General Guidance for K-Culture Studies

Today, we will study the case of Mukbang, a South Korean live-streaming technology, to discuss the relationship between digital media and the development of South Korean society and eating culture.

Mukbang is a genre of online broadcasting where a self-broadcaster, usually called a Mukbang BJ, interacts with their audience while eating a large amount of food. With the global popularity of Mukbang, and the proliferation of similar videos on YouTube, concerns have been growing about how this “over-eating” content and its broadcasters are affecting our everyday eating habits and reshaping the social definition of “eating.”   In this lesson, we will examine the sociological aspects of Mukbang, focusing on how digital media has facilitated the growth of Mukbang culture, its impact on the food industry, and the broader socio-cultural implications of this trend.

The learning content and objectives for this class are as follows:

1. The case study of Mukbang, South Korean live streaming technology;
2. Individualisation in the South Korean dining culture;
3. The centrality of digital technology for the recent change in the eating culture  

Learning objectives:

1. Studying specific topics related to South Korean live streaming technology and eating culture;
2. Developing specific knowledge of contemporary South Korean culture and digital media;
3. Understanding the relationship between the development of new media technology and the recent change in the eating culture.