

South Korea is a modern society. The nation is a leader in electronics and robotics and an e-sports powerhouse. But start talking about birthdays, and you might wonder whether it’s trapped in the Dark Ages. Now some lawmakers hope to overturn an ancient tradition for figuring age.
For centuries, Koreans have used one of the world’s strangest calculating systems to determine age. Some people call it “lunar age” or “East Asian age.” To Koreans it’s simply “Korean age.” In the past, other Asian countries used it too. Today, South Korea is the only country using this method.
According to Korean age, a baby is one year old at birth. The baby’s age increases a year on New Year’s Day—no matter when its birthday is. It’s similar to how Jesus’ time in the tomb is counted. The Bible says He spent three days there. Even though He was buried late on Friday, the whole Friday counts as a day. He rose early on Sunday morning, but the whole Sunday is counted. Similarly, Korea counts the entire year in which a person lives even a day.
Still confused? Here’s an example: Lee Dong Kil’s daughter was born at 10 p.m. last New Year’s Eve. At that moment, she was considered one. After midnight—the new year—she got to count another year in her age. Lee’s friends congratulated him on having a two-year-old.
“I thought, ‘Ah, right. She’s now two years old, though it’s been only two hours since she was born,’” says Lee. He is 32 internationally but 34 in Korean age.
In January, lawmaker Hwang Ju-hong sponsored a bill to end Korean age. His bill would require the government to put international ages on official documents and encourage citizens to switch too.
Officially, South Korea has used Western-style age calculations since the early 1960s. But most citizens still embrace the old-fashioned system. They’re used to living with two ages.
The origins of the system aren’t clear. Some scholars say ancient Koreans cared a lot about the year they were born—but not about the specific day. Others think the tradition relates to an early number system without the concept of zero. Yet another view links it to the time babies spend in their mothers’ wombs—a time Psalm 139:13 refers to as being “knitted together.”
Whatever the history, some South Koreans say that Korean age is problematic. It groups children born as much as 364 days apart into the same classes—even if the younger ones aren’t ready.
First Comment!
I think they should switch to international age. I wonder if the baby girl will start preschool next year because she will be "3" or if she will wait until she's "5".
I agree, Beth G. This is just
I agree, Beth G. This is just weird.
soooo cute!
That baby is soooo cute! I think its strange to be two the minuet aftier you were born. So what if you were born at 12pm on new years day? then that makes you 2? I think this is confusing? So if she starts preschool next year she would not even be able to talk!!
Wow!
That is sooooo weird!
Elsie (Emelias sister)
Nadia, 12 pm on new years day would technically be January second and the baby wouldn't turn two until the next new years.... I think?
To Above.
yes. that would be rite. well what about 11:59 ?
To above
I think the baby would be two: one year for when she was born and two a minute later.... I mean, for us it is pretty weird, but for them it is perfectly normal.
To Above.
ya. hard to belive!
COOL!
That means I'm 23 in Korean age! (I think...)
P.S.
I'm really 12,
To Above.
No. wait I think you would be 14???
To above
Yeah.. I'm pretty sure she would be 14. @Savannah C; it is only the first year that the baby is two years old, after that you just add one year at a time. Hey, you shouldn't say how old you are or Bolthouse3 is going to come around and say you are giving away private info.
WOW.......
WOW.......
i w b 16
i w b 16
To Above
whats that mean?
Karisma S
Whoa, all this is both weird and interesting.
I'm Korean
I'm Korean
That means I'm 15
That means I'm 15, not 13
I think you are only two
I think you are only two years older than your American age if you are born at a certain time of year, if you are born at other times of the year you are only one year older than your American age.
That food
All that food looks so good!!! :)
@ Michel C
Re ally! Wow!! do you live there.?
all i have to say is
very interesting
all i have to say is
very interesting
that article is confusing!!!!
i mean, i under stand it and all but STILL!!!
Mira (Cainan's Sister)
Weird, but sad for the kids who struggle with school.
Mira (Cainan's Sister)
You could totally trick somebody by telling them your age in Korean age.
The baby does not look to
The baby does not look to happy about all of this. Haha
OWEN
That means i would be 14 cause im 12 , i think
the baby
the baby looks prity big to be just 2hours old.
@Nadia
The picture says it's her 100th day in Daejon, South Korea. But it could be another one of their weird time things(no offense to anyone who lives in Korea)
I guess in Koria I'll be 16,
I guess in Koria I'll be 16, so I can drive a car!
@ Lorelei E
no. look at the second slide.
@Nadia
I was telling my mom about it and she said "Well since they were born in 2018 on New Year Eve and then when it was midnight it was 2019, she 'technically' lived in 2018&2019 so it is like two years even though she was only alive for 2 hours". But she is not 100% sure, so it might not be right.
@Nadia A
No, on the second slide it says when she was born not how old she is.
To above
oh. now i see. sorry ; )
@ Lorelei E
Haha!! ya!!
@Isaac
Don't try to get away with driving at such a young age. LOL
@Nadia
So my moms theory was wrong. I re-read the article to see what it said and it said 'When the baby is born it becomes 1 years old, the babies age increases a year on New Years Day, no matter what it's birthday is". So then the baby would be two. 1year+1 year=2years old
@ Lorelei E
ya I see now. but she still lived in 2018 and 2019.
@ Isaac T
Don't start driving yet!! LOL!
@Nadia
Glad you understand what I am saying.
China does this to
I used to live in china and they did this too! ( probably not officaily though)
@Caro and Tommy
That is cool that you use to live in China.
Thanks
thanks we were missonaries there
@Caro and Tommy
That is double cool. So glad for you that you got experience that.
Thanks again
Thanks again
@ Caro and Tommy
that's nice that you were missionaries! did you have any consorts?
@Nadia
He can't go alone. And he is not old enough to be married.
@Caro and Tommy
Your welcome.
@ Loreleie E
what? what are you talking about?? I mean converts i don't know what a Conhort is?
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