Endangered Mink Whale Consumed as "Best Drinking Snack," YouTuber Faces Backlash

Endangered Species Controversy Over Purchase Information Provided
"Waited Two Months for Natural Capture" Explanation

[Asia Economy Reporter Eunha Kim] A mukbang YouTuber with 150,000 subscribers is facing backlash after eating an internationally endangered species, the mink whale.

YouTuber A uploaded an 8-minute mukbang video titled "Mink Whale Waited for Two Months" on his YouTube channel on the 21st of last month. Previously, A had differentiated himself in the mukbang market by eating sheep brains, beetle larvae, earthworm soup, duck heads, and softshell turtles.

Minke whale. Photo by Yonhap News

In the mink whale-related video, he started the mukbang saying, "I remember eating whale meat with my family before, but it was too fishy to eat well. This time, I have high expectations." He evaluated, "It smells like anchovies. It tastes like dried anchovies. The meat is dry, but it goes well when eaten with fat."

A enjoyed the mink whale with Makgeolli and said, "The taste is worth the two-month wait. It's the best drinking snack." He added, "The intestines are very rare, so only a small amount came. It's very delicious. I've heard some people keep thinking about it after eating once, so I will bring it again next time."

He also attached a website where mink whale meat can be purchased in the video description, but viewers' reactions were cold. This is because the mink whale is classified as an endangered species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.

Viewers appealed, "Please consider the influence of a YouTuber with 140,000 subscribers, not just as an individual. I hope those who watch this video and think about trying it understand the background of whale hunting and whale meat."

In response to the comment, A replied, "I should have researched more information while creating the content, but I did not. The reason I waited two months after ordering was because I had to wait for natural capture, and after waiting for two months, I filmed it." He added, "I hope this opportunity allows many people, including myself, to gain more information about whale hunting and whale meat."