US YouTuber Trisha Paytas Drops Korean Song ‘Saranghae’ and a Delicious Chicken Mukbang!

US singer and YouTuber Trisha Paytas is turning heads after releasing a song entirely in Korean, complete with a chicken “mukbang” in the music video!

On May 18, Trisha Paytas dropped the track titled “Saranghae” on her YouTube channel.

The song, which runs about 2 minutes and 4 seconds, features lyrics entirely in Korean. Paytas impressively delivers lines such as, “I couldn’t sleep last night thinking of you under the starlight. Your scent in the wind, my heart just runs to you,” and “I love you, I love you, saying it a thousand times isn’t enough. Deep in my body, deep in my heart, it’s only you.”

The music video features backup dancers who appear to be of Korean descent, with sets depicting Korean signage and the Namsan Seoul Tower. It also includes scenes of her enjoying Korean-style fried chicken, hot dogs, and stir-fried noodles.

Using the phrase “With love, Trisha Unnie,” she incorporated the term “Unnie,” a familiar honorific in K-pop fandom culture. She reportedly received coaching from a Korean-American producer for the project.

While she first became famous as a mukbang YouTuber, she has been releasing music since 2019. She also previously announced her candidacy for the California State Assembly.

Meanwhile, interest in K-pop and Korean culture continues to soar globally, fueled by the popularity of the Netflix animation “K-Pop Demon Hunters” and the comeback of BTS.

This isn’t the first time an American has released a Korean song. Famous pop star Lauv officially released a Korean version of his track “Love U Like That,” though that version utilized AI technology rather than his own pronunciation practice.

EXP EDITION, the first K-pop boy group consisting entirely of American members from New York, debuted in Korea in 2017, releasing Korean songs like “Feel like this” and appearing on domestic music shows.

In the early 2010s, American solo singer Chad Future also released Korean songs in collaboration with K-pop idols, aiming to pioneer a genre called “AK-Pop (American K-Pop).”