Today’s (31 May 2026) trending TikTok hashtags in South Korea are #먹방, #korea, #mukbang, #movie, #livehighlights, #주식, #cortis, #소식, #챌린지, and #틱톡성장챌린지—each with distinct content “rules” and audience expectations. Below, you’ll find the exact metrics (views + video counts) and practical ways to use each tag to improve discovery, watch time, and saves.

South Korea’s Top Trending TikTok Hashtags (31 May 2026)

Before you post, remember: hashtags don’t “make” a video go viral, but they help TikTok classify your content and place it in front of the right viewers. The best strategy is pairing a trending hashtag with a clear format (hook, pacing, caption, and repeatable series).

Here are the top 10 right now:

#korea — 7.0M views, 3,047 videos
#먹방 — 9.9M views, 837 videos
#mukbang — 8.8M views, 710 videos
#movie — 8.8M views, 887 videos
#livehighlights — 2.6M views, 7,862 videos
#주식 — 3.5M views, 1,918 videos
#cortis — 4.5M views, 593 videos
#소식 — 4.5M views, 630 videos
#챌린지 — 3.8M views, 448 videos
#틱톡성장챌린지 — 4.4M views, 246 videos

1) #korea — 7.0M views, 3,047 videos

What it signals to viewers

#korea is a broad discovery tag: travel, street food, K-culture, daily life, language learning, and “only in Korea” moments. Because it’s wide, your video needs a very specific angle to avoid blending in.

Content formats that win

“POV: a normal day in Seoul” micro-vlogs (10–25 seconds)
Korean convenience store “best snacks under ₩10,000”
“Things I wish I knew before visiting Korea” (fast list format)
Street interviews: “Ask Koreans: X or Y?”

Creator strategy

Use geo-specific keywords in your caption (e.g., Hongdae, Seongsu, Busan, Jeju). TikTok’s search behavior increasingly rewards location cues.
Add a repeatable series title on-screen: “Korea Quick Finds Ep. 1”.
Pair with 1–2 narrower tags (not provided here) like your neighborhood/food type to tighten targeting.

2) #먹방 — 9.9M views, 837 videos

What it signals to viewers

#먹방 (Korean for “mukbang”) is the local-language powerhouse. With 9.9M views and relatively fewer videos than broad tags, it’s a strong opportunity for creators who can deliver clean audio, satisfying visuals, and a clear food story.

What to post

Ultra-close-up bites (crunch, slurp, sizzle)
“One tray, three sauces” taste tests
Convenience store “mix-and-match” hacks
Late-night snack runs (Korean text overlays perform well here)

Creator strategy

Prioritize sound design: record clean bites, reduce background noise, and keep music low.
Use a 2-second hook: show the best bite first, then rewind to the setup.
Add Korean overlay text even if your account is English-first; it improves local relevance.

3) #mukbang — 8.8M views, 710 videos

Why it’s different from #먹방

#mukbang is the global spelling, often reaching international viewers. It’s ideal if you want comments from outside Korea and higher share potential.

Content ideas that travel well

“Korean spicy level” challenges (but keep it authentic)
“First time trying…” reactions (honest, not exaggerated)
Cultural context: what the dish is, when people eat it, and how to order it

Creator strategy

If your goal is international reach, use #mukbang + #먹방 together (two-language discovery).
Add English captions for accessibility; TikTok favors videos that keep viewers longer, and captions help retention.
Keep the pacing tight: cut every 1–1.5 seconds unless you’re intentionally doing ASMR-style long takes.

4) #movie — 8.8M views, 887 videos

What it signals to viewers

#movie is trending in South Korea for quick recommendations, edits, reactions, and “what to watch” lists. It’s also a strong tag for creators who can do fast, informative storytelling.

Formats that perform

“3 movies that will break you (in a good way)” listicles
Scene breakdowns (without spoiling; or clearly label spoilers)
Korean cinema recommendations for beginners
“If you liked X, watch Y” comparison charts

Creator strategy

Use on-screen structure: Title → 3 bullet points → rating.
Drive comments: “Team ending A or ending B?”
Be careful with copyrighted clips. When possible, use your face + voiceover and minimal footage, or lean into poster-style visuals and your commentary.

5) #livehighlights — 2.6M views, 7,862 videos

What the metrics tell us

This hashtag has high volume (7,862 videos) but lower total views (2.6M), which usually means:

lots of creators posting,
inconsistent quality,
opportunity for standout editing.

What to post

Best moments from a livestream (gaming, music, Q&A, IRL)
“Top 3 funniest chat moments”
Before/after: “What I planned vs what happened live”

Creator strategy

Start with the peak moment first (the funniest line, biggest reaction, biggest reveal).
Add context in 1 sentence on-screen: “Chat dared me to…”
Keep highlights short (12–20 seconds) and link to the longer live replay if you have it.

6) #주식 — 3.5M views, 1,918 videos

What it signals to viewers

#주식 (stocks) sits at the intersection of finance education and daily market commentary. In South Korea, audiences respond well to clear, cautious, and practical content—especially when it’s not hype-driven.

Content ideas

“Today’s market in 15 seconds” recap
Beginner explainers: P/E, dividends, ETFs
“What I learned after my first loss” (storytelling performs)
Portfolio rules: position sizing, risk management basics

Creator strategy (important)

Avoid absolute promises. Use language like “for education” and “here’s how I think about it.”
Use visuals: simple charts, 3-point frameworks, and “green/red” indicators.
Make it a series: “주식 기초 Ep. 1” builds returning viewers.

7) #cortis — 4.5M views, 593 videos

What it might be (and how to handle it)

#cortis is trending with 4.5M views and 593 videos, suggesting a niche or brand/community-driven tag. Because the meaning can vary (brand name, creator community, product, or slang), your best move is to open TikTok search and confirm the dominant context before filming.

Safe content angles that still fit

If it’s a product/brand: unboxing, “first impressions,” pros/cons, styling or setup
If it’s a community trend: remix the common format (same audio, same punchline structure)
If it’s fitness/wellness adjacent: be careful with medical claims; focus on routine and personal experience

Creator strategy

Mirror the top 10 videos’ structure: length, hook style, text overlays.
Add one clarifying keyword in the caption (e.g., “cortis review” / “cortis trend”) to help indexing.
Don’t overstuff hashtags—use 3–6 total and keep them relevant.

8) #소식 — 4.5M views, 630 videos

What it signals to viewers

#소식 often maps to “news/updates” or “small portions/light eating” depending on context. With 4.5M views and 630 videos, it’s a strong tag for quick update formats—especially if you can deliver clarity fast.

Content ideas (two likely lanes)

Lane A: Updates / news-style

“What happened today in 20 seconds”
K-pop, entertainment, tech, or local event recaps

Lane B: Light eating / small meals

“소식 challenge” style: smaller portions, mindful eating, meal prep
“What I eat in a day (light version)” with macros or simple recipes

Creator strategy

Choose one lane and commit. Confused positioning hurts repeat viewership.
Use strong labeling: “소식(뉴스) 요약” or “소식(가벼운 식사) 루틴” on-screen.
End with a question to drive comments: “Want part 2?” / “Which topic next?”

9) #챌린지 — 3.8M views, 448 videos

What it signals to viewers

#챌린지 (challenge) is a classic TikTok engine. The key is not just participating—it’s adding a twist so viewers feel they’ve seen something new.

Challenge formats that work in Korea

Dance or gesture challenges with crisp synchronization
“Before/after” challenges (makeup, outfit, room reset)
Skill challenges (speed drawing, cooking under time)

Creator strategy

Keep it re-creatable: if others can copy it, you get more traction via duets/stitches.
Add a simple rule set in text: “Try this in 10 seconds.”
Use a clean camera setup (stable framing, bright lighting). Challenges are judged visually.

10) #틱톡성장챌린지 — 4.4M views, 246 videos

Why this tag is powerful

With 4.4M views and only 246 videos, #틱톡성장챌린지 (“TikTok growth challenge”) has a high attention-to-supply ratio. People clicking this hashtag are actively looking for growth systems, not just entertainment.

What to post

“I posted 7 days straight—here are my results” (include screenshots)
Hook testing: “Same video, 3 different openings—watch time results”
Editing workflow tutorials (CapCut templates, subtitle styles)
Niche positioning: “If you’re a [food/beauty/finance] creator, do this”

Creator strategy

Show proof: analytics snippets, retention graphs, A/B comparisons.
Keep it actionable: 1 tip per video, not 10 vague tips.
Invite participation: “Comment ‘CHECKLIST’ and I’ll share my posting template.”

Featured Video Spotlight: @onthisday — “#onthisday”

What we know (and why it’s still worth watching)

The featured TikTok is from @onthisday with the description #onthisday, currently showing 0 views in the provided snapshot. That doesn’t mean it’s not valuable—it often means the video is new, freshly indexed, region-limited, or the metric hasn’t updated yet.

Why creators should pay attention

Trend seeding potential: “On this day” content is highly repeatable (daily hooks, history callbacks, nostalgia). If this creator’s format catches on, early adopters can ride the wave.
Search-friendly framing: The phrase “on this day” naturally fits TikTok search behavior (people look up dates, anniversaries, and throwbacks).
Low barrier to remix: You can stitch/duet with your own “on this day in Korea” moment—food, travel, pop culture, personal milestones.

How to remix it (fast)

Create “On this day in Seoul…” with a 10-second story + 1 photo/video clip.
Do “On this day I tried [dish] for the first time” and recreate it now.
For movie creators: “On this day, this film released—here’s why it still hits.”

Emerging Trends to Watch in South Korea (Next 1–2 Weeks)

1) Bilingual hashtag pairing will keep rising

Tags like #먹방 + #mukbang or Korean + English combinations help creators reach both local and global audiences without confusing the algorithm—because the content is still clearly about one topic.

2) “Proof-based” growth content is outperforming generic tips

The popularity of #틱톡성장챌린지 suggests creators want screenshots, experiments, and measurable lessons.

3) Shorter, sharper edits in high-volume tags

With #livehighlights having massive video volume, the winners will be those who:

cut faster,
add context instantly,
and deliver the payoff in the first 2 seconds.

4) Micro-niches inside broad tags

Broad tags like #korea and #movie are shifting toward micro-niches (specific neighborhoods, genres, or “one type of recommendation”). Expect “Seongsu cafés,” “Korean thrillers,” and “convenience store-only” subformats to keep growing.

Practical Creator Tips: How to Use These Hashtags Today

Build a “3-layer hashtag stack”

Use:

One broad discovery tag (e.g., #korea or #movie)
One niche intent tag (e.g., #먹방 / #주식 / #챌린지)
One community/trend tag (e.g., #틱톡성장챌린지 or #livehighlights)

This helps TikTok understand both your category and your audience intent.

Match the hashtag to the right hook

Food tags: show the best bite first
Finance tags: start with the result or lesson
Movie tags: open with a bold recommendation (“Watch this if you like…”)
Challenge tags: show the final move then rewind

Optimize for saves and shares (not just views)

Creators in South Korea are increasingly competing on usefulness. Add:

checklists,
“3 steps,”
location names,
or “order this” instructions.

Post timing and iteration

If you’re testing these tags today:

Post one strong video, then iterate a second version with a different hook within 24–48 hours.
Keep your core format consistent so TikTok can learn your niche faster.

Conclusion: What to Post Next

If you want the safest reach today, start with #먹방 / #mukbang (clear audience + strong demand) or #틱톡성장챌린지 (high views with low competition). For broader discovery, use #korea and make your angle specific—location, price point, or “only in Korea” context. And if you’re experimenting, watch how #cortis and #소식 are being used in search, then mirror the dominant format with your own twist.

Your next step: pick one hashtag, choose one repeatable format, and film two versions with different hooks. That’s how you turn a trend into consistent growth.

View on TikTok

#onthisday

Key Takeaways

#먹방 (9.9M) and #mukbang (8.8M) are the strongest food discovery tags—optimize for sound, close-ups, and fast hooks.
#틱톡성장챌린지 (4.4M, only 246 videos) is a high-opportunity tag for proof-based growth experiments and analytics screenshots.
#livehighlights is crowded (7,862 videos); lead with the peak moment and add instant context to stand out.
Broad tags like #korea and #movie work best when you narrow the angle (location, genre, “if you liked X then Y”).
Validate ambiguous trend tags like #cortis by checking TikTok search and copying the dominant format.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top trending TikTok hashtags in South Korea today?

On 31 May 2026, the top tags are #korea, #먹방, #mukbang, #movie, #livehighlights, #주식, #cortis, #소식, #챌린지, and #틱톡성장챌린지.

Should I use both #먹방 and #mukbang?

Yes—use both if your content is mukbang-style. #먹방 helps local Korean discovery, while #mukbang can expand international reach.

Why does #livehighlights have so many videos but fewer views?

High video count (7,862) suggests heavy posting volume and mixed quality; standout editing and stronger hooks can help you win in this crowded tag.

How many hashtags should I use on TikTok for these trends?

Typically 3–6 relevant hashtags works best—one broad, one niche, and one trend/community tag—so your video stays clearly categorized.