The culture and traditions of every country are an insight into the living environment and people of that country. Every culture also has a few trademarks that set it apart from other cultures. The culture of South Korea is no different. Itโs beautiful, vibrant and has its own interesting differences. One of the fascinating aspects of Korean culture is the concept of age in Korea. The Korean age has a huge impact on the people of Korea, and also on other Korean traditions.
What is Korean Age?
Korean age is different from the normal international age we follow around the globe. Itโs normally one year more than your international age. But, in some cases, it might also be 2 years more than your international age. All around the world, the age of a newborn is zero years old. But in Korea, the time that the baby spends in the womb of the mother is also added to his age. Therefore, the baby is already 1 year old at the time of his birth.
Also, in Korea, the age of a person changes on New Yearโs Day. Although Korean people celebrate their birthdays on their birth dates, their birthdays donโt add a year to their age. You will age on the basis of how many New Years you have witnessed. This makes the Korean age very unique to the International age calendar.
The Significance of Age in Korea
Age doesnโt usually have an impact on the culture of countries. In countries such as the USA or UK, age only matters when coming to certain rules, such as drinking license, driving license. But, as mentioned above, the age in Korea is really important. It generates a whole lot of other traditions. It also determines how the people around you treat you. Different words are used to speak to people of different ages. Words like โHyungโ, โOppaโ, โSunbaeโ are used for an older male, to show respect, Similarly, words like โUnnieโ, โNoonaโ are used for an elder female.
Respect for elders and care for younger people is a major part of Korean culture. Young people are expected to bow, give up seats, pour drinks, pass food, avoid eye contact while conversing with older people. Elders are supposed to pay for stuff, guide, and look after people younger than them, Therefore, itโs very important to know oneโs age in Korea. That is why people tend to ask you about your age, in South Korea, as soon as you meet.
Check out these top 5 apps to learn Korean.
Methods To Calculate Korean Age
If you are curious about your Korean age and want to find out what your age is, there are some ways through which you can calculate it.
These methods are simple and easy to understand. Anyone can use them to calculate their Korean age. These ways are as follows:
Adding One Year To Your Korean Age
The formula for this is simply:
Current International Age + One = Current Korean Age
For example, if you are twenty years old, you can simply add one year to your age. This would make you twenty-one years old according to your age in Korea.
After putting the values in the formula:
Twenty Years Old + One = Twenty-one years old
Adding Two Years To Your Korean Age
The formula for this is simply:
Current International Age + Two = Current Korean Age
For example, if you are fifteen years old, you can simply add two years to your age. This would make you seventeen years old according to your age in Korea.
After putting the values in the formula:
Fifteen Years Old + Two = Seventeen years old
Using the International Age Calculator
According to the International Age Calculator, you can easily calculate your age by subtracting your birth year from the current year. You can apply the following formula
Current Year โ Birth Year = Current International Age
But if you want to calculate your Korean Age, you will have to slightly change this formula. You can do this by adding One to the formula.
(Current Year โ Birth Year) + One = Current Korean Age
For example, if your birth year is 1997 and the current year is 2020, you can subtract your birth year from the current year firstly, and then add one to it. This will turn you 24 years old in Korea.
After putting the values in the formula:
(2020 โ 1997) + One = Twenty-four Years Old
Using a Korean Age Calculator
If you donโt want to calculate yourself, you can just use any of the Korean Age Calculators available on the internet. Those calculators will give you fast and reliable results.
Check out: www.omnicalculator.com
Have fun knowing your age in Korea!
