CHINA — Study vlogs or “study with me” vlogs are not new, but the extreme study routines adopted by Korean vloggers have recently amassed a large fanbase among people in China. 

Study vlogs, termed “gongbang” in Korea, usually involve vloggers filming their study sessions that can last anywhere between one hour and 10 hours, which viewers use to motivate themselves in their own study sessions or they play the video to study alongside these vloggers. 

The vlogs are now trending across several countries, accumulating more than 100 million views and 7.5 million engagements across TikTok, YouTube, Facebook and Instagram in the past three months.

The “Korean girl study method” is apparently a successor of the "that girl" routine, a social media trend that encourages people to pursue wellness in their lives by becoming the best version of themselves. 

The study method has inspired students in China to emulate them in challenges. The routine includes at least 10 hours of study in a day while still leaving time for self-care and exercise.

Content creator Candise Lin from China said on TikTok: “Korean vloggers have become the spiritual leaders of Chinese exam preparers.” 

The video, posted last Thursday (Dec 7), had amassed more than 540,000 views and at least 86,000 likes as of Tuesday.

EXCESSIVE CAFFEINE, A DAILY DOSE OF VITAMINS

“Question Korean girls, understand them and finally transform into them” is a trending saying on Chinese social media, referring to the goal to achieve the disciplined and tough study routines that Korean girls adopt.

There is fan favourite vlogger “jennylog”, nicknamed “Power Sister” on Chinese social media. A post on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu showed that the medical school student studies an average of 12 hours a day.

“UDan”, a Korean vlogger who is preparing for South Korea’s civil service exam, can reportedly memorise 3,000 words or an entire book of modern history in one day, earning herself the nickname “Insane Sister”, Ms Lin said.

Outdoing the rest of them is a law student who “voluntarily imprisoned” herself in a study cafe with a strict surveillance system, which ensured that patrons studied at least 10 hours before they could leave, Ms Lin added.

The key to staying awake? Iced Americano, a favourite beverage of South Korean girls, a Xiaohongshu user observed. 

“What flows in Korean girls isn’t blood, it’s caffeine,” the user joked.

Studying hard does not mean forsaking one’s looks and health either, as the Korean vloggers still follow a strict skincare routine and go to the gym regularly, Ms Lin said. 

Despite their intense study schedules, the vloggers manage to maintain impeccable makeup and wear stylish outfits, leaving social media users in China in awe.

The vloggers also incorporate a cocktail of vitamins into their diet, which a Chinese online user jokingly dubbed “sudden death prevention packages”. 

Commonly recommended supplements to boost energy include omega-3, vitamins C and D, and magnesium.

'KOREAN GIRL STUDY METHOD' TRENDS IN CHINA

Inspired by the vloggers' dedication, the "Korean girl study method" challenge has become a trend in China, where some students strive to mimic their disciplined study schedules.

Vloggers usually start by waking up before the break of dawn, heading to school with an iced Americano in hand, followed by intense long blocks of studying.

Content creator “Little fish friend” tried the challenge on Xiaohongshu by following the routine of a Korean vlogger, which included studying till 4am, totalling 10 hours of study in a day. 

She concluded at the end of the challenge: “Why do Korean girls still look flawless after living like this? I feel like I might die.”

Another vlogger attested to the benefits of the study method, claiming that it had “saved her”. 

After following the method, she passed her civil service examinations “as if aided by god” and was awarded a bursary for her masters study.