earticle

영어

With the start of COVID-19 in 2020, the MBTI test became popular among Korean young generation and then developed into a nationwide hot topic. This paper aims to investigate the characteristics of the MBTI popularity in Korea and the public opinions toward this phenomenon. With the analysis of the reports contents, 231 news reports related to MBTI were selected from KINDS (Korea Integrated News Database System) as research samples. The general attitude of the media towards MBTI tests and the reasons for the formation of positive and negative evaluations will be discussed from three perspectives: media attention, media attitudes and cognitive sources. The research finds that the increasing interest in MBTI among the younger generation in Korea is driven by a post-epidemic desire for self-exploration, emotional planning, and online group affiliation. MBTI has gained quasi-scientific status, similar to horoscopes, influenced by celebrities and a substantial fan base in online communication. While widely used for entertainment and social currency, there are concerns that extensive labeling may unconsciously impact individuals' self-perception and hinder the development of a holistic and objective cognitive framework.