Are you curious about how old you would be if you were born in South Korea? The answer may surprise you! In most countries around the world normal form but in Korea, your age is not calculated in the same way. If you visit Korea then you need to Korean age calculator to communicate with others and avoid confusion about your age.
The Korean Age calculator is a tool that uses for calculating Korean people and other people who know his/her age according to the Korean age system because it’s different from the traditional age calculation method.
In Korea, a person is considered to be one year old at birth and their age increases by one year at the start of each year, regardless of their actual birthdate.
How to Use the Korean Age Calculator to Determine Your Korean Age
Calculating your Korean age is a very simple process that adds one or more years to your age depending on the current year and the date of the Lunar New Year.
Step 1: Determine Your Birth Year
The first step in calculating your Korean age firstly determine your birth year. According to the Gregorian calendar, which is the calendar system used in most countries.
Step 2: Add 1 to Your Birth Year
If you determined your birth year after the additional year to the number. This is because everyone is considered to be one year old at birth in Korea.
Step 3: Adjust Your Age for the Lunar New Year
Finally, you need to adjust your age for the Lunar New Year. The Lunar New Year, also known as Seollal, is a major holiday in Korea that usually falls between late January and mid-February. If you were born before the Lunar New Year, you need to add one year to your Korean age. If you were born after the Lunar New Year, you need to add two years to your Korean age.
This age calculator is designed by the All Fees calculator
How to calculate my Korean age?
Calculating Korean age – example
Let’s go through a quick example of both kinds of calculations so that the question “What is my Korean age?” never sounds complicated again.
If you are born in the year 1992, and the current year is 2023. In that case, the basic way of calculating their Korean age would look like this:Korean age = (2023 - 1992) + 1 = 31.
In the Western system, or the same date of birth they will be 30 years old in the year 2023. If someone’s birthday has passed by the time they are calculating their Korean age, that means they are 26 + 1 = 27 years old in Korean age.
For example, if this year’s January 1st has already passed and someone was born on January 1st, 1996, they would be considered 27 years old in Korean age in 2023.
Let’s look at a real-world example. If you follow Korean culture, you might be curious to find out how old is jungkook. He was born on 1ˢᵗ April 1995. In the Western system, he celebrates his 29ˢᵗ birthday in the year 2023. Jungkook, however, would tell you that he is 29 years old:27+2 before September 1ˢᵗ and 28 + 1 after
The formula for calculation Koean Age
Korean age = (current year – year of birth) + 1
What is the Korean Age System?
The Korean age system is based on East Asian age reckoning, which calculates a person’s age differently than the Gregorian calendar used in the Western world. In Korea, you are considered one year old at birth and then add one year to your age every New Year’s Day. This means that if you were born in December, you would still be considered two years old on New Year’s Day.
Why is the Korean Age System Different?
The Korean age system, deeply rooted in Confucianism, places great emphasis on revering elders and maintaining a strict hierarchy of social relationships.
In Korean society, exhibiting deference to one’s elders is an integral part of daily life, and one’s age is regarded as a pivotal determinant of their social standing.
Thus, age holds great significance across numerous aspects of Korean culture, ranging from language usage to behavioural norms.
The Benefits and Drawbacks of the Korean Age System
The Korean age system carries with it a set of advantages and disadvantages. On the one hand, it underscores the importance of venerating one’s elders, a cornerstone of Korean society. Moreover, the mechanics of the Korean age system can be readily comprehended once one becomes acquainted with it.
On the other hand, the Korean age system can be confounding for individuals who are unacquainted with it, and it can prove to be vexing for those born in the latter stages of December, as they are often deemed to be two years old in Korea, despite being only a few days or weeks old according to Western age reckoning.
Importance of knowing your Korean age
Knowing your Korean age is important in Korean culture, as age plays a significant role in social interactions and relationships. For example, in Korea, it’s common for people to address each other by their age, rather than their name and older individuals are typically given more respect.
How Age Affects Your Social Interactions
Age plays an important role in social interactions in Korea. Younger people are expected to show respect to their elders, and elders are expected to take care of younger people. Additionally, age is often used to determine who pays for meals or other social activities.
Korean Age Calculator and its Popularity
The Korean Age Calculator has gained significant traction in recent times, particularly on social media platforms like Instagram and Twitter. A considerable number of individuals have taken to using the calculator to juxtapose their Korean age with their global age, and this tool has emerged as a favoured subject of discussion.
Age-Related Vocabulary in Korean
If you’re learning Korean, it’s important to know some age-related vocabulary. Here are a few terms that you might find useful:
- Naeil (내일): tomorrow
- Il (일): day
- Seh (세): year of age
- Ibyeol (이별): farewell
Why is the Korean Age System Important in Korean Culture?
That’s correct. Age is an important aspect of Korean culture, and it influences many social customs and practices. Showing respect for elders is highly valued in Korean society, and age is often used as a sign of authority and experience. Younger people are expected to use polite language and show deference to their elders, while older people are expected to offer guidance and support to younger generations.
In terms of military service, the Korean government has a conscription system that requires all able-bodied men to serve in the military for a certain period. Age is used to determine who is eligible for military service and when they will be required to serve. This means that men who are born in the same year will all be subject to military service together, regardless of their actual birthdates.
FAQ
Why is the Korean age system different from the Western age system?
The Korean age system diverges from the Western age system due to its utilization of East Asian age reckoning, a system that also finds employment in countries like China, Japan, and Vietnam. In East Asian age reckoning, an individual’s age is incremented by one at the outset of each year, rather than on the anniversary of their birth.
Is the Korean Age Calculator accurate for everyone?
The Korean Age Calculator may prove imprecise for those born either on or in close proximity to January 1st. For individuals encountering such circumstances, it is suggested to rely on the global age system instead, as this approach promises greater accuracy.
What is the significance of knowing your Korean age?
Understanding one’s Korean age bears immense significance when interacting with Koreans, particularly during formal situations, since it is deemed impolite to address an individual by their global age.
Is the Korean age system used outside of Korea?
Though predominantly employed in Korea, the Korean age system also finds usage in some other East Asian nations, including China and Vietnam.
Do Korean babies have a different age system?
Certainly, Korean infants are regarded as one year old at the time of their birth, which deviates from the approach adopted by the Western age system.
Is it necessary to know your Korean age if you’re not in Korea?
Even though it’s not mandatory to be aware of your Korean age if you’re not residing in Korea, it can still be advantageous to comprehend the Korean age system for a more comprehensive understanding of Korean customs and traditions.
Conclusion
Knowing your Korean age is important in Korean culture, especially in formal situations where age and hierarchy are significant factors. By using a Korean age calculator, you can determine your Korean age and avoid any cultural misunderstandings.
Understanding the Korean age system can also help you better understand Korean social dynamics and values. So, it’s worth taking the time to learn about it and impress your Korean friends with your cultural knowledge!
