In Korea, there’s one question that’s guaranteed to come up when you meet someone new: “What’s your MBTI?” If you had asked the same question a decade ago, it would’ve sounded more like, “What’s your blood type?”

While much of the world still debates whether personality can really be captured by a four-letter code or a blood type, Koreans have been using both systems as playful tools to understand one another—and themselves.

From Blood Types to Myers-Briggs

For years, Koreans believed that blood types could reveal someone’s personality. Type A? Probably shy and meticulous. Type B? Passionate but maybe a little impulsive. Type O? Confident and outgoing. Type AB? Mysterious and unpredictable. These traits weren’t taken too seriously, but they added a fun twist to social conversations, especially among friends and couples.

But times have changed—and so has the trend.

These days, MBTI has taken over. Based on the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator, MBTI assigns people one of 16 personality types like INFP, ESTJ, or ENTP.

In Korea, it’s become a national obsession. People add their MBTI to dating profiles, job applications, and even social media bios. Some companies have even started asking for MBTI results during interviews—not as a dealbreaker, but just to understand how a person might work within a team.

It’s gone so far that schools and workshops sometimes group people by their MBTI types for team-building activities. Even some dating apps now use MBTI as a matching factor, helping users find their “ideal type” based on compatibility charts.

“Guess My Type”

It’s not uncommon for Korean friends to play guessing games: “You totally give off ENFP vibes,” or “You must be a Type O, right?” Asking about someone’s MBTI or blood type has become a form of modern ice-breaking. It’s like casually asking someone their zodiac sign in the West—but taken a step further.

Entire “MBTI compatibility charts” have become popular content online—like modern-day horoscopes. People swap memes about which MBTI pairs are “soulmates,” which clash, and how each type handles love, stress, or conflict. It’s lighthearted, sure, but also kind of addictive.

Interestingly, while most Koreans know both their blood type and MBTI by heart, many Americans don’t even know their own blood type. In Korea, kids often find out their blood type early through routine health checks, and MBTI tests are just a click away—free versions circulate widely online, often shared in group chats with captions like “This is SO me 😂.”

Quick Test: What’s Your Type?

What if someone doesn’t know their MBTI?
Well, in Korea, people have started using quick “vibe checks” with fun questions to guess someone’s type on the spot. Try a few below:

Q1. Your friend just canceled plans at the last minute. How do you feel?

• A. “Phew, I didn’t really want to go out anyway.” → Introvert (I)
  
• B. “Dang! Who else can I meet today?” → Extrovert (E)
  

Q2. You’re boarding a plane. What’s going through your mind?

• A. “Ooh, what movie should I watch? Hope the food’s good.” → Sensing (S)
  
• B. “What if we crash? If the plane breaks, could I survive?” → iNtuition (N)
  

Q3. You say: “I’m feeling down, so I bought bread.” How do they respond?

• A. “Why are you feeling down? What happened?” → Feeling (F)
  
• B. “What kind of bread did you buy?” → Thinking (T)
  

Q4. You open your phone. What do you see?

• A. Messy app icons, 264 unread notifications → Perceiving (P)
  
• B. Organized folders, all notifications cleared → Judging (J)
  

These questions aren’t scientific—but they’re a fun way to see yourself or your friends in a different light. And honestly, that’s what MBTI culture in Korea is all about.

Just for Fun—or Something More?

Of course, not everyone buys into the science of it all—and that’s okay. Whether you’re using MBTI to reflect on your strengths or just as an excuse to laugh about why your ESTP friend never finishes anything they start, the whole thing is meant to be lighthearted.

Still, the fact that a personality quiz can spark conversations, self-awareness, and even new friendships says something about the culture. In a country that values connection, harmony, and self-discovery, these little letters (and blood types) offer a surprising window into how people understand themselves—and each other.

So next time you’re in Korea and someone asks, “What’s your MBTI?”—just go with it. It’s more than just a quiz result. It’s a shared language.

A Shared Language of Identity

Whether it's through blood types, MBTI, or fashion—Koreans have always found creative ways to express who they are. These cultural codes may seem small, but they speak volumes about how identity is understood and shared in Korea.

At KORELIMITED, we’re inspired by these everyday expressions of Korean culture. Just like how your MBTI might say something about your personality, the clothes you wear say something about your story. Our designs aim to reflect the pride, curiosity, and individuality that define the Korean experience—where tradition meets self-expression.

Because identity isn’t just something you inherit—it’s something you choose to wear, every day.