Why do Korean people have two birthdays?

Once born, a baby is considered to be one year old, accounting for the time spent in the womb. The baby will turn two not a year after it is born, but on New Year’s. This means that Korean babies born on December 31st turn two on January 1st , even though they would be one day old in the rest of the world.

How does the age system work in Korea?

In Korea, you “age” a year every New Year rather than on your birthday. Regardless of whether your birthday has passed or not, in Korea you add a year to your age every January 1ˢᵗ. That’s why, before your birthday in a given year, you add two years to your Western-system age.

Are Korean ages different?

It is always one or two years more than your international age. Koreans consider a year in the womb as counting towards their age, so everyone is one year old at birth. Everyone gets one year added to their Korean age on New Year’s Day.

Is it rude to ask a Korean their age?

Age is very crucial to respect (or it was at that time). Also, Westerners: add one year to your western age, as Korean children are considered to be “1” from birth. Most Korean’s seem to think it is normal and fine to ask age.

Why is a Korean baby born on Dec 31 called Korean age?

Why a Korean baby born on Dec. 31 turns two years old the next day. When you arrive in Korea, you age a year, or two. For hundreds of years, Koreans have used a different method to count age than most of the world. It’s sometimes referred to as lunar age, nominal age, or East Asian age reckoning, but in Korea, it’s just called Korean age.

How old Am I If I was born in Korea?

Korean age: You are 1 year old when born and years are added every new years. For example, someone born on June 1, 1997 would be 22 in 2018.

What is the difference between international age and Korean age?

International age is basically you turn 1 year older on your birthday. Korean age: You are 1 year old when born and years are added every new years. For example, someone born on June 1, 1997 would be 22 in 2018.

What is the life cycle of a Korean baby?

The horoscope for Korea, similar to that of the whole of Asia, has a life cycle of 60 years. Therefore, the Koreans do not want to abolish that system. It would be a lack of respect for nature. In short, the baby who was born on January 1, 2020, is now 2 years old. The baby who was born a day earlier, on December 31, 2019, is now 3 years old.