Seoul, South Korea
CNN
—
South Koreans are becoming a year or two younger thanks to a new law passed on Thursday that aims to standardize age calculation in the country.
Currently, it is common for South Koreans to have not just one age, but three—an “international age,” a “Korean age,” and a “calendar age.”
But to end the confusion, the country’s parliament has decreed that from June 2023, all official documents must use the “international age” standard.
This move, which follows a long-standing debate on the issue, will bring the country into line with the rest of the world and reduce legal discrepancies arising from the use of three different systems.
In South Korea, a person’s “international age” refers to the number of years since birth and starts from zero – the same system used in most other countries.
But when asked about their age in informal settings, most South Koreans respond with their “Korean age,” which can be a year or even two years older than their “international age.”
Under this system, babies are considered one year old on the day they are born, with one year added on January 1 each year.
In certain circumstances, South Koreans also use their “calendar age” — a sort of mashup between international and Korean ages — which considers babies to be zero years old on the day they are born and increments their age by one year every January 1st.
Take “Gangnam Style” singer Psy, for example. He was born on December 31, 1977 and is considered 44 at international age; 45 by calendar year; and 46 by Korean age.
That sounds confusing, but it is, because everyday life in the country often switches between the hodgepodge of different systems.
Most people use the Korean age, which has its roots in China, in everyday life and social scenarios, while the international age is more commonly used for legal and official matters — such as dealing with civil rights.
However, some laws — including those affecting the legal drinking age, smoking, and military service — use the calendar year.
The law, passed on Thursday, will standardize the use of the international age in all “judicial and administrative sectors,” according to Parliament’s website and documents related to the bill.
“The state and municipalities should encourage citizens to use their ‘international age’ and carry out the necessary support for this,” it says.
The decision is the result of years of campaigning by lawmakers tired of the multiple systems.
“The revision aims to reduce unnecessary socio-economic costs as legal and social disputes and confusion remain due to the different methods of age calculation,” Yoo Sang-bum of the ruling People Power Party told parliament, according to Reuters.
Another bill introduced by lawmaker Hwang Ju-hong in 2019 argued that the three methods not only created confusion but also created conflict by promoting “a culture of hierarchy based on age and specific months for birth.” avoided”.
