What is Mukbang, the latest type of video going viral on social media?

**Joseph Chance** (0:04)
What is Mukbang? The latest type of viral social media video.
Thanks for asking.
The Mukbang phenomenon has been around for nearly 15 years, but only really took off on YouTube and then TikTok in the last few years. A simple search on either of the platforms yields an endless list of clips, many of which have view counts in the millions. To put it simply, Mukbang involves people filming themselves while eating. The streamers are known as broadcast jockeys or BJs for short, and they often eat copious amounts of food during their streams. We're talking up to 10,000 calories in a single sitting. Sometimes viewers get to see them preparing the food first or ordering it in. Where does Mukbang come from? It started out in South Korea. Mukbang is actually a Korean portmanteau word, combining the words for eat and broadcast. Collins Dictionary made it one of their words of the year in 2020
The first Mukbang show took place on streaming service Afreeca TV in 2009 Initially the purpose wasn't about eating huge amounts of food, it was actually about sharing a meal with someone via webcam to beat the loneliness that was common in South Korean society. It evolved over time with other subgenres emerging, like ASMR Mukbang and Storytime Mukbang, which involves the BJ telling a story while eating. Some BJs invite guests to join them on their Mukbang streams. We've even seen American rapper Megan Thee Stallion record a Mukbang for YouTube to promote her hot sauce.

**Megan Thee Stallion** (1:43)
What's up hotties, it's me Thee Stallion aka The Hot Girl Coach, aka Mrs. Papayas. Today, we're about to eat some papayas and we're about to try the hot sauce.

**Joseph Chance** (1:53)
A number of YouTubers have managed to build their careers on the concept, like Park Seol Yoon in South Korea, and American Bethany Gaskin, who has accrued over 3 million subscribers on YouTube, and made over 1 million dollars through advertising according to the New York Times. I just don't get it. What's the attraction of watching other people eat? People have said that they feel their own food cravings are satisfied when watching Mukbang streams. They may also derive satisfaction from listening to the sounds of someone eating, which after all is what ASMR is all about. Others like feeling a connection with the Mukbang host and other viewers. Indeed, it's been suggested that part of the secret behind Mukbang's popularity is how it recreates the social aspect of dining.
Is the Mukbang trend dangerous? Parents might be concerned about the bad example that Mukbang videos set. I've already touched on how excessive quantities of food are consumed and most of the time it's also fatty food, making it doubly bad. There's a danger viewing such content could trigger certain people and change their perception of the food items being eaten. Most Mukbang influencers are relatively slim, implying that overeating is okay and won't lead to being overweight or having any health problems. But in reality, those already struggling with binge eating or other disorders may see their issues get worse after watching Mukbang.
There you have it. Now you know what Mukbang is. In under three minutes, we answer your questions and help you understand the true meaning behind the trends, concepts and acronyms that are making headlines. Listen along and you will really know it for sure.