Korean YouTuber Boki takes on colossal mukbang meal

Boki, a young Korean YouTuber, takes on a colossal plate of noodles crowned with fried eggs, dumplings, and kimchi. The meal appears enough to feed a small family, but she isn’t sharing.

On her popular ‘Eat With Boki’ channel, the slender woman pours a large glass of cola, takes a gulp, and begins devouring the noodles with chopsticks. She consumes it all within ten minutes, barely smudging her red lip gloss. After finishing, she looks at the camera and informs her ten million subscribers: ‘I finished it all! I ate well. Bye.’

This is ‘mukbang’ – a global food trend captivating millions, especially women. Mukbang combines the Korean words for ‘eating’ (meokneun) and ‘broadcast’ (bangsong). Stars of mukbang consume large quantities of food on camera and share the videos with followers.

The practice is financially rewarding, with many YouTubers and TikTokers vying to eat more than their competitors and earn from ads. Some have become millionaires. However, the trend has a dark side. Last month, Chinese mukbanger Pan Xiaoting died after consuming 22 lb (10 kg) of food. The 24-year-old, who was morbidly obese, likely suffered a stomach tear.

Xiaoting collapsed during a ten-hour binge on chocolate cake, chicken fingers, and seafood. Despite China banning such videos, the practice continues with live streams instead of pre-recorded clips. Mukbang poses a public health risk beyond China and Asia, spreading to the US and Britain, prompting some countries to crack down.

Dr Andrew Harris, a psychology lecturer at Nottingham University, cautions: ‘Mukbang videos focus on consumption and indulgence, potentially promoting overeating or unhealthy food habits.’

The trend began in South Korea, where communal dining is culturally significant. The rise in young Koreans living alone, partly due to Covid and declining marriage and birth rates, created a demand for virtual dining companions.

Over a quarter of South Koreans in their 20s have temporary jobs, and making mukbang videos has become a source of extra income.

For Jeongae Kim, who worked two jobs to support her mother, mukbang became a financial lifeline. Her 2.9 million subscribers enjoy watching her eat seafood or spicy dishes.

Before gaining YouTube fame, she lived in a small flat and recorded videos at 3 am to avoid background noise. Mukbang has allowed her to move to a larger apartment.

Professional mukbangers can earn substantial incomes. YouTubers with over a million subscribers might make around £62,000 annually, while those with over ten million subscribers could earn up to £310,000 monthly.

Trisha Paytas, a Los Angeles-based YouTuber, films herself eating various foods for her five million subscribers. ‘I did a Pizza Hut one eating five different pizzas,’ she told ABC News. ‘That made about $50,000.’

Despite the financial gains, there are consequences. Paytas, a mother-of-two, has battled depression and an eating disorder, leading her weight to exceed 15 st. Online trolling has worsened her insecurities.

‘People call me “Miss Piggy”, “You’re obese” and “Keep shoving food in your mouth,” ’ she said. ‘As these comments increased, so did my weight.’

Paytas underwent liposuction in 2017 but regained the weight, partly due to her job involving eating.

Nikocado Avocado, or Nicholas Perry, has a net worth of about £3 million. He consumes over 10,000 calories in one sitting almost monthly on camera.

Perry’s weight has increased from 11.5 st in 2016 to around 25 st. He faces obesity and breathing issues, often wearing a sleep apnoea mask in his videos.

Fans had warned Pan Xiaoting about her health, but her portion sizes grew with her popularity.

Mukbang’s appeal includes vicarious eating, allowing viewers to enjoy others’ consumption without the negative effects, such as weight gain.

Research shows mukbang viewers’ brainwave activity indicates pleasure when watching others eat high-calorie foods.

Comments like: ‘Is anyone else watching this so they won’t eat?’ are common under mukbang videos.

Lydie, the first British mukbang star in 2016, believed her YouTube channel helped those with eating disorders. Over 100,000 viewers watched the 25-year-old translator from Yorkshire eat McDonald’s burgers, fries, and chicken nuggets. ‘When I watch mukbang, I don’t feel like eating anymore,’ she said.

Health officials warn that mukbang’s growing popularity poses real dangers. In 2018, with adult obesity approaching 40 per cent, South Korea’s government launched an anti-obesity plan, citing the harmful influence of mukbang.

China shut down 13,000 mukbang accounts in 2020, with around 395,000 videos receiving nearly 30 million views by then.

Last month, reports indicated the Philippines government is considering a ban after creator Dongz Apatan suffered a fatal stroke following a fried chicken binge.

Despite these concerns, the appetite for mukbang videos and the wealth they generate for creators shows no signs of waning.