What Is A Mukbang And Why Do I Love Watching Them So Much?
You have probably heard the word “Mukbang” before. You may know what one is, you may not. Mukbangs have become a social media phenomenon and everyday people indulge in watching them on a daily basis, including myself. So why are we obsessed with Mukbangs? Before we can answer that question, let’s school those who may not know on exactly what a Mukbang is.
So the word Mukbang’s literal definition is derived from Korea and is a clipped compound of the Korean words for ‘eating’ and ‘broadcast.’ Mukbangs became popular in the early 2010s when local TV channels started broadcasting them promoting the eating culture in that country. It quickly spread into a sensation that has invaded TikTok, IG, Facebook, Snapchat and just about every social media platform. To break it down into simple terms: Mukbangs are people being filmed and broadcasted eating. Simple as that.
Why are we so obsessed with Mukbangs? I can’t speak for anyone else so I will tell you why I personally love watching them. As someone who has struggled with my weight my entire adult life, I tend to periodically restrict my eating of fatty foods to lose weight. So in my eyes, watching someone else eat all the fatty foods that I can’t eat is somewhat of way for me to enjoy it through someone else. I also like to watch healthy food Mukbangs to get ideas of which meals I can eventually try for myself. It’s sort of a psychological thing as well as a learning experience.
But why do YOU like watching Mukbangs so much? I was curious and did some research as to why the average person enjoys them so much. Many watch for the same reasons as me but there are other reasons. Have you ever heard of ASMR? ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) is the trigger someone gets in response to a piece of audio and in the case of a Mukbang, it’s the noise food makes while someone chews on it OR the noise of the texture of the food itself. That is soothing for many. Others watch Mukbangs as a pure form of entertainment…a way to escape from everyday boredom. Others feel watching Mukbangs provides a feeling of having a shared experience, almost as if you’re having a meal with a friend.
Regardless of your reasons, I wanted to share with you a few of my personal favorite “Mukbangers.”
Mrs. Jones won my heart over with her love for eating fried fish. I just love her personality and her foods make me happy!
Samantha Milton is a woman who has lost over 250 pounds through the use of semiglutides and eating in a calorie deficit.
Gabbi Eniclerico has just an infectious personality. She has gone viral for her interesting pronunciations of specific words and her loud chewing.
