Age Calculator Korean

Reviewed by: David Chen, CFA

This calculator determines your age based on two systems: the universally recognized International Age and the traditional Korean Age (which is typically one or two years older). Enter your date of birth below to find your age in both systems, calculated relative to today or a specified date.

1. Your Date of Birth (DOB):

2. Calculate Age As Of (Optional, defaults to today):

International Age: 0 years

Traditional Korean Age: 0 years

Age Calculator Korean Formula

International Age (Standard):

$$ \text{Age}_{\text{Int}} = (\text{Year}_{\text{Calc}} – \text{Year}_{\text{DOB}}) – (\text{1 if Month/Day}_{\text{Calc}} < \text{Month/Day}_{\text{DOB}} \text{ else 0}) $$

Traditional Korean Age:

$$ \text{Age}_{\text{Korean}} = (\text{Year}_{\text{Calc}} – \text{Year}_{\text{DOB}}) + 1 $$ Formula Source: Wikipedia – Korean age reckoning

Variables

Date of Birth (DOB): The specific day you were born. Used as the anchor for all age calculations.
Calculation Date: The specific day to which you want your age calculated. Defaults to today’s date.

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What is age calculator korean?

The “age calculator korean” is a tool designed to address the historical dual-age system used in South Korea. Until June 2023, South Korea primarily used two methods for daily life: the International Age (standard) and the traditional Korean Age. This calculator provides both figures for clarity.

The Traditional Korean Age system is unique in that a person is considered one year old at birth (the time spent in the womb is counted), and everyone gains an additional year on January 1st, regardless of their individual birthday. This meant a person’s Korean age could be one or even two years older than their international age.

While the official legal standard in South Korea is now the International Age (since mid-2023), the traditional method remains a cultural talking point, making this calculator valuable for understanding both the past and present age systems in Korea.

How to Calculate Age (Example)

Determine the Calculation Date: Let’s use January 1, 2025.
Determine DOB: Let’s use October 20, 1995.
Calculate International Age: (2025 – 1995) = 30 years. Since the calculation date (Jan 1) is before the birthday (Oct 20) in 2025, you subtract 1 year. Result: $30 – 1 = 29$ years old.
Calculate Traditional Korean Age: Use the formula $(\text{Year}_{\text{Calc}} – \text{Year}_{\text{DOB}}) + 1$. Result: $(2025 – 1995) + 1 = 31$ years old.
Final Comparison: The person is 29 (International) and 31 (Traditional Korean) as of January 1, 2025.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Why is the Korean age always older than the International age?: Because in the traditional system, a person is one year old at birth, and they gain a year simultaneously with everyone else on January 1st, instead of on their birthday.
Did South Korea officially abolish the traditional Korean age system?: Yes, in June 2023, South Korea officially adopted the International Age system for all administrative and legal purposes. The traditional method is now largely for cultural or familial reference.
If I was born on December 31st, what is my Traditional Korean Age the next day?: On December 31st, you would be 1 year old (born age 1). On January 1st (the next day), you would turn 2, as everyone gains a year on New Year’s Day.
Does the Traditional Korean Age use the Lunar New Year?: Historically, yes, there was a complex lunar component. However, the most common, simplified interpretation used globally and in this calculator applies the age increase on the Solar New Year (January 1st).