The genre became popular in South Korea in the early s, and has become a global trend since the mids. Varieties of foods ranging from pizza to noodles are consumed in front of a camera. The purpose of mukbang is also sometimes educational, introducing viewers to regional specialties or gourmet spots. In live sessions, the mukbang host chats with the audience while the audience types in real time in the live chat-room.
Eating shows are expanding their influence on internet broadcasting platforms and serve as virtual communities and as venues for active communication among internet users. Mukbangers from many different countries have gained considerable popularity on numerous social websites and have established the mukbang as a possible viable alternative career path with a potential to earn a high income for young South Koreans.
By cooking and eating food on camera for a large audience, mukbangers generate income from advertising, sponsorships, endorsements, as well as viewers' support. Prior to the 21st century, Korea had traditionally had a food culture based on healthy eating practices and strict Confucian etiquette. It was first introduced on the real-time internet TV service AfreecaTV in and has become a trend on cable channels and terrestrial broadcasting.
This form of programming emphasizes the attractiveness of the person who prepares the food. Eating and cooking shows are effective programs for broadcasting companies as production costs are lower than reality entertainment programs. Academics have linked the origins of mukbang in South Korea to widespread feelings of anxiety, loneliness and unhappiness among many South Koreans, driven by the hyper-competitive nature of the country's socioeconomic conditions and society.
Consequently, mukbang gives them an opportunity to relieve some of these stressors. In each broadcast, a host will interact with their viewers through online chat rooms. Many hosts generate revenue through mukbang by accepting donations or partnering with advertising networks. In China, mukbang is called "chibo"; hosts make their content into short videos and vlogs and upload them onto social media platforms like Weibo.
