South Korea lowers everyones age by 1-2 years

[VOSS]

Quote

South Koreans have become a year or two younger as a new law aligns the nation's two traditional age-counting methods with international standards.

 

The switch to age-counting based on birth date took effect on Wednesday.

 

Previously, the most widely used calculation method in Korea was the centuries-old "Korean age" system, in which a person turns one at birth and gains a year on 1 January. This means a baby born on 31 December will be two years old the next day.

 

A separate "counting age" system, that was also traditionally used in the country, considers a person zero at birth and adds a year on 1 January.

 

Lawmakers voted to scrap the traditional counting methods last December.

 

President Yoon Suk Yeol pushed strongly for the change when he ran for office last year. The traditional age-counting methods created "unnecessary social and economic costs", he said.

 

For instance, disputes have arisen over insurance pay-outs and determining eligibility for government assistance programmes.

 

Some, like Jeongsuk Woo, hope the change will help break down Korea's hierarchical culture.

 

"There is a subconscious layer of ageism in people's behaviour. This is evident even in the complex language system based on age... I hope the abolition of 'Korean age' system and the adaptation of the international standard get rid of old relics of the past," said the 28-year-old content creator.

 

Another resident Hyun Jeong Byun said: "I love it, because now I'm two years younger. My birthday is in December, so I always felt like this Korean age system is making me socially older than what I actually am.

 

The traditional age-counting methods were also used by other East Asian countries, but most have dropped it. Japan adopted the international standard in 1950 while North Korea followed suit in the 1980s.

Source

[OreGuy]

oh we love this

[magazine]

wait what- 

 

girlies were counting birthdays wrong this whole time? 

[Abracadabra]

35 minutes ago, VOSS said:

Previously, the most widely used calculation method in Korea was the centuries-old "Korean age" system, in which a person turns one at birth and gains a year on 1 January. This means a baby born on 31 December will be two years old the next day.

I'm sorry but

[bliaz]

[ks_dollar]

Are 1 year old babies now -1 years old

[Cheers]

US next

[Milo]

What is the T with this? like I don't get why would they do this.

[Vixen Eyes]

where did that system even originate from to begin with?

[Galah]

The Ava Max print.  

[X~MoviePoP]

I wish north america would do this so i could get my covid years back

[Enzo]

1 minute ago, Aurora said:

The Ava Max print.  

Lmaoooo

[réveuse]

For me, I prefer the old system where we are a year older.

[elevate]

8 minutes ago, Vixen Eyes said:

where did that system even originate from to begin with?

It's because when babies are born in SK, they are considered 1 year old already, and then gain another year when it hits New Year's there. This is presumed to be because they used a Chinese 60-year calendar cycle + the old Asian numerical system didn't have 0 as a number.

 

When America started pumping funds into the country (military support, private capital, etc) in the early 60s (due to perceived threats from NK and China), SK started adopting more Western style approaches to their governing, and that's still influencing things today. This is just a very late update. 

[LadyDiana]

North Korea being progressive leader since the 80's 

[enchanted0]

I'm 48 now  

 

3 hours ago, Cheers said:

US next

honey this change is based on the US system

[ZIVERT]

Let’s scrap covid years too

[May]

2 minutes ago, ZIVERT said:

Let’s scrap covid years too

Tbh I thought this was because of Covid years and the government giving people back their lost time