1. What is Korean Age?

Korean age is a traditional age-counting method used in Korea where a person is considered 1 year old at birth and gains a year every January 1st, rather than on their birthday.

2. How Does Korean Age Calculation Work?

The calculator uses the Korean age formula:

Explanation:

• Everyone is born at age 1 (counting time in womb as the first year)
• Everyone gains a year on January 1st, regardless of actual birthday
• This means you can be up to 2 years older in Korean age than in international age

3. Differences From International Age

Details:

• International age counts from 0 at birth and increments on birthdays
• Korean age will always be 1-2 years higher than international age
• Example: A baby born December 31 would be 2 in Korean age on January 1

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter your birth year and current year (or any year you want to calculate for). The calculator will show your Korean age for that year.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Why does Korea use this age system?
A: It originates from ancient East Asian age reckoning systems that counted time in the womb as the first year of life.

Q2: Is Korean age used officially?
A: Since June 2023, South Korea has switched to international age for most official documents, but Korean age is still commonly used in social contexts.

Q3: How does this affect school years?
A: School years in Korea are still determined by year of birth (not international age), so children born in January-December of the same year are in the same grade.

Q4: What about legal ages for drinking/smoking?
A: These now use international age (19 years old) since the 2023 change.

Q5: How do I calculate my Korean age if I know my international age?
A: If your birthday has passed this year: Korean age = International age + 1. If not: Korean age = International age + 2.