"Age is just a number" – but probably not if you are in Korea. Koreans are very particular about age. "How old are you?" is one of the very first questions you will be asked when you are in Korea or when you meet a Korean overseas. Most importantly, Koreans follow a unique age calculation system. With Hallyu - the Korean cultural wave - sweeping across the globe, many are interested in learning more about this system. It can be confusing at times when your idol's age is listed differently on Wikipedia from what he/she states it to be, so here we present you with the history and formula to calculate the Korean age.
What is the East Asian age reckoning system?
The system originated in China and spread to other East Asian countries, like Korea and Japan. In this system, age is counted from the point of conception. Therefore, when a baby is born after the gestation period, it is already a year old. This is the first point of difference with western age calculation, in which the baby's age is taken as zero at the time of birth.
Secondly, on New Year's Day, a year is added to everyone's age, irrespective of any other parameters like birthdays. Whereas, in the Western system, age increases by one only when you reach your birthday every year. However birthdays are just as important for Koreans and are celebrated with much festivity, even though there is no change in age.
The system originated because:
Chinese characters did not have zero, and hence the countries that followed the Chinese scripture before their own scripts were developed also did not have the concept of zero.
Back then, Asian countries were majorly agricultural. Therefore, certain East Asian societies counted their ages by observing seasonal changes.
Since ancient times, the gestation period has been counted as a year.
Let us look at the following example to make this concept clear:
V was born on Dec. 30, 1995. When he was born, he was a year old. On Jan. 1, 1996, another year was added to his age making him two years old, even though in the Western system, he was just two days old and would turn one only on Dec. 30, 1996.
While this system has been legally dropped by countries like Japan and eventually by China and North Korea, South Korea is the only country in the world still following it. Gradually, the East Asian age reckoning system has come to be known as the Korean age. Koreans designate the international age as man nai and Korean age as hanguk nai.
How to calculate the Korean age?
Based on your year of birth
Your age = (current year - year of birth) + 1
Example: Jimin was born on Oct. 13, 1995. Hence, Jimin's age = (2021 – 1995) + 1 = 27 years
Based on your current international age
This gets a little bit tricky, as it depends on whether your birthday for the current year has passed or not.
If your birthday has passed:
Age = your current international age + 1
If your birthday has not passed:
Age = your current international age + 2
Example: J-Hope was born on Feb. 18, 1994. His birthday in 2021 has not yet passed and his current international age is 26. Thus,
J-Hope's age = 26+2
= 28 years
Why is this system followed in Korea?
Simply put, this tradition is deeply rooted in Korean culture and is followed not just by native Koreans but by Koreans living overseas as well. Korean society is defined by age to such an extent that addressing your older friend by just their name (without honorifics) can be regarded as rude. An older female is addressed as noona or unnie, an older man as oppa or hyung, and a younger person as dongsaeng. Thus, knowing someone's age becomes all the more crucial in determining the language and nature of social interactions.
The age hierarchy is present in every walk of life in Korea. Using first names for those in higher ranks is considered an act of disrespect. In K-dramas, you will often come across employees addressing their boss with terms like sajangnim. There is a whole list of hierarchical terms used in office spaces and social events. Also, the oldest or the highest-ranked person is always the first one to start eating a meal. If a younger person starts a meal before him/her, it is considered rude. Likewise, it is always the younger who should pour a drink for the older.
Do foreigners need to change their age in Korea?
Though Korean age is used for social interactions, international age is used for official documents, legalities, and media reporting. So no, a foreigner need not change their international age to Korean age for any official proceedings. But they do need to consider it during social interactions.
Certain laws, like the Juvenile Protection Act and Military Service Act, are based on the year of age, yeon nai. For example, movie age limits are decided by the year you were born in. For most such limits, the age is 19. If you are turning 19 this year (in Western age), even if your birthday is in November, you won't be restricted by movie age limits from Jan. 1, 2021.
Koreans are divided about the continuity of this system. Though an integral part of society, it does create some confusion when operating internationally. But that's for the Koreans to debate and decide. We are just here to ride the magnificent Hallyu wave!
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Written by Basabdatta
Edited by Vera
Checked by Clare
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