The Traditional Korean Age System

In South Korea, there is a unique age-counting system where a baby is considered one year old at birth. Unlike the international method where age starts from zero and increases on the child’s birthday this traditional Korean system adds one year immediately at birth, accounting for the time spent in the womb. Additionally, instead of aging on their actual birth date, everyone traditionally ages together on January 1st. For example, a baby born on December 31 would be considered two years old the next day one year for being born, and one more for the new year.

Cultural Significance and Modern Shifts

This age system has deep cultural roots and was once widely used in social life, legal matters, and official documents. It symbolizes collective aging and reinforces a sense of community and shared time. However, it has sometimes caused confusion in international interactions and among younger generations. In recent years, there has been a growing movement in South Korea to adopt the international age system more consistently, especially in legal and administrative contexts. As of 2023, South Korea officially switched to using the international system in most public records, though the traditional system still holds cultural value for many. Shutdown123