South Koreans are now at least one year younger – after a change in the law

South Koreans are literally waking up to a new age.

All have become one or two years younger.

– It is confusing when a foreigner asks me how old I am, says Hong Suk-Min, now 45, to TT.

South Korea has now scrapped its traditional age system.

It has been based on the mindset that a newborn person has already lived several months in the womb – and is therefore counted as a year when it comes into the world. In addition, the age has not been increased on the birthday but on January 1 each year, regardless of when you were born.

But as of Wednesday, that method of calculation is thus a thing of the past. So are the ages.

“Still young”

For now, the law change has entered into force, which means that South Koreans align themselves with the international ranks and calculate age from the date of birth.

As strange as they may sound, all South Koreans are from now on officially one or two years younger than before.

– It’s confusing when a foreigner asks me how old I am, I know they mean international age, so then I have to start counting, says office worker Hong Suk-Min, 45, who has become two years younger, to TT.

– It makes me feel like I’m still young, says Lee Jung-Hee, now 58.