Korean age is a traditional age system used by Koreans that declares people a year old at birth, adding another year to their age every January 1st. Currently there exist three main ways to calculate one’s age. There is the aforementioned Korean age, the international age system, and another scheme where an individual grows one year older on the first day of the new year.
For example, the artist behind the infamous ‘Gangnam Style’ song, PSY, was born on December 31st. Under the standard international system, he is 45; in Korean age he is 47, and 46 under the year scheme. It can be quite confusing for people in such similar circumstance, even among Koreans.
However, on December 8th of 2022, South Korean parliament passed laws to abolish the traditional methods of calculating one’s age. Korean age will finally be replaced with the international age system, and it is expected to take effect in June 2023.
With that being said, 2023 will be the last year that Koreans will use this system. Many people, including myself, will age down by one or two years once the international system officially takes over Korea! The term ‘Korean age’ will soon become a thing of the past.
References
Seo, J. (2022). ‘Korean age’ could become a custom of the past. KoreaJoongAngDaily [online] Available at: https://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/2022/12/07/national/socialAffairs/Korea-age-international-age/20221207182052908.html [Accessed 1 Jan. 2023].
Kim, M. (2022). South Koreans to become year younger after scrapping traditional age system. Washington Post. [online] Available at: https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/12/08/south-korea-age-system-year/ [Accessed 2 Jan. 2023].
