jockeys (BJs).[20] As a result, high level of interaction BJ-to-viewer and viewer-to-viewer contributes to the sociability aspect of producing and consuming mukbang content.[20] For example, during broadcast jockey Changhyun's interaction with his audience he temporarily paused to follow a fan's directions on what to eat next and how to eat it.[20] Viewers may influence the direction of the stream but the BJ retains control over what he or she eats.[20] Ventriloquism, by which BJs mime the actions of their fans by directing food to the camera in a feeding motion and eating in their stead, is another technique that creates the illusion of a shared experience in one room.[20]

A study conducted by Seoul National University found that within a two-year time frame (April 2017 to April 2019) the term "mukbang" was used in over 100,000 videos from YouTube. It reported that alleviating the feelings of loneliness associated with eating alone may be the primary reason for mukbang's popularity.[21] In a pilot study from February 2022 on mukbang watching and mental health, psychologists lay the foundation for future investigation into the potential detriments of using mukbang, or virtual eating, as a substitute for social experiences.[22] Another reason for mukbang viewing could be its potential sexual appeal. Researchers have argued that mukbangs can be viewed to satisfy eating-related fetishes, and have commented on the sexualized gaze brought about by watching hosts in such a private and intimate state.[7][1] Other studies argue that individuals who watch mukbang do so for entertainment, as an escape from reality, or to get satisfaction from the ASMR aspects of mukbang such as the eating sounds and sensations.[7][21][23][24] Watching mukbang videos often creates an parasocial interaction between the mukbanger and the viewer, and it could also increase the likelihood of solo-dining of viewers.[25]

Varieties

A popular sub-genre of the trend is "cook-bang" (쿡방) show, in which the streamer includes the preparation and cooking of the dishes featured as part of the show.[26]

South Korean video game players have sometimes broadcast mukbang as breaks during their overall streams. The popularity of this practice among local users led the video game streaming service Twitch to begin trialing a dedicated "social eating" category in July 2016; a representative of the service stated that this category is not necessarily specific to mukbang, but would leave the concept open to interpretation by streamers within its guidelines.[27]

Monetization

Mukbangers incurring income from such videos can earn from advertising.[6] This performance of eating can allow top broadcasters to earn as much as $10,000 a month which does not include sponsorships. Live-streaming platforms like AfreecaTV and Twitch allow viewers to send payments to their favorite streamers.[28]

Creators can also earn income through endorsements, e-books, and product reviews. Bethany Gaskin, under the name Bloveslife for her channel, has made over $1 million from advertising on her videos as reported by The New York Times.[6] Popular mukbanger Soo Tang, also known as MommyTang, claimed that successful mukbangers can earn about $100,000 in a year.[6]

Criticism

Promotion of unhealthy eating habits

In July 2018, the South Korean government announced that it would create and regulate mukbang guidelines by launching the "National Obesity Management Comprehensive Measures". The Ministry of Health and Welfare announced the measures, which were intended to address binge eating and harm to the public health caused by mukbang. Criticisms were levied against the ministry: the Blue House petition board received about 40 petitions against mukbang regulations, which maintained arguments such as "there is no correlation between mukbang and binge eating" and "the government is infringing on individual freedom."[29]

A study, which investigated the popularity of mukbang and its health impacts on the public, analyzed media coverage, articles, and YouTube video content related to "mukbang" and concluded that people who frequently watch mukbang may be more susceptible to adopting poor eating habits.[21] In a survey involving 380 non-nutrition majors at a university in Gyeonggi Province, and their tendencies to watch mukbang and its close variant, cookbang, a significant 29.1% of frequent mukbang-watchers self-diagnosed negative habits, such as increased intake of processed and delivered foods or eating out.[30] Mukbang has also been credited as a dietary restriction device for curbing food cravings and excessive watching may be correlated with the exacerbation or relapse of eating disorders.[31]

A netnographic analysis of popular mukbang videos on YouTube revealed a significant number of viewer comments expressing fascination with the ability to remain thin after ingesting large amounts of unhealthy foods, a major subcategory of which attempted to explain this phenomenon by citing intense physical exercise by the hosts, physiological quirks such as a "fast metabolism", or by attributing it to the host's Asian ethnicity.[32] BJs' experiences with fat shaming and their underweight counterparts' with speculation for purging and engaging in other unhealthy eating habits off-camera were also noted.[32]

In 2019, Ukrainian-born American mukbanger Nicholas Perry, known as Nikocado Avocado, shared that the amount of binge eating from mukbang has taken a toll on his health, leading to issues such as erectile dysfunction, frequent diarrhea, sleep apnea, mobility problems and weight gain.[33][34]

In 2023, Indian Mukbanger Ashifa, known as Ashifa ASMR, shared that the food shown in mukbang videos cannot be consumed all in one go. She resorts to eating the food in multiple sittings and just edit the videos to make it a continuously shot video. According to her, this fact has been disclosed in her disclaimers as a caution to the viewers to prevent unhealthy eating habits.[35]

In 2024, the Philippine Department of Health considered of banning mukbang videos in the Philippines following the death of a content creator in Iligan City after a stroke.[36][37]

Food wastage

Excessive amounts of food can be consumed and wasted during mukbang.

To prevent weight gain or other health risks as a result of overeating, some mukbangers chew food and then spit it out, but edit their videos to remove the spitting, to create the false impression that a large volume of food has been consumed. In 2020, South Korean mukbanger Moon Bok Hee, channel name Eat With Boki, was criticized for allegedly spitting out her food in her videos. This came after dubious editing portions was observed in her videos, leading many of her viewers to doubt their authenticity.[38][39][40]

In 2020, General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Xi Jinping launched the 'Clean Plate' campaign, calling on the nation to guard against food waste. This campaign prompted state-run media outlets such as CCTV to run reports critical of mukbangers. Users on several Chinese apps received warnings about their mukbang contents and faced an influx of negative comments.[41] Later, Douyin promised to have stricter verification on food-related videos. Other media platforms, including Bilibili and Kuaishou, have encouraged not wasting food.[42]

Incidents of animal cruelty

See also: Cruelty to animals and Shock site

Several mukbang streamers have received attention and much criticism for inflicting cruelty to living sea creatures before and during their consumption in their mukbang videos. Streamer Ssoyoung has been accused of inflicting excess harm to creatures such as fish, sharks, crabs, squid, and octopuses. In one instance, Ssoyoung poured table salt onto a basin of live eels. In another, squid that Ssoyoung poured soy sauce on were observed moving, but this was perhaps the result of involuntary movement due to salt interacting with the nerves of dead squid.[8][43][44]

Health impacts

Eating disorders

Youtubers drinking alcoholic drinks on "Cold Ones"

A study in 2021 which addressed Mukbang and the effect of influencers' food consumption on their viewers showed that engaging in "problematic mukbang watching" was positively associated with eating disorders and with internet addiction.[45] In addition, academics and dietitians added that mukbangers and their viewers often have a bad relationship with their eating habits, and its popularity only serves to further encourage such behaviors.[45][46][47]

Alcohol consumption

A sulbang (술방, pronounced [sulpaŋ]) or eating show with alcohol videos can be watched by anyone including minors, which may inadvertently stimulate alcohol consumption among teenagers.[48]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b c d 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. ^ a b c 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. ^ a b "Octopus-Eating YouTuber Uploaded Another Shocking Video of Pig's Head Mukbang, Receives Heavy Criticism". Koreaboo. April 2019. Archived from the original on 27 March 2020. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  9. ^ Acuña, Anne (23 August 2020). "Mukbang vlogger under fire for allegedly spitting out food after chewing them". InqPOP!. Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  10. ^ 박소정; 홍석경 (2016). "미디어 문화 속 먹방과 헤게모니 과정" [Mukbang and Hegemony Process in Media Culture]. 언론과 사회 (in Korean). 24 (1): 105–150.
  11. ^ "[Culture & Biz] 대한민국 왜 '먹방'에 열광하나" [Why is Korea so crazy about eating show?]. www.economyinsight.co.kr. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  12. ^ Kircaburun, Kagan; Harris, Andrew; Calado, Filipa; Griffiths, Mark D. (1 August 2021). "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. S2CID 209893148.
  13. ^ BOGLE, ARIEL (2016). "No vomiting allowed on Twitch's new social eating channel". Mashable. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  14. ^ "Twitch Viewers Can Now Watch People Eat". 30 June 2016. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  15. ^ Jones, Brad (2016). "Twitch Viewers Can Now Watch People Eat". Gamerant. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  16. ^ "The food-show craze". The Economist. 27 June 2015. Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  17. ^ 함, 종선 (25 July 2018). "라면 먹방 연 수입 10억" [1 billion won in annual income of ramen noodles]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on 10 December 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  18. ^ Babenskaite, Greta; Yang, Mengyu (2019). Mukbang Influencers: Online eating becomes a new marketing strategy: A case study of small sized firms in China's food industry (Thesis).
  19. ^ Kim (김), Hye Jin (혜진) (2015). "문화학 : 하위문화로서의 푸드 포르노(Food Porn) 연구 - 아프리카TV의 인터넷 먹방을 중심으로 -" [A Study on Food Porn as a Sub-Culture - Centering on Internet "Meokbang" (eating scene) in Afreeca TV -]. 인문학연구 (in Korean). 50: 433–455. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
  20. ^ a b c d e Choe, Hanwool (2019). "Eating together multimodally: Collaborative eating in mukbang, a Korean livestream of eating". Language in Society. 48 (2): 171–208. doi:10.1017/S0047404518001355. S2CID 151148665.
  21. ^ a b c Kang, EunKyo; Lee, Jihye; Kim, Kyae Hyung; Yun, Young Ho (September 2020). "The popularity of eating broadcast: Content analysis of 'mukbang' YouTube videos, media coverage, and the health impact of 'mukbang' on public". Health Informatics Journal. 26 (3): 2237–2248. doi:10.1177/1460458220901360. PMID 31992111.
  22. ^ Kircaburun, Kagan; Savcı, Mustafa; Emirtekin, Emrah; Griffiths, Mark D. (1 February 2022). "Uses and gratifications of problematic mukbang watching – The role of eating and social gratification: A pilot study". Journal of Psychiatric Research. 146: 28–30. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2021.12.036. ISSN 0022-3956. PMID 34952300. S2CID 245347393.
  23. ^ Noreena Hertz (2020). "Chapt. 4". The Lonely Century: Coming Together in a World that's Pulling Apart. Sceptre. ISBN 978-1529329254.
  24. ^ Adema, Pauline. "Vicarious consumption: Food, television and the ambiguity of modernity." The Journal of American Culture 23.3 (2000): 113.
  25. ^ "What is a mukbang? Celebrating AAPI Heritage Month with Junction Trio | WQXR Features". WQXR. 5 May 2022. Retrieved 19 November 2022.
  26. ^ 문, 종환 (November 2017). "TV를 삼킨 먹방 & 쿡방 열풍이 불편한 이유" [Why the A and B craze that swallowed TV is uncomfortable?]. 건강다이제스트. Archived from the original on 22 October 2018.
  27. ^ "Why eating and gaming is a thing on Twitch". Polygon. Vox Media. 11 July 2016. Archived from the original on 14 July 2016. Retrieved 18 July 2016.
  28. ^ "Koreans Have An Insatiable Appetite For Watching Strangers Binge Eat". NPR.org. Archived from the original on 11 March 2020. Retrieved 5 April 2020.
  29. ^ 한, 동희 (29 July 2018). "해외선 'mukbang'(먹방)은 고유명사..'먹방 규제' 놓고 시끌" [The foreign line 'mukbang' (Yoobang) is a proper noun...]. The Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Archived from the original on 7 October 2018. Retrieved 10 December 2018.
  30. ^ Yun, Sowon; Kang, Hyunjoo; Lee, Hongmie (2020). "Mukbang- and Cookbang-watching status and dietary life of university students who are not food and nutrition majors". Nutrition Research and Practice. 14 (3): 276–285. doi:10.4162/nrp.2020.14.3.276. ISSN 1976-1457. PMC 7263901. PMID 32528634.
  31. ^ Kircaburun, Kagan; Yurdagül, Cemil; Kuss, Daria; Emirtekin, Emrah; Griffiths, Mark D. (1 December 2021). "Problematic Mukbang Watching and Its Relationship to Disordered Eating and Internet Addition: A Pilot Study Among Emerging Adult Mukbang Watchers". International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. 19 (6): 2160–2169. doi:10.1007/s11469-020-00309-w. ISSN 1557-1882. S2CID 218772269.
  32. ^ a b Strand, Mattias; Gustafsson, Sanna Aila (10 April 2020). "Mukbang and Disordered Eating: A Netnographic Analysis of Online Eating Broadcasts". Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry. 44 (4): 586–609. doi:10.1007/s11013-020-09674-6. ISSN 0165-005X. PMC 7497418. PMID 32277331.
  33. ^ Matthews, Melissa (18 January 2019). "These Viral 'Mukbang' Stars Get Paid to Gorge on Food—at the Expense of Their Bodies". Men's Health. Retrieved 9 January 2022.
  34. ^ Matthews, Melissa (June 2019). "Why Mukbang Is Huuuuuuuge". Men's Health Singapore. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 24 February 2021.
  35. ^ "They eat, millions watch: The mukbang story of treats and tricks". India Today. 10 September 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2024.
  36. ^ News, GMA Integrated (5 July 2024). "'Mukbang' ban mulled by DOH after vlogger dies of stroke". GMA News Online. Retrieved 6 July 2024. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  37. ^ Cabato, Luisa (6 July 2024). "DOH mulling health regulations after 'mukbang' vlogger's death". INQUIRER.net. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  38. ^ "Mukbang vlogger under fire for allegedly spitting out food after chewing them". InqPOP!. 23 August 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  39. ^ Turner, Jasmine (18 August 2020). "Mukbang YouTuber "Eat With Boki" Under Suspicions For Spitting Out Food After Chewing Due To Over-Editing". Koreaboo. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  40. ^ General, Ryan (26 August 2020). "Mukbang Vlogger With 4.4 Million Followers Called Out For Cheating By Allegedly Spitting Out Food". NextShark. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  41. ^ Tidy, Joe (20 August 2020). "Why China is clamping down on mukbang videos". BBC News. Retrieved 20 August 2020.
  42. ^ "State media slams popular mukbang for food wastage". KrASIA. 13 August 2020. Retrieved 9 April 2021.
  43. ^ "YouTuber Ssoyoung Is Facing Animal Cruelty Accusations for Eating Live Seafood for Views". Distractify. 10 April 2020. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  44. ^ Harris, Margot. "A YouTuber with over 3 million followers responded to backlash after eating live squids and octopuses on her channel, which critics call 'cruel'". Insider. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  45. ^ a b Kircaburun, Kagan; Yurdagül, Cemil; Kuss, Daria; Emirtekin, Emrah; Griffiths, Mark D. (2021). "Problematic Mukbang Watching and its Relationship to Disordered Eating and Internet Addiction: A Pilot Studying Among Emerging Adult Mukbang Watchers". International Journal of Mental Health and Addiction. 19 (6): 2160–2169. doi:10.1007/s11469-020-00309-w. S2CID 218772269.
  46. ^ Garone, Sarah. "Why Dietitians Are Concerned About the Popularity of Mukbang Videos". Health. Retrieved 3 July 2023.
  47. ^ Strand, Mattias; Gustafsson, Sanna Aila (December 2020). "Mukbang and Disordered Eating: A Netnographic Analysis of Online Eating Broadcasts". Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry. 44 (4): 586–609. doi:10.1007/s11013-020-09674-6. PMC 7497418. PMID 32277331.
  48. ^ Kang, EunKyo; Lee, Jihye; Kim, Kyae; Yun, Young Ho (2020). "The popularity of eating broadcast: Content analysis of "Mukbang" Youtube videos, media coverage, and the health impact of "mukbang" on public". Health Informatics Journal. 26 (3): 2237–2248. doi:10.1177/1460458220901360. PMID 31992111. S2CID 210948566.
  • Media related to Mukbang at Wikimedia Commons
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mukbang&oldid=1232901093"