NYTimes: Lessons from a homebody

Photo by Haegreendal/Kim Sang-mi

Published Feb. 15

In a video titled “Vlog That Makes You Want to Clean,” the South Korean YouTube creator Kim Sang-mi shows viewers how to tackle windowsill grime with a pair of chopsticks and a cleaning cloth, and how to disinfect the home using a mixture of soju and lemon slices.

But then, a few minutes into the video, Ms. Kim pivots unexpectedly, growing sentimental about being a mother and about womanhood. “Even if you are somebody’s wife and mother, don’t give up on your own happiness,” reads a caption on the video, which has more than 4.7 million views.

Ms. Kim, 34, who goes by Haegreendal — an alias she created to refer to her career as a freelance illustrator and her childhood nickname, “Moon” — is one of many South Korean female creators who have carved out a genre of aspirational videos on YouTube that show the simple pleasures of keeping a clean, organized and food-filled home. You could call it Danish hygge meets Marie Kondo’s decluttering; the videos prescribe minimalism and reveal the joy of quiet domesticity.

More at https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/15/style/self-care/youtube-korean-cleaning-videos.html