Korean Age Calculator
Since June 28, 2023 Korea officially uses international age for laws, contracts and documents. Enter your birthday to see all three Korean age systems.
Three ways Korea counts age
- International age: 0 at birth, +1 on each birthday. The official age in Korea since 2023
- Year age: current year − birth year. Still used for military service, youth protection (alcohol and tobacco) and school entry
- Korean age: 1 at birth, +1 every January 1. Traditional, informal
FAQ
What is Korean age?
Traditional Korean age counts you as 1 at birth and adds a year every January 1, so it is one or two years higher than international age. It is no longer used officially but remains common in conversation.
Which age is used for drinking and smoking in Korea?
The Youth Protection Act uses year age (current year − birth year), so you can buy alcohol and cigarettes from January 1 of the year you turn 19.