In this Korean age calculator, simply enter your birth year. By default, the calculator will calculate your age as of today, but you can change this to another year.
In Korea, age is traditionally calculated differently than in most other parts of the world (often referred to as "international age"). This system is commonly used in everyday life, though international age is used for legal purposes and official documents.
The calculation is quite simple:
The formula is:
Korean age = Current year - Year of birth + 1
Similar age-counting methods were previously used in other East Asian countries (China, Korea, Japan, Vietnam, Mongolia, etc.), but South Korean and Taiwan are the only countries today that still use this method.
The method originated in China a millennia ago, where people are considered to be one year old at birth, and on the New Year Day of the lunar calendar, another year is added. The Korean age differs in that it is based on the Gregorian calendar, in which a year is from January 1 to December 31, rather than the lunar calendar.
The Korean age system is believed to have originated from the Three Kingdoms Period in Korean history, when each of the three kingdoms (Goguryeo, Baekje, and Silla) used different systems. Goguryeo and Baekje both used a system where a person's age was calculated based on the year in which they were born, while Silla used a system where a person's age was calculated based on the year in which they became king. The three kingdoms eventually unified under the Silla dynasty, and the Silla age system became the standard for Korea.
The Korean age system is used more often in formal settings such as when filling out paperwork or applying for a job. In these situations, it is important to use the correct age as it can affect things like eligibility or benefits. For example, in South Korea, all citizens must complete their mandatory military service before they turn 30 years old (Korean age).
The Korean age system can also be useful in everyday life as it can help people know when they are supposed to do certain things. For instance, in Korea, children start school when they are six years old (Korean age) and students must take college entrance exams when they are 18 years old (Korean age).