Blood Type Personality in Korea: From "Type B Boyfriends" to K-pop Profiles
Updated 2026-11-07T00:00:00.000Z
In South Korea, “혈액형이 뭐예요?” (hyeoraekhyeong-i mwoyeyo?, “what’s your blood type?”) is a normal question on a first date or in a new office. The idea arrived from Japan and became a major pop-culture theme in the 2000s.
The four types in Korean stereotypes
| Type | Common image in Korea |
|---|---|
| A | Shy, careful, considerate, a little timid, a perfectionist |
| B | Free-spirited, honest, self-centred but charming |
| O | Sociable, confident, the dependable “big brother/sister” |
| AB | Rational, unique, “a genius or a weirdo” |
Read the full profiles: A, B, O, AB.
The “type B man” craze
The best-known example is the stereotype of the B형 남자 (type B man): passionate and fun, but selfish and unreliable as a boyfriend. It was big enough to inspire a 2005 romantic comedy, My Boyfriend Is Type B, along with songs, comics and endless variety-show segments. Many type B men in Korea still get teased about it.
Blood types and K-pop
For years, official K-pop idol profiles listed name, birthday, height and blood type. Fans used the information to guess group dynamics, and blood type compatibility between members was a popular topic on fan sites. You will still find blood types in many profiles, although MBTI types have largely taken over that role since around 2020.
How common each type is in Korea
Korea’s ABO distribution is fairly even, which helps the four stereotypes feel balanced:
| Type | Share (approx.) |
|---|---|
| A | 34% |
| O | 28% |
| B | 27% |
| AB | 11% |
Rh-negative blood is very rare in Korea, around 0.1–0.3% of people, compared with about 15% in Europe and the US. See blood types by country.
From blood types to MBTI
Younger Koreans now ask “what’s your MBTI?” more often than “what’s your blood type?”. The two serve the same social purpose: a quick, shared shorthand for personality. Blood type talk has not disappeared, though. It is still common in older generations, on dating apps and in jokes between friends.
A light touch
Blood type stereotypes in Korea are mostly playful, but they can be unfair, particularly the negative ones about type B. Research finds no real link between blood group and personality, so it is best enjoyed as a conversation starter.