The Influence of MBTI on Workplace Culture in South Korea

<p><span>The increasing popularity of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) in South Korea has extended beyond individual personality assessment and has become a significant cultural phenomenon influencing workplace interactions, communication patterns, and organizational relationships. Although MBTI has been widely adopted in Korean organizations for team-building activities, employee development, and interpersonal understanding, academic debates remain regarding its practical value and scientific limitations. This study investigates the influence of MBTI on workplace culture and organizational behavior in South Korean organizations by examining how personality perceptions shape communication, teamwork, leadership preferences, organizational commitment, job satisfaction, and employee engagement.</span></p> <p><span>This study adopts a mixed-methods research approach, integrating quantitative and qualitative data to provide a comprehensive understanding of the role of MBTI in organizational contexts. The quantitative study collected survey data from 526 respondents with diverse demographic backgrounds, including university students, employees, managers, government employees, and self-employed individuals. The qualitative study involved semi-structured interviews with 40 participants to explore deeper perceptions and experiences regarding MBTI utilization in workplace environments. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, reliability analysis, correlation analysis, regression analysis, and hypothesis testing, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. The integration of both research methods enabled a more holistic interpretation of MBTI’s influence on workplace culture and organizational outcomes.</span></p> <p><span>The findings indicate that MBTI is widely recognized among Korean respondents, with the majority having experience with MBTI testing and exposure to MBTI-related content. Participants generally perceived MBTI as a useful tool for enhancing self-understanding, improving workplace communication, facilitating teamwork, and supporting interpersonal relationships. The results suggest that MBTI contributes positively to workplace interactions by providing employees with a common framework for discussing personality differences and behavioral preferences. However, respondents also acknowledged limitations, including concerns regarding insufficient scientific evidence, oversimplification of personality characteristics, and the potential risk of stereotyping individuals based on personality types.</span></p> <p><span>The qualitative findings further reveal that MBTI functions not only as a personality classification system but also as a social communication mechanism within Korean workplace culture. Employees reported that MBTI discussions can reduce interpersonal barriers, improve mutual understanding, and support team cohesion. Nevertheless, excessive reliance on MBTI classifications may negatively affect organizational relationships by creating fixed perceptions of employees’ abilities, roles, and behavioral tendencies.</span></p> <p><span>This study contributes to organizational behavior and management research by providing empirical evidence regarding the role of personality frameworks in contemporary workplace culture. The study extends existing discussions on personality theory, organizational culture, and person–organization fit by demonstrating how MBTI operates as a cultural and relational tool within Korean organizations. From a practical perspective, the findings provide implications for human resource management, leadership development, team management, and employee engagement strategies. Organizations are encouraged to utilize MBTI as a supplementary tool for communication and self-awareness rather than as a decisive criterion for recruitment, evaluation, or employee classification.</span></p>