South Koreans become a year or two younger as traditional way of counting age scrapped

Seoul, June 28 (BNA): South Koreans became a year or two younger on Wednesday as new laws requiring the use of only the international method for calculating age took effect, replacing the country’s traditional method.

Under the most common age system in the daily life of South Koreans, people are considered to be a year old at birth and a year is added every January 1.

Since the early 1960s, the country has used the international standard for counting from zero at birth and adding a year on each birthday for medical and legal documents.

But many South Koreans have continued to use the traditional method for everything else, reports Reuters.

In December, South Korea passed laws to scrap the traditional method and fully adopt the international standard.

“We expect that the legal disputes, complaints and social unrest caused over how ages are calculated will be greatly reduced,” State Legislation Minister Lee Wan-kyu told a news briefing.

According to a government survey conducted in September 2022, 86% of South Koreans said they will use the International era in their daily lives when the new laws go into effect.

“I was about to turn 30 next year (under the traditional Korean age system) but now I have more time earned and I like it,” said Choi Hyun-ji, a 27-year-old office worker in Seoul.

“It’s great to feel like looking younger,” Choi added.

There is another age system in South Korea for compulsory conscription and enrollment in school: a person’s age is calculated from zero at birth and a year is added on January 1. Officials said this method will remain in place for the time being.

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