Learning Journal #4 (105)

[Minyao Li]

The presentation about Korean Muk-bang culture seems really interesting to me because of its popularity in Korean and the purpose it serves. The Muk-bang culture is exactly the produce of one of the most distinct characters of the modern society not only in Korean but many other high populated busy cities. Often those areas have a significant number of people at young age living alone in apartment and very busy on their work, so that they don’t have enough time to social and interact with other people. They don’t even have a friend to can eat with. Muk-bang solves this problem and makes those people gathered together to eat, so that they don’t seem that lonely. At the same time, they get to know what’s trendy at the present by watching different style of Muk-bang. They get to know how “beauty” is defined by subscribing to the pretty-looking girl’s Muk-bang. They get to laugh and enjoy the time by watching people eating in a funny way, etc. However, the Muk-bang does not actually solve the problem of the more mentally and psychologically introvert society. Eating while watching shows in a tiny little screen by oneself can be an entertainment, but not a daily routing. People should still try to go out and make friends in the real life.