How Does Korea's Age System Differ from the International Norm?

Posted on Sep 8, 2024

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Koreans traditionally count age differently than most of the world, starting at one year old at birth. This system, known as “Korean age,” has its roots in historical practices and cultural significance. Here’s how it works and why it differs from the international norm:

Traditional Korean Age System

Counting Method: In the Korean age system, a person is considered one year old at birth. This age increases by one on New Year’s Day, regardless of their actual birthday. For instance, a baby born on December 31 would be considered one year old at birth and then two years old the very next day, January 1.
Cultural Significance: This method of counting age is intertwined with cultural practices, such as the tradition of eating Tteokguk (rice-cake soup) on New Year’s Day, which symbolizes gaining a year in age. Age is significant in Korean society, often influencing social hierarchies and relationships.
Multiple Age Systems: South Korea has historically utilized three different age-counting systems: Korean age, calendar age (which aligns with the international standard), and a year age system used in some legal contexts. The calendar age is calculated by subtracting the birth year from the current year, similar to the method used in most countries.

Recent Changes

As of June 28, 2023, South Korea officially transitioned to using the international age system for legal and administrative purposes, largely due to the confusion caused by the multiple systems. This change was part of a broader effort to align with global standards and simplify age-related matters in society. The shift means that South Koreans are now recognized as one or two years younger in official contexts, although the traditional Korean age may still be used socially.

This change reflects a significant cultural shift, as the traditional age system had been a long-standing practice unique to Korea, making it one of the few countries in the world to count age this way.

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