What is a mukbang?

What is a Mukbang?

What is a Mukbang? The word "Muk-bang" (or mok-bang) is a so-called artificial word from Korea. It consists of the two words mokda for "eat" and bangsong for "send". And this is exactly what the mukbang is all about. Someone films himself while eating and publishes this as a YouTube video or even as a live stream on the internet and other people then watch this person eating. In most Mukbang videos, however, people don't just eat, they gobble down an oversized portion of a meal. Smaller portions or ideas of special dishes are rather rare in these videos. Also the preparation of a dish is rarely shown. Often, however, the food is presented in an elaborate way and is the focus of the picture.

On the appropriate YouTube channel to this page you can watch such videos, where the amount of food is not the main focus:

       

How was Mukbang created?

Already in the 2000s the first Mukbang videos are said to have been created. Already in these years the live streaming of video game competitions (e-sports) was widespread. One of the well-known gamers simply got hungry during such a live event and ate a cup of ramen noodles in front of a running camera. The positive feedback fired up the trend to eat in front of the camera and let others watch.

So you could say that besides "Let*s Play" videos, "Let's eat" videos were born.

What does Mukbang have to do with ASMR?

In these Mukbang videos you usually don't hear much or even nothing at all, but instead you hear smacking noises or, for example, when someone tears off a chicken leg. This can be combined wonderfully with ASMR, because the focus is on the noises that occur during eating. Whether it is such a great experience to listen to someone eating, however, each person has to decide for himself. The success of these videos speaks for the fact that many viewers are not deterred. Although it already surprises, since we are actually taught to avoid smacking, chewing, slurping and other noises with the meal from consideration for our fellow men rather.

In the ASMR-Community it is often discussed whether Mukbang-Videos belong to ASMR or if this is a genre of its own. One of the main reasons for this is probably that the aversion to loud smacking or eating with a slightly opened mouth is very strong. However, it is difficult to categorize them, because ASMR describes the feeling or reaction that is triggered by sounds. Accordingly, there can always be ASMR reactions to Mukbang videos when the viewer feels them. This is completely independent of whether these videos are categorized as ASMR or not.

Why do so many people watch Mukbang videos?

The question why you should watch other people eating at all inevitably arises when someone tells you about this strange trend or you come across such a video.

If it is normal to watch other people playing computer games, cleaning their garage or other everyday things like cleaning the house, it is not a deterrent to bring them to your own dining table. Posting photos of the sumptuous buffet at the hotel and letting others share (or make them jealous) has been common practice for a long time now. Or what other reason is there to post a photo of a visit to a restaurant so that all friends, acquaintances and work colleagues can see it?

In fact, it is mainly due to the loneliness that prevails in the big cities of the country of origin, Korea. Statistically speaking, every fourth Korean lives alone. To counteract this loneliness at least a little bit, Mukbang videos offer the possibility to eat "in company" with someone else. After all, eating together in a family circle is usually the only thing that is done daily as a family ritual and also offers the opportunity to talk about when each family member already has his or her own life with school, training, studies or work and can only spend limited time on social life. In Korea, the importance of this can even be seen in the Korean word for family "Gajok". This literally means "those who eat together.

This phenomenon of creating a society in order not to be alone has not only existed since Mukbang videos. So it has been "normal" for quite some time that people living alone turn on the TV to create the impression of not being alone because of the sounds and voices. We also had an older neighbor who liked to talk to her TV when she didn't have a visitor.

Health risks and food waste?

The big criticism of Mukbang videos concerns the health risks the Mukbang stars are exposed to when consuming such large amounts of food on a daily basis. There is also no denying that some Mukbang stars have gained weight during their careers. Often they have a heavy training program and train the first half of the day and then in the evening they can feast so unrestrainedly. Whether this is really healthier than with actors who have to starve themselves down to a minimum for the next role or have to train a muscle pack again is questionable. If eating large amounts of food is the only and probably even well-paying source of income, then you might consider several times whether you really stop eating, despite already existing health problems.

Likewise naturally the food waste stands under fire, since the consumption of these quantities of food is not only unhealthy but also completely unnecessary. Although the food is not thrown away, but really completely consumed, but to push more than the required amount of food into oneself while other people live on a portion of rice a day or have to starve for several days just seems unnecessary.

For these reasons it is not surprising that the Chinese government has started to remove videos and is considering banning Mukbang videos due to the careless handling of vast amounts of food! Whoever searches for such content in Chinese social media will even receive a warning.

Scandals - Other countries, other customs?

Through the internet and especially social media and such trends like Mukbang videos you inevitably get insight into things that are typical in other countries, but for understandable reasons are viewed critically in other places in the world or maybe even banned and punished. So it is here for example a scandal that in some Mukbang videos still living (!) animals were eaten or should be eaten. Understandable that this does not meet with much approval here.

In fact it is not untypical in the Asian region to eat living sea animals. For example, a culinary festival in honor of the octopus takes place annually in Seoul. The approximately 70,000 visitors can catch octopods with their bare hands and learn how to dismember them. However, they are also offered there alive for dinner.