Korean Age Calculator
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Your age in Korea
Which age is used where (after the 2023 law)
- International age — laws, contracts, official documents, medicine dosages, pensions, retirement (Administrative Basic Act §7-2, Civil Act §158, in force 2023-06-28). Under age 1 may be stated in months.
- Korean age — everyday talk, birthdays like 칠순 (70th) and 팔순 (80th), and the “are you older than me?” question among friends. The Ministry of Government Legislation calls it a private custom that will fade gradually — no law forces a change.
- Year age — still written into: the Youth Protection Act §2 (alcohol/tobacco: from Jan 1 of the year you turn 19), the Military Service Act §2 (draft timing), the Elementary and Secondary Education Act §13 (school entry March 1 of the year after turning 6). We checked the current text of these articles on 2026-08-18.
Sources & rules applied
- Administrative Basic Act §7-2 (행정기본법 제7조의2) — age is counted in full years from the date of birth; under 1 year may be shown in months (added 2022-12-27, in force 2023-06-28) 국가법령정보센터 ↗
- Ministry of Government Legislation — 만 나이 통일 FAQ — formula (birthday passed: year − birth year; not yet: −1); year-age laws reviewed case by case 법제처 ↗
- Youth Protection Act §2 · Military Service Act §2 · Elementary & Secondary Education Act §13 — year-age provisions still in force (checked 2026-08-18) 국가법령정보센터 ↗
- Zodiac & Seollal dates — 12 animals by lunar year (KASI lunar–solar conversion 1901–2050; HKO tables 2051–2100) 한국천문연구원 ↗
FAQ
How old am I in Korean age?
Korean age (세는 나이) = this year − your birth year + 1. You are 1 at birth and everyone gets a year older on January 1, so your birthday does not matter. Since June 28, 2023 it is only a social/traditional way of counting — the calculator shows it next to your legal (international) age.
Is Korean age still used after 2023?
Legally, no. The Administrative Basic Act §7-2 and the Civil Act §158 (in force June 28, 2023) make international age the standard for laws, contracts and official documents. Socially, many people still say their Korean age or think in birth years, especially when deciding who is older among friends.
What is the difference between Korean age, international age and year age?
International age counts full years since your birthday (0 at birth). Korean age starts at 1 and adds 1 every New Year. Year age (연 나이) = this year − birth year, ignoring the birthday; it is what a few laws still use.
When can I drink or buy cigarettes in Korea?
From January 1 of the year you turn 19. The Youth Protection Act §2 defines a youth as under 19, excluding anyone who has reached January 1 of the year they turn 19 — a year-age rule. So a whole birth cohort becomes eligible together on January 1, regardless of birthday.
Which age do Korean schools and the military use?
School entry follows the Elementary and Secondary Education Act §13: children start elementary school on March 1 of the year after they turn 6. The Military Service Act §2 counts “from age X” as January 1 of the year you turn X. Both are year-based exceptions to the international-age rule.
How does the Korean zodiac work — does it change on January 1 or Lunar New Year?
Traditionally your animal follows the lunar year, which starts on Seollal (Lunar New Year, late January to mid-February). Many people simply use the calendar year. If you were born between January 1 and Seollal we show both. Seollal dates come from the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (KASI).
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