Engineering Professor's 'ASMR Class' Gently Lulls to Sleep... 'Sukmyeon Yeo University' Hits 340,000 Views

Class on 'Yangjadeom' Achieves 340,000 Views as Content for Better Sleep

A lecture on 'quantum dots' by a professor at Sookmyung Women's University recorded an astonishing 340,000 views as sleep aid content.

Professor Kwon Woo-sung from the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Sookmyung Women's University explains the ultra-fine nanomaterial 'quantum dots' in an ASMR (Autonomous Sensory Meridian Response) video, gently stroking the school's mascot doll 'Nunsongi' while producing soothing sounds (tingles). In the video, Professor Kwon softly says close to the microphone, "It's quite embarrassing to speak in a whispering voice. Still, I hope you don't fall asleep and stay focused."

Professor Kwon Woo-sung of the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering at Sookmyung Women's University making a tingling sound [Photo by YouTube capture].

Compared to other videos such as professor and alumni interviews posted on the official Sookmyung YouTube channel, which typically receive between 1,000 and 5,000 views, Professor Kwon's ASMR video has an explosive number of views.

The student video production team 'Sook Studio' at Sookmyung has been producing and uploading 'Professor ASMR' videos since last year.

Sook Studio Team Photo by Sookmyung Women's University

Lee Ji-yeon (24), a founding member, told Yonhap News, "After taking the college entrance exam, I suffered from insomnia but realized that I could fall asleep easily just by listening to lectures," adding, "I was confident it would do well."

It took a long time to persuade the school and professors to participate, as some declined due to lack of time or feeling awkward in front of the camera.

According to Yonhap News, Professor Kwon, the star of the video, said in a phone interview, "The students' attitude in class is so good that I've never had to say 'don't fall asleep,' so it was refreshing to see comments saying 'I'm sleepy' on the ASMR video." He laughed, adding, "I reflected that maybe it wasn't that I taught the class well, but that the students struggled to stay awake."