Youthful Reckoning: South Koreans Shed Years of Age

South Koreans Embrace a Youthful Transformation: Becoming a Year (or Two) Younger

In a move to align with international standards, South Koreans will now be considered a year younger starting Wednesday. The nation, known for counting newborns as one year old, has adopted the calendar age system used globally. This shift aims to reduce confusion and bring South Korea in line with global norms. Previously, South Koreans were traditionally referred to as one to two years older due to the practice of counting time spent in the womb. President Yoon Suk Yeol championed this change, which enjoyed widespread public support. The shift to calendar age will primarily impact social settings and workplaces, where age hierarchies hold significance.

Notably, the adjustment does not require individuals to update their documents or IDs, as government forms already adhere to the international age system. Retirement, pension eligibility, voting rights, military service, and school admissions have long followed the calendar age, taking birth year into account. Furthermore, the adoption of the calendar age system will not impact the legal boundaries for alcohol and cigarette consumption, as stores have relied on calendar age rather than "Korean age" to determine the legal age for such purchases.

A January 2022 poll conducted by Hankook Research revealed that three-quarters of Koreans supported this change, highlighting the widespread acceptance and desire for aligning with global age standards.

A New Era of Age Calculation: South Korea's Transition to Calendar Age


South Korea has made a significant adjustment to its age counting system, bringing the nation in line with international standards. Previously, South Koreans were considered one to two years older due to the practice of counting the time spent in the womb. However, starting Wednesday, the country will begin using the international standard of calendar age. This shift aims to reduce confusion and comply with global norms.

The change was initiated by President Yoon Suk Yeol, who garnered widespread public support for the transition. The traditional age counting system was mainly used in social settings and workplaces, where age hierarchies carried significant importance. By adopting the calendar age system, South Korea aims to align itself with the rest of the world and create consistency in age calculations.

Notably, this adjustment will not require individuals to update their documents or identification, as government forms already adhere to the international age system. Retirement, pension eligibility, voting rights, mandatory military service, and school admissions have long followed the calendar age system, which considers the year of birth.

It's worth mentioning that the age change will not impact legal boundaries for alcohol and cigarette consumption. Stores in South Korea have already relied on calendar age rather than "Korean age" to verify whether individuals are over 19 years old. The implementation of calendar age will not alter this practice, ensuring that age verification for regulated products remains intact.

A recent poll conducted by Hankook Research in January 2022 revealed that three-quarters of Koreans supported the adoption of the calendar age system. This demonstrates the widespread acceptance and desire for South Korea to align itself with global age standards.

Overall, this transformation in age counting is a significant step for South Korea in embracing international norms and reducing confusion within its society. By adopting calendar age, the nation aims to create consistency and eliminate discrepancies between its age system and those of other countries. This change will impact social interactions, workplaces, and various aspects of daily life, ultimately bringing South Korea into alignment with the rest of the world.

South Korea has taken a progressive step by embracing a new age counting system that aligns with international standards. By adopting the calendar age system, South Koreans will now be considered a year younger, starting from a newborn age of one. This adjustment aims to reduce confusion and bring South Korea in line with global norms. President Yoon Suk Yeol championed this change, which received substantial public support.

Importantly, this transition will not require individuals to update their documents or IDs since government forms already adhere to the international age system. Retirement, pension eligibility, voting rights, military service, and school admissions have long followed the calendar age, considering the year of birth.

It's notable that, despite the age change, legal boundaries for alcohol and cigarette consumption remain unaffected. Stores have already utilized calendar age for age verification purposes, ensuring compliance with existing regulations.

The overwhelming support for the adoption of the calendar age system reflects the desire of South Koreans to align themselves with global age standards. This transformation is a significant milestone for South Korea as it eliminates discrepancies and establishes consistency in age calculations across social settings and workplaces.

Overall, the shift towards the calendar age system marks a crucial advancement for South Korea in embracing international norms and reducing confusion within its society. By joining other nations in using this globally recognized age counting method, South Korea aims to facilitate better understanding and integration on a global scale.