A factor analysis of the most frequently used Korean personality trait adjectives

We tested the cross-cultural generalizability of personality structure by f actor-analysing self-ratings of 435 Korean university students on the 406 m ost frequently used Korean personality trait adjectives. A plot of eigenval ues and a test of factor replicability bath suggested a four-factor solutio n. The four varimax-rotated factors showed strong correlations with the fir st four factors of the Big Five (Extraversion, Agreeableness Conscientiousn ess, and Emotional Stability), as measured by markers selected a priori fro m the pool of 406 adjectives. We also investigated a five-factor solution, in an attempt to recover an Intellect factor. The five varimax-rotated fact ors corresponded closely to the classic Big Five, but with a minor differen ce in the rotation of the Conscientiousness and Intellect factors. Solution s involving six and seven factors were also investigated, and these solutio ns produced a Truthfulness factor similar to some previously discovered lex ical factors. The results of the study were discussed in relation to the le xical hypothesis and to previous studies of personality structure in Fast A sian languages. Copyright (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.