The Visual Aesthetics of Street Food Fighter : A New Direction for Korean Variety Shows in the OTT Era

This study analyzes the unique visual aesthetics of the Korean variety show Street Food Fighter, arguing that it represents a new aesthetic direction for television programs in response to the changing media environment driven by the rise of Over-the-Top (OTT) platforms. Diverging from previous research on variety shows that has predominantly focused on formats, narratives, and sociocultural implications, this paper approaches the text from the less-explored perspective of visual aesthetics. Street Food Fighter actively showcases a highly calculated visual style, breaking away from the conventional practice of minimizing directorial intervention in the name of ‘reality.’ This study examines these characteristics from three main perspectives. First is the utilization of long shots and frame composition. By intentionally placing the host on the periphery of the frame, the show elevates food and space as the central subjects of the text, rather than the individual. Second is the variation in continuity editing. By reconstructing long-take footage, shot in a documentary style, using the grammar of classical Hollywood continuity editing, the program simultaneously evokes a unique blend of realism and cinematic immersion. Third is the visualization of information delivery. The show positions the viewer as a participant rather than an observer through the host’s direct address to the camera. Furthermore, it transforms the information delivery process into an aesthetic experience through visual devices such as reverse playback, slow motion, and typography. In conclusion, the visual aesthetics of Street Food Fighter function as an effective strategy for the fragmented and intermittent viewing patterns of the OTT era and as a key element for securing distinctiveness in a saturated content market. This study is also significant in that it suggests the potential for sustainable content that can be consumed over a long period, transcending ephemeral relevance.