South Korea has officially transitioned to the international standard for age calculation, resulting in its citizens becoming a year or two younger overnight. The country has abolished its traditional method of counting age, which deemed a person one year old at birth and added a year on every January 1. While South Korea had been using the international age calculation for medical and legal purposes since the 1960s, many individuals continued to rely on the traditional system for all other aspects of life.
This discrepancy prompted President Yoon Suk-yeol to advocate for change during his election campaign last year, citing the unnecessary social and economic burdens associated with the traditional method. In December of the previous year, South Korea passed legislation to fully adopt the international age calculation. The government expects that this shift will significantly reduce legal disputes, complaints, and social confusion that have arisen from disagreements on age determination.
A government survey conducted in September 2022 revealed that 86% of South Koreans intended to utilize the international age in their daily lives once the new laws took effect. It is worth noting that South Korea has an additional age system in place for conscription, school admissions, and determining the legal age for consuming alcohol and tobacco. This system considers a person’s age as zero at birth, with an additional year being added on January 1.
Officials have confirmed that this method will remain in effect for the time being. As of June 28, 2023, under the international age system, an individual born on June 29, 2003, would be considered 19 years old. However, under the traditional “counting age” system, they would be regarded as 20 years old, and under the unique “Korean age” system, their age would be 21.
South Korea’s adoption of the international age calculation reflects its commitment to aligning with global standards. By embracing this change, the country aims to alleviate the social and economic challenges stemming from age-related disputes. The transition marks a significant step towards streamlining age determination processes and fostering greater consistency in various aspects of South Korean society.