Don't be surprised if you are asked what blood type you are when you are in Korea - they consider it a normal question - so normal in fact that it appears on some job application forms! If you are someone like me this question can prove to be a bit of a problem because I have absolutely no idea what blood type I am. The most interesting thing about being asked this question is that it does not, as I would have thought, have anything to do with you health or donating blood. Actually in Korea they believe that blood type dictates personality type.
Blood types were identified in the early 1900's by an Austrian biologist named Karl Landsteiner. In 1916 a Japanese doctor named Kimata Hara published a paper that suggested a correlation between blood types and personality. In 1927 the idea was further popularized when Takeji Furukawa, who was a professor of Ochanomizu University in Tokyo, began to publish a series of articles with the title: "The Study of Temperament through Blood Type."
In the 1970's journalist Masahiko Nomi then extended on the idea thus bringing the theory into popular culture. It has been suggested that it was at this point the idea began to spread throughout Asia, becoming popular in countries like Taiwan and Korea.
None of the studies that have been completed provide a conclusive link between blood type and personality traits and as many studies have been completed on this as have been completed on the negative effects of discriminating against people based on their blood type.
It is such a popular idea in Korea that there have even been blockbuster movies written around the idea such as "My boyfriend is type B". Type B is considered to be the worst blood type because these people are said to be rash and unpredictable and there for will not marry wisely or make a good partner. Although this bad reputation is only associated with men and women with type B blood are not considered the same way. The bad boy image of men with type B blood does appeal to Korean women (much the same as it always has with Western women) but they are not considered to be suitable for anything long term.
To give you a better idea of what your blood type says about you in Korea (if you know what your blood type is...) I have pinched these nifty little tables from the 8 Asians website which you can visit by clicking here.
I have also included a little cartoon (love google image search...such a good place to start) based on blood types. The cartoon describes the following: When a teacher tells you not to cross the line...
- Type A will not cross, ever, until they are told they are allowed to cross and even then they may hesistate.
- Type B will be across the line before the teacher has even finished telling them not to cross the line.
- Type O will sneak across the line when no-one is looking (being that they are the sneaky rascal type)
- Type AB will watch everyone else while hiding behind a corner and then tell on everyone when the teacher returns.
If you would like more information on this idea please click on the links below:
The Japan Times: Blood Types - Do They Shape A Personality Or Mere Stereotypes?
Informationism.org: Japanese blood type theory of personality
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