The photo here is a capsule machine shop located in Hongdae, Seoul. With 1,000 won (approximately 1 SGD), you can get a capsule with a fortune reading. What’s unique about this is that there are a total of 16 capsule machines, each with its own MBTI which can you purchase based on your personality type! So what is MBTI and why are these 4 letters popping up everywhere in Korea?
MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) is a personality test that classifies behaviour based on four categories, each with two options. MBTI was created in the early 1920s and has been developed over the years. We see its application in the 16 Personalities test, which most of us are familiar with. Unlike some personality tests, MBTI should not be seen as dualistic (an either/or trait that each person only has one), but rather as tendencies: both are innate and have the potential to balance. This means that your MBTI can change with time. It is also a scale, in the sense that a person could have 50% of each trait and display either trait depending on the context and situation.
MBTI test has become popular in Korea in recent years, replacing the previous blood type categorization – a concept that was most prevalent in East Asia countries. In Korea, it’s now a super popular conversation starter and even a topic people dive into. People casually ask, “Are you a T or an F?”, “E or I?” all the time! Beyond that, it is used to better understand romantic relationships, friendships, workplace dynamics, and even self-discovery.
If you don’t know what your MBTI is, here are 4 simple questions according to the Korean online community that can quickly help you categorise! What would be your response to each question? Combine the 4 individual letters you get from each question, and there you have your own MBTI!
- I’ve been at work from Monday to Friday this week, so I should…
- Since I have been OUT at work, I should stay in for the weekend → I
- Since I have been at work, I should spend some time OUT during the weekend → E
- Imagine you are enjoying a drink at a bar on a Friday night. You see a horse enter the bar. What did the horse say to the bartender?
- The horse probably asked for a drink? Or maybe directions! Or some weird horse noises? → N
- Why would a horse enter a bar…? → S
- Your friend says, “I’m feeling so down these days, so I got some bread for myself…”
- Why are you down? Did anything happen? → F
- Why bread? (Or any questions related to the bread.) → T
- You are starting on a new project at work/school. Your first course of action is to…
- Start researching on the first thing that comes to mind → P
- Come up with a detailed plan of steps to take as you progress with the project → J
Now that you have your MBTI, feel free to use it as an icebreaker the next time you make small chat in Korean! However, as we have fun with this personality test, beware of the slippery slope of over-generalization and fixation. It should not be used to put people in boxes, nor used to stereotype anyone.
What began as a way to understand oneself and others for entertainment purposes evolved into a significant factor influencing various aspects of life in Korea. Curious to find out more about such cultural phenomena in Korea? Here at Sejong Korean Language, we consider cultural exposure to be one of the critical aspects in language mastery. Our teachers incorporate interesting facts about Korean culture in their lessons, ensuring an engaging learning experience for learners of all levels. Enquire to find out more about our Korean language classes today!
Written by: Ms Luisa Lim, August 2025