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Chhavi Tyagi

Updated on Jun 4, 2026•education

What is difference between Korean age and International age?

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2 Answers
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Michael Jons
Updated on Jun 4, 2026

The difference between Korean age and international age is mainly based on how a person’s age is calculated. Many people find this confusing because Korea traditionally used a different system from most countries, although it is now being phased out officially.

In the international age system (also called the “Western age system”), a person’s age starts at 0 at birth. Every year, the age increases on the person’s birthday. For example, if someone is born on 1st January 2000, they turn 1 year old on 1st January 2001. This system is used in most countries around the world.

On the other hand, the Korean age system (traditional system) calculates age differently. In this system, a baby is considered 1 year old at birth, not 0. Then, everyone adds one year to their age on January 1st every year, instead of on their birthday. This means that a person’s Korean age is usually 1 or 2 years older than their international age.

For example, if a baby is born in December 2025, they are already considered 1 year old at birth. Just a few days later, on January 1st, 2026, they become 2 years old in Korean age, even though they are only a few days old in international age.

This difference can make ages seem confusing, especially for foreigners interacting with Korean culture, media, or legal documents.

However, it is important to know that South Korea has made a major change recently. The government officially moved toward using the international age system for most legal and administrative purposes, such as contracts, government documents, and healthcare. This change was made to reduce confusion and align with global standards.

Even though international age is now the official system, the Korean age system is still sometimes used in informal conversations, especially among older generations or in cultural contexts.

Main Differences

  • Starting age:
    • International age = 0 at birth
    • Korean age = 1 at birth
  • Age increase:
    • International age increases on birthday
    • Korean age increases every January 1
  • Result:
    • Korean age is usually 1–2 years older than international age

Here’s another fascinating topic you might enjoy: What does the Korean word "saranghae" mean in English?

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C
Chhavi Tyagi
Updated on May 28, 2026

What is the Korean age system? What is the distinction between Korean age and American age (International Age or Western Age)?

1) In Korea, you're born one (1) years of age. 
 
While Westerners recall new child toddlers to be ‘zero’ years antique upon start, local Koreans truly calculate the time babies spend in their mother’s womb as a ‘12 months’ (although, technically, it's far 10 months, they spherical it as much as 365 days), so while infants are born in Korea, they may be taken into consideration to be 한 살(han sal)=”365 days vintage”. This robotically provides 12 months to the age that you'll be used to. So while someone in Korea tells you, for example, that they're 스무 살(seumu sal)=“twenty years antique”, they'll truly be 열여덟 살(yeol yeodeol sal)=”18 years antique” or 열아홉 살(yeolahop sal)=”19 years old”.
 
2) In Korea, you growth your age count on January 1st of every year, now not on your birthday.
 
Now, why might a native Korean upload years to their ‘Western age,’ you could wonder. This is due to the fact Koreans automatically gain a year on January 1st, irrespective of whether their birthday has passed or no longer.
 
In short : International Age measures how long you've got lived.
Korean Age measures how many years you have got experienced.
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