South Koreans have become a year or two younger as the country’s traditional method of age counting was replaced by new laws that enforce the use of the international age calculation system. Under the previous method widely used in everyday life, individuals were considered one year old at birth, with an additional year added on every January 1st.
However, since the early 1960s, South Korea had been utilizing the international standard, which starts counting age from zero at birth and adds a year on each birthday for medical and legal purposes. Despite this, many South Koreans continued to employ the traditional method for other aspects of life. In December, the country passed laws to eliminate the traditional approach and fully embrace the international standard.
According to a government survey conducted in September 2022, approximately 86% of South Koreans expressed their intention to adopt the international age calculation in their daily lives once the new laws took effect.
It’s important to note that another age system still exists in South Korea for conscription, school admission, and determining the legal drinking and smoking age. In this system, age is calculated from zero at birth, and a year is added on January 1st. Officials have clarified that this particular method will remain in place for the time being.
