[Issue Video] Lee Jung-jae's Noodle Mukbang Draws 'Cheers'... Voices Against 'Noodle Slurping' Spread

"South Korea, a Culture of Quiet Eating..." Netizens Criticize Excessive Eating Noises
"Eating Styles Are Personal Freedom" Supportive Opinions Also Expressed

[Asia Economy PD Yoon Jin-geun] As actor Lee Jung-jae’s video of ‘breaking noodles with teeth’ spreads across online communities, criticism of the so-called ‘myeonchigi’ (noodle slurping) culture is growing. Some netizens express the opinion that “it is right to refrain from it as it causes discomfort to others.” On the other hand, there are voices cautioning against excessive criticism, saying “eating is a personal freedom.”

On the 13th, MBC TV’s ‘The Manager’ aired scenes of actor Lee Jung-jae, actor Jung Woo-sung, and broadcaster Lee Young-ja eating noodle dishes. In the broadcast, Lee Jung-jae ate noodles by breaking them little by little with his teeth. Lee Young-ja, who was on site, asked, “Don’t you make any sound while eating noodles?” Comedian Yoo Byung-jae, watching the video in the studio, also chimed in, “He’s eating quietly.” Then, when Lee Young-ja made sounds while eating noodles, comedian Yang Se-chan said, “That’s right, you should eat like this.”

The ‘myeonchigi’ by celebrities and influencers has been known to the public for several years. Searching ‘myeonchigi’ on the video platform YouTube shows that the term was used in the 2016 Comedy TV show ‘Delicious Guys.’ In past ramen commercials, scenes of eating noodles with ‘slurping’ sounds were frequently depicted.

As actor Lee Jung-jae's video of 'eating noodles by cutting them' spreads across online communities, criticism of the so-called 'myeonchigi' culture is growing. The photo shows actor Lee Jung-jae reacting with surprise while watching broadcaster Lee Young-ja's eating scene on the MBC TV show "Omniscient Interfering View," which aired on the 13th. Photo by MBC broadcast screen capture

However, on the other hand, there are criticisms that myeonchigi actually damages Korean traditional culture. It is said to go against the so-called ‘dining table manners education.’ According to the Encyclopedia of Korean Folklore, in ‘Naehun (內訓),’ written by Queen Sohye in 1475, it is recorded that “do not eat making sounds.” The opinion is that myeonchigi harms the ‘quiet eating food culture’ passed down from ancient times.

There is also concern that as mukbang and similar trends become popular abroad, the ‘culture of making sounds while eating’ might be perceived as encouraged. On online communities like Quora, where users can ask and answer questions, questions such as “Why do many people in Korea eat noodle dishes with slurping sounds?” and “Is it rude to slurp noodles in Korea?” have appeared. Answers containing one-sided claims such as “It is considered rude not to slurp” and “It may look like you don’t like the food or are a picky eater” have been posted.

As actor Lee Jung-jae's video of "eating noodles by cutting them" spreads across online communities, criticism of the so-called "myeonchigi" culture is growing. The photo is not related to the specific content of the article. Photo by Getty Images Bank

After the video aired, criticism of the myeonchigi culture increased among netizens. Users on social networking service (SNS) Twitter posted comments criticizing the existing myeonchigi culture, such as “I’m angry that celebrities and mukbang YouTubers popularized myeonchigi. It’s disgusting and dirty,” “Mukbang ruined dining table manners,” “It ruins my appetite,” and “Someone please get them off the air.”

There were also netizens who defended Lee Jung-jae’s way of myeonchigi. They responded with comments like “Lee Jung-jae is eating in silent mode. I like that,” and “I hope silent noodle eating, not myeonchigi, becomes popular because of Lee Jung-jae.”

However, there are also voices defending myeonchigi. Some online community users responded with comments such as “People have been making sounds while eating noodles on broadcasts for a long time,” “Has there ever been a ramen commercial without ‘slurping’ sounds?” “What does it matter how you eat?” and “People who give you a hard time for myeonchigi will probably give you a hard time for other foods too.”