"You're ISFJ, right?" MBTI Test, Why Young People Are Enthusiastic [Heo Midam's Youth Report]

MBTI Test Popular Among Young People
MBTI Personality Type 'Compatibility' Content Trending Online
Some Cases of Blind Faith in MBTI Results

T-shirts by MBTI type. Photo by Kakao Makers

[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Midam] [Editor's Note] How is your youth remembered? From teenagers to college students and office workers, we share the joys and sorrows unique to 'youth.'

"What's your MBTI?", "MBTI is science."

Office worker Jeong (28) recently asks about MBTI types before greetings when meeting acquaintances. Jeong said, "I am an ISFJ type, and when I find acquaintances with the same type around me, I feel very delighted. It's fascinating, and when we talk, we find many commonalities and feel closer."

He added, "When I look up the characteristics of my MBTI type, there are so many points that fit me well. Because of that, I get curious about others' MBTI types too. Also, since many MBTI-related contents are coming out these days, I feel like I'm falling behind if I don't know my MBTI type."

The MBTI (Myers-Briggs Type Indicator) test, which helps understand one's tendencies and psychology, has become a culture among young people. Unlike the past when personality was guessed by blood type, young people now check compatibility with others through MBTI tests. As the test gained popularity, related goods such as T-shirts and phone cases by MBTI type have also appeared. Experts advise caution against blind faith in MBTI test results.

Personality Types by MBTI. Photo by 16PERSONALITIES website screenshot

The MBTI test is a type of personality test. It classifies a person's personality into 16 types based on answers to several questions.

For example, it classifies based on the direction of energy into Extraversion (E) and Introversion (I), preferred perception into Sensing (S) and Intuition (N), preferred judgment into Thinking (T) and Feeling (F), and preferred lifestyle into Judging (J) and Perceiving (P). For ISFJ, it means 'Introversion + Sensing + Feeling + Judging.'

Office worker Kim (27), who revealed he is an 'ISTP' type, said he trusts the MBTI test because "the explanations are specific. It doesn't just pick one tendency but divides it into four sections, so it feels more reliable." He added, "Also, when I compare the characteristics of each MBTI type with my friends' actual personalities, the results match well, which is fun."

Kim said, "Above all, I believe in 'MBTI compatibility' almost like a religion. When I check MBTI with friends whose tendencies don't match well, it always shows incompatibility."

Another office worker in his 30s, Park, who revealed he is an 'ENTP' type, said, "At first, I didn't believe the test results, but when I look closely, many parts of the results match my tendencies."

He added, "Because of this, when I tell others that I have an 'ENTP' tendency, they seem to understand what kind of personality I have. In that sense, it feels somewhat convenient." However, he also said, "Defining a person's type based on test results tends to overlook the diverse tendencies of humans."

The MBTI test is currently popular among young people. Since the test is free and takes a short time, it is a small source of fun among teenagers and people in their twenties. On online communities, derivative content such as 'how each MBTI type behaves on public transportation,' 'reactions when someone teases me,' and 'team project styles' are gaining attention.

Another office worker Kim (28), who revealed he is an 'ENFP' type, said, "Sometimes I get curious about myself or people around me, and I look up MBTI then. Not all MBTI tendencies fit perfectly, but I can relate to some extent."

Yoo Jae-suk, Lee Hyori, and Rain took the MBTI test to understand each other's personalities. Photo by MBC from the broadcast screen of 'How Do You Play?'.

MBTI tests are also popular in the media. Recently, the MBC entertainment program 'How Do You Play?' aired a segment where Yoo Jae-suk, Lee Hyori, and Rain took the MBTI test, attracting attention. Yoo Jae-suk was ISFP, Lee Hyori ENFP, and Rain ESFP.

Idol group members also share their MBTI types with fans. BTS member Suga said in March, when fans asked about his MBTI type, "I got INTP." Fans then looked up the characteristics of that MBTI type.

Some people blindly believe in MBTI. For example, they judge people with I (Introversion) type as introverted and lacking sociability, and those with E (Extraversion) type as outgoing and well-adapted to social life. This can lead to prejudice.

Experts emphasize that blind faith in MBTI tests is not appropriate. Professor Lee Dong-gwi of Yonsei University's Department of Psychology said, "The MBTI test aims to promote self-understanding. However, since there can be individual differences in test results, one should not think that the psychological type they belong to explains everything about themselves."

He added, "If someone does not know what they like or what they are suited for, referring to psychological test results can be helpful, so it can be used as a reference for self-understanding."