Korean Age Calculator
Calculate your age according to the traditional Korean age system
Calculate Your Korean Age
Your Korean Age
Quick Examples
Born in 1995
Korean age in 2025: (2025 - 1995) + 1 = 31 years old
25 years old, birthday passed
Korean age: 25 + 1 = 26 years old
25 years old, birthday not passed
Korean age: 25 + 2 = 27 years old
Baby born Dec 31st
Next day (Jan 1st): 2 years old in Korean age
Key Differences
You're 1 year old when born (prenatal period counts)
Everyone ages on New Year's Day (January 1st)
Age determines how you address people in Korean
Legal age limits still use international age
Understanding Korean Age System
How Korean Age Works
1. Born at Age 1
In Korea, you are considered 1 year old when you are born. The prenatal period (pregnancy) is rounded up and counted as the first year of life.
2. Age on New Year
Everyone "ages" on January 1st, regardless of their actual birthday. This means you add a year to your age every New Year's Day.
3. Two Formulas
Year-based: Korean age = (current year - birth year) + 1
Age-based: Add 1 if birthday passed, add 2 if not
Cultural Importance
- •Age determines formal/informal speech levels
- •Older people are called "noona" (누나) or "eonni" (언니)
- •Younger people are called "dongsaeng" (동생)
- •First question when meeting: "How old are you?"
Real-World Examples
Example 1: Jungkook (BTS)
Born: September 1, 1997
Western age in 2019: 22
Korean age in 2019: 23 (before Sept 1) or 23 (after Sept 1)
Example 2: December Baby
Born: December 31, 2024
Western age on Jan 1, 2025: 1 day old
Korean age on Jan 1, 2025: 2 years old
Example 3: Birthday Calculation
If you're 18 in Western age:
• Birthday passed this year: Korean age = 19
• Birthday not passed: Korean age = 20
Modern Usage
Important Notes
Traditional System
Korean age is the traditional system used in social contexts and everyday conversation in Korea.
International Preference
When talking to foreigners, many Koreans prefer to use "international age" to avoid confusion.
Birthday Celebrations
Koreans still celebrate birthdays with seaweed soup and cake, even though aging happens on New Year's.
Legal vs Social
Legal age limits (drinking, driving, etc.) use international age, not Korean age.