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What Does 먹방 (Mukbang) Mean in Korean?

10-Second Answer

먹방 (mukbang) means "eating broadcast" — a video or livestream of someone eating, often large quantities of food, while talking to viewers. It started as a Korean internet livestreaming trend and became a full global YouTube genre, with the Korean word itself now widely used in English.

Where the Word Comes From

먹방 is a contraction of 먹는 (meokneun, "eating") and 방송 (bangsong, "broadcast") — literally "eating broadcast." It originated on Korean live-streaming platforms in the early-to-mid 2010s, where streamers would eat while chatting with a live audience, partly filling a social function for viewers eating alone.

Quick Examples

먹방 보면서 밥 먹어요.

meokbang bomyeonseo bap meogeoyo.

I eat my meal while watching mukbang.

이 유튜버 먹방 완전 대박이야.

i yutyubeo meokbang wanjeon daebagiya.

This YouTuber's mukbang is amazing.

Why It Resonated Beyond Korea

  • Companionship for solo eaters — watching someone else eat can feel social even when eating alone (connected to the same communal-eating instinct behind banchan and Korean dining culture)
  • ASMR appeal — the sounds of eating became their own draw for many viewers
  • Genuine spectacle — some mukbang creators eat unusually large quantities, which built a following around sheer scale
  • Low barrier to start — unlike many content genres, mukbang required little more than a camera and a meal

Common Mistakes

Mistake #1 — Assuming 먹방 only means 'eating a lot'

The core meaning is the BROADCAST format itself — a mukbang can feature a modest meal; large-quantity eating is a popular subgenre, not the definition.

Mistake #2 — Treating it as purely a recent English-internet word

It's a genuine Korean coinage that predates its Western YouTube popularity by several years.

Mini Quiz

  1. 1. What does 먹방 literally combine?

  2. 2. Does 먹방 strictly require eating huge quantities of food?

  3. 3. Where did mukbang culture originate?

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Last updated: 2026-08-10 · Written and reviewed by a native Korean speaker.