The Culinary Storyteller: Soon Films' Journey

Soon Films 순필름, known on YouTube as @SoonFilms, has established itself as a premier food content creator specializing in showcasing delicious street foods and traditional culinary techniques from South Korea and beyond.^[4] Founded in September 2014, the channel has grown into a global platform that brings viewers up close to the art of food preparation with a distinctive filming style that emphasizes the craftsmanship behind each dish.^[7]

Channel Growth and Audience

As of June 2025, Soon Films boasts an impressive 1.71 million subscribers, a testament to the channel's widespread appeal and consistent content quality.^[4] The channel has amassed over 1.17 billion total video views since its inception, with daily viewership regularly exceeding 150,000 views.^[4] This substantial audience has been built through a steady upload schedule of approximately one video per week, allowing the channel to maintain quality while consistently engaging its audience.^[4] Despite its significant following, Soon Films maintains a relatively modest engagement rate of 0.91%, which is considered low compared to similar channels in the lifestyle category.^[4] However, this hasn't hindered the channel's growth or popularity, as viewers continue to return for the channel's unique content offerings.^[5]

Content Focus and Style

Soon Films has carved out a niche in the crowded food content space by focusing primarily on street food culture, with a special emphasis on Korean culinary traditions.^[7] The channel's description, written in Korean, translates to: "Soon Films is a food channel that introduces delicious street food. We aim to introduce various street foods from around the world. Have a nice day~^^".^[4] What sets Soon Films apart is its distinctive filming approach. The channel employs a minimalist style that lets the food preparation process take center stage.^[8] Videos typically feature close-up shots of skilled food vendors and chefs at work, with natural ambient sounds rather than narration or background music, creating an immersive ASMR-like experience for viewers.^[7]^[8]

Global Reach and Cultural Impact

While based in South Korea, Soon Films has achieved significant international appeal, helping to popularize Korean street food culture globally alongside the broader Korean Wave (Hallyu) of cultural exports.^[6] The channel has contributed to growing international interest in Korean cuisine, particularly street foods like tteokbokki (spicy rice cakes), Korean-style hot dogs, and handmade candies.^[6]^[12] The channel's focus on visual storytelling without language barriers has helped it reach audiences regardless of linguistic background, making Korean food culture accessible to viewers worldwide.^[10] This approach aligns with broader trends in food content that emphasize the visual and sensory aspects of cuisine.^[12]

Production Approach

Soon Films employs a single-camera production style that emphasizes clarity and detail in food preparation.^[11] The channel's videos typically feature steady, well-framed shots that allow viewers to clearly see each step of the cooking or preparation process.^[13] This approach differs from more personality-driven food content, as Soon Films rarely shows the faces of food preparers, instead keeping the focus entirely on their hands and the food itself.^[7] The channel provides location information for many of its videos, including Google Maps links and pricing details, allowing viewers to potentially visit the featured establishments.^[7]^[8] This practical information enhances the channel's value as both entertainment and a practical guide for food enthusiasts.^[1]

Business Model and Revenue

As of mid-2025, Soon Films generates estimated monthly earnings between $9,200 and $27,600 from YouTube ad revenue, placing it below the average for channels of similar size in its category.^[4] Daily earnings fluctuate based on viewership, typically ranging from $200 to $1,000 per day.^[4] The channel appears to maintain a relatively independent approach to content creation, with limited visible brand partnerships compared to many food influencers of similar size.^[4] This focus on organic, non-sponsored content may contribute to the channel's authenticity and viewer trust.^[5]

Recent Content Trends

In the first half of 2025, Soon Films has continued its consistent upload schedule with recent videos including "Popular Fried Foods Collection" (June 14, 2025), "Popular Cakes Making Collection" (June 7, 2025), and "Popular Egg Fried Rice and Omelet Rice Collection" (May 31, 2025).^[4] These videos maintain the channel's established format while exploring different food categories.^[4] The channel has also expanded its international food coverage, with recent collections featuring American-style tacos, sandwiches, and other global cuisines, indicating a broadening scope beyond its initial focus on Korean street food.^[3] This expansion aligns with the channel's stated goal of introducing "diverse street foods from around the world."^[4]

Community Engagement

Soon Films maintains a professional but somewhat distant relationship with its audience, focusing more on consistent content delivery than community building.^[4] The channel provides a business email (soonfilms@naver.com) for inquiries, suggesting openness to collaboration opportunities.^[7] Despite the relatively low engagement metrics, the channel has cultivated a dedicated audience that appreciates its straightforward, no-frills approach to food content.^[4] This audience loyalty is reflected in the channel's steady growth and consistent viewership over time.^[5]

The Culinary Storyteller: Soon Films' Journey

Channel Growth and Audience

Content Focus and Style

Popular Content Categories

Street Food Documentation

Handmade Candy Making

Food Collection Videos

Global Reach and Cultural Impact

Production Approach

Business Model and Revenue

Recent Content Trends

Community Engagement

References