South Koreans set to get younger as traditional age system is phased out
South Korea's decision to scrap its traditional age-counting system in favour of the international standard has led to cheers by many, who are looking forward to becoming one to two years younger on paper.
Under the centuries-old "Korean age" system, deeply embedded in South Korea's hierarchical culture, babies are considered a year old at birth, and another year is added on to their age in the new year. Thus, a baby born on December 31 becomes two years old on January 1.
It is not the only system used in South Korea, however. Under a second method known as the "birth-year age", a person's age is calculated by deducting the birth year from the current year, regardless of the month one is born in.
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That means two babies born on January 1 and December 31 in the same year are both considered a year old according to this method, which is used for administrative convenience in military conscriptions, primary school admissions and policies like protecting youngsters from alcohol and smoking.
The third system used is the international standard that starts with the age of zero at birth and then adds a year each birthday.
Many South Koreans welcomed the proposed changes. Park Ji-won, an office worker in Seoul, said it was "much better to say I'm 31 years old rather than 32 or 33 when I am being introduced for a date".
Moon Ae-ran, a 58-year-old molecular biologist, said she always has to clarify that she is following the international age calculation method when writing or translating academic theses. "When I heard this news, the first thing that came through my mind is that I don't have to bother to clarify that the ages in the papers follow the international standard," she added.
The National Assembly on Thursday approved bills which aim to scrap the multiple age systems and opt for the internationally recognised one, effective from June next year.
"Korea is getting younger," a press statement by the justice ministry said, heralding the passage of the law bills.
All ages that appear in laws, contracts and other legal documents will be automatically accepted as internationally-acknowledged ages, the ministry said, adding that this change will dissipate "unnecessary legal disputes" over what methods should be used to calculate age, the ministry said.
Scrapping the Korean age system was one of President Yoon Suk-yeol's election campaigns.
The mixed use of various age-calculation methods has given rise to confusion and rows over age-related policies related to labour and social welfare and, more recently, Covid-19 vaccinations.
The lack of clarity about how age should be calculated for jabs and eligibility for testing muddied the waters at health clinics and test sites.
There has also been a spate of protracted legal disputes over what age-calculating methods should be applied to the so-called peak wage system, whereby people can choose to have their salaries gradually reduced after the age of 56 in exchange for retiring later than usual. The usual retirement age is 62.
"When people find themselves one or two years younger, it will have a positive impact on the whole of society," said Lee Wan-kyu, minister of government legislation, adding that the authorities will widely promote the new system to help it take root in everyday life.
A government survey in September showed eight out of 10 respondents were in favour of the international standard.
They believe having a system based on that will remove confusion and help to break down the seniority-based hierarchical culture.
Nonetheless, the policy change does have its detractors.
Park Hong-pyo, a 65-year-old former government employee, said it was regrettable the country was shedding a well-known tradition.
"Our ancestors counted the age from the moment of conception and that's why we consider a baby at birth a year old," he said. "This reflects their respect for life."
This article originally appeared on the South China Morning Post (SCMP).
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