This Korean age calculator is the right place for you if you've ever found yourself wondering, "What is my Korean age?". Use it to learn how to calculate Korean age and read up on this interesting feature of Korean culture.
How to calculate Korean age?
The basic Korean age formula based on the current year is:
Korean age = (current year - year of birth) + 1
If you'd rather calculate your Korean age based on your current "Western" age, the formula changes depending on whether your birthday has already passed or not. The formulas are:
Birthday Passed
Korean age = your age + 1
Birthday Not Passed
Korean age = your age + 2
The Two Key Differences
These may be counterintuitive for Westerners, especially the calculations based on age. Actually, the idea behind this system is not that complicated. There are two main differences between the Korean age system and the Western age system:
1. Born at Age One
In Korea, you are already one year old when you are born. The prenatal period is rounded up to a year and counted as a year of life, as opposed to the West, where you, so to speak, start from zero.
2. Age Increases on New Year's Day
In Korea, you "age" a year every New Year rather than on your birthday. Regardless of whether your birthday has passed or not, in Korea you add a year to your age every January 1st. That's why, before your birthday in a given year, you add two years to your Western-system age.
Of course, birthdays are still important, and Koreans are no less impatient when counting down to them than Westerners are - they simply don't consider them stepping points in aging.
Calculating Korean age - examples
Let's go through a quick example of both kinds of calculations:
Example 1: By Year of Birth
Let's say someone was born in the year 1993, and the current year is 2024. The calculation would be:
Korean age = (2024 - 1993) + 1 = 32 years old
Example 2: By Current Age
In the Western system, someone born in 1993 will be 31 years old in 2024 (if their birthday has passed).
- If their birthday has passed: Korean age = 31 + 1 = 32 years old
- If their birthday has not passed: Korean age = 30 + 2 = 32 years old
Real-World Example: K-Pop Star
If you're a fan of Korean culture, you might be curious to find out how old is Jungkook from BTS. He was born on September 1st, 1997.
In 2024:
- Western age: 27 years old (after September 1st)
- Korean age: 28 years old
- Before September 1st: 26 + 2 = 28
- After September 1st: 27 + 1 = 28
Extreme Example: December 31st Baby
Here's one more striking example of the differences between Western age and Korean age:
If a child is born on December 31st, the next day Westerners would say the child is a day old. In Korean age, however, you would say that this 1-day-old baby is two years old.
That is because:
- The baby is born as a 1-year-old, and
- On January 1st, everyone gains one year
Why is age important for Koreans?
When you meet someone for the first time in Korea, one of the first questions you hear will probably be "How old are you?" That is because in the Korean language, the way you address your interlocutor depends on their age. This applies even in totally informal situations and close relationships.
누나 (noona)
Older sister (used by males)
언니 (eonni)
Older sister (used by females)
동생 (dongsaeng)
Younger sibling
To avoid confusion, when talking with people from other countries, many Koreans ask for their "international age" and make the calculations themselves.
Legal vs Cultural Age
Interestingly, while Korean age is the one Koreans usually refer to in conversations, the legal age limits for such things as drinking, smoking, driving, etc. are expressed in the international age system.
FAQs
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How old is 18 in Korean age?
19 or 20 years old. It depends on if you already had your birthday this year.
- If you already celebrated your birthday this year, then your Korean age is your age plus one, so 19.
- If your birthday party is still ahead of you, your Korean age is your age plus two, so 20.
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Is Korean age different from your American age?
Yes, your Korean age is higher than your American age. In Korea, you are 1 year old when you're born - pregnancy is counted as the first year of life. Additionally, you get older every New Year. So, instead of adding a year on the day of your birthday, you add it on the 1st of January.
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Do Koreans celebrate birthdays?
Yes! Koreans celebrate their birthdays! On your birthday in Korea, you would do something more traditional - eat seaweed soup, and something more western - party with friends and eat a birthday cake.
Birthdays are important cultural events, even though they don't mark the traditional aging milestone in Korean culture.
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Why does Korea use a different age system?
The Korean age system has historical and cultural roots. The practice of counting time in the womb as part of your age reflects traditional Asian concepts of life beginning at conception. The New Year aging tradition is linked to the importance of the Lunar New Year (Seollal) in Korean culture.
However, in 2023, South Korea officially adopted the international age system for legal and administrative purposes, though many Koreans still use the traditional system in daily conversations.