If you’ve been watching Culinary Class Wars 2, you’ve probably noticed Chef Im Sung-geun (임성근). His confident, no-filter personality has the Korean internet calling him the ultimate “테토남” - and suddenly everyone’s asking: wait, what IS a 테토남?
The New Personality Craze
Move over, MBTI. Korea has a new way to classify people, and it’s based on… hormones?
테토 (teto) comes from 테스토스테론 (testosterone) 에겐 (egen) comes from 에스트로겐 (estrogen)
Before you ask - no, this has nothing to do with actual hormone levels. It’s about personality traits traditionally associated with these hormones. Think of it as a fun (and slightly unscientific) way to describe dating and social styles.
테토남 - The Alpha Type
테토남 = Testosterone + 남 (nam, meaning “man”)
This is the stereotypical “manly man” - confident, direct, and takes charge.
Characteristics
- Direct communicator - Says what he means, no games
- Takes initiative - Makes plans, leads conversations
- Confident (sometimes too confident)
- Action-oriented - Less talk, more do
- Competitive - Likes to win
The Im Sung-geun Effect
Chef Im Sung-geun from Culinary Class Wars 2 became the poster boy for 테토남. His famous quotes like “I know about 50,000 sauces” and “The taste? It’s just… the end” perfectly capture that 테토남 energy - bold, unapologetic confidence.
(Translation: “Chef Im is literally the definition of 테토남 lol where does that confidence come from”)
에겐남 - The Soft Type
에겐남 = Estrogen + 남 (man)
The opposite of 테토남 - gentle, emotionally attuned, and considerate.
Characteristics
- Great listener - Picks up on emotional cues
- Thoughtful - Remembers the little things
- Avoids conflict - Prefers harmony
- Expressive - Comfortable sharing feelings
- Supportive - Puts partner’s needs first
In Dating
에겐남 types are often described as the “ideal boyfriend” material - but they can sometimes come across as passive or indecisive. They’re the ones who text “What do you want to eat? I’m fine with anything.”
(The classic 에겐남 response)
테토녀 - The Boss Lady
테토녀 = Testosterone + 녀 (nyeo, meaning “woman”)
Independent, straightforward, and doesn’t wait around for anyone.
Characteristics
- Direct and honest - No passive-aggressive games
- Independent - Has her own life, goals, and opinions
- Confrontational - Addresses problems head-on
- Confident style - Bold fashion choices, strong presence
- Clear boundaries - Knows what she wants (and doesn’t)
Celebrity Examples
Koreans often cite Lee Hyori (이효리), Jennie (제니), and Han Gain (한가인) as 테토녀 examples - women who project confidence and independence.
에겐녀 - The Soft Girl
에겐녀 = Estrogen + 녀 (woman)
Gentle, empathetic, and emotionally intuitive.
Characteristics
- Empathetic - Feels others’ emotions deeply
- Accommodating - Prefers to avoid conflict
- Romantic - Values emotional connection
- Soft-spoken - Indirect communication style
- Nurturing - Takes care of people around her
In Relationships
에겐녀 types often prioritize their partner’s feelings, sometimes at the expense of their own. They’re more likely to hold onto emotional hurt longer.
The Dating Food Chain
Here’s where it gets interesting. According to this theory, there’s a “dating food chain” (연애 먹이사슬):
에겐녀 → 에겐남 → 테토녀 → 테토남 → 에겐녀
The idea? Each type is attracted to the one that complements them:
| Type | Attracted to | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 에겐녀 | 테토남 | Drawn to confidence and decisiveness |
| 테토남 | 에겐녀 | Appreciates softness and support |
| 에겐남 | 테토녀 | Fascinated by boldness and independence |
| 테토녀 | 에겐남 | Values emotional depth and attentiveness |
It’s like opposites attract - each type seeks what they lack.
(Translation: “I’m a 테토녀 and I really am attracted to 에겐남 types lol the theory is right”)
Quick Comparison
| 테토 (Teto) | 에겐 (Egen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | Direct, blunt | Indirect, gentle |
| Conflict style | Confronts | Avoids |
| Decision-making | Quick, decisive | Thoughtful, hesitant |
| In relationships | Takes the lead | Follows, supports |
| Fashion | Bold, statement pieces | Soft, classic |
| Energy | Assertive, outgoing | Calm, reserved |
Where Did This Come From?
The concept first appeared in 2021 from a Korean blogger named 이상수 (Lee Sang-su), who created the “연애 먹이사슬 분석” (dating food chain analysis).
It went viral in 2024 when Instagram artist 내쪼 turned it into a popular webtoon series. By 2025, everyone was taking 테토/에겐 tests and labeling themselves and celebrities.
Is This Scientific?
Absolutely not.
Just like MBTI or blood type personality theories, this is pseudoscience packaged as fun. Your actual testosterone or estrogen levels have nothing to do with your “type.”
But that doesn’t stop it from being entertaining. Koreans love personality categorization - from blood types to MBTI to now 테토/에겐. It’s a conversation starter, a dating filter, and sometimes just a fun way to understand relationship dynamics.
Key Expressions
| Korean | Romanization | Meaning | Listen |
|---|---|---|---|
| 테토남 | tetonam | Testosterone-type man | |
| 에겐남 | egennam | Estrogen-type man | |
| 테토녀 | tetonyeo | Testosterone-type woman | |
| 에겐녀 | egennyeo | Estrogen-type woman | |
| 연애 먹이사슬 | yeonae meogisaseul | Dating food chain | |
| 성격 유형 | seonggyeok yuhyeong | Personality type |
Try Asking Your Korean Friends
Want to join the conversation? Try these:
Or the classic Korean internet debate:
“테토남이 좋아? 에겐남이 좋아?” (Do you prefer 테토남 or 에겐남?)
My Take
Honestly? My husband is probably somewhere in between. He’s got that quiet confidence but also remembers every little thing I mention. Maybe he’s a 테토-에겐 hybrid?
The fun part is watching Korean internet debates about which celebrities are which type. And now with Chef Im Sung-geun becoming the 테토남 icon, I expect this trend to get even bigger.
Just remember - it’s all for fun. Don’t actually judge people based on their “hormone type.”
Unless they claim to know 50,000 sauces. Then they’re definitely 테토남.
Sources: 나무위키 - 테토-에겐 성격 유형, 한국경제, 네이트 뉴스, 스타뉴스