All Koreans are getting younger!?! | 5-minute Korea

[@talktomeinkorean]

Fun Fact: They say some kids who just turned 10 and felt quite happy about it got really disappointed😂 Do you have any other topics related to Korea you’d like us to deal with?

[@fransmith3255]

😂 Awww...I remember reaching double digits. It's exciting! I don't blame them for being disappointed... 😂On the positive side, I'm about to become 2 years younger!! Yay!! I was born right at the end of the year, lol!

[@kobugikobugi]

Also teenagers who are gonna turned 20 now being 19 again lol

[@KBowWow75]

It's possible someone can have 2 golden birthdays.

[@JayceeR]

@@kobugikobugi or 18 if they haven't had their birthdays for this year

[@JayceeR]

@lemonssssssss4 1 year old when born, additional 1 year on the 1st of January, that means if your birthday hasn't occurred yet, you're 2 years older. I was born on 2002 March 22, my international age is 20 and Korean age is 22. When my birthday comes in march 22, my international age will be 21 and Korean age is still 22.

[@johndematis8331]

From a foreigner's perspective it's a welcome change as it eliminates a lot of unnecessary confusion. I'm sure it wasn't an easy decision considering how deeply rooted the Korean age system is in the culture and everyday life. But more importantly, are we going to ignore that Seung-wan at 3:22 is taking off his glasses while wearing another pair?

[@Corvuspacificus]

damn thank you I missed that XD

[@cgreen9190]

I totally noticed and thought it was hilarious!

[@samgyeopsal569]

@@gillove189 it doesn’t matter how “out of step” it is because it is Korean culture for Koreans. The only reason it should change is if the Koreans want to change it.

[@I_Have_The_Most_Japanese_Music]

I don't think you understand just how bad his eyesight is.

[@seung-wanyu8419]

Glad you noticed that!🤓

[@moriarty032]

Now if you can reduce the politeness levels to one formal and one informal would be great :D

[@Ebs72PJ95]

😂😂👍👍

[@akankshamishra8127]

Now THAT'S a comment, dude.... 😁

[@aditi4689]

Hahaha😂 yes please 😆

[@berryapplejuice]

Japanese has like 3 main levels too. Casual, polite, formal. But they dont always go by age like Korean; one thing I like is that they separate it with the insider/outsider concept. Making it easier to make friends outside our age group.

[@SilvaBabyyy]

The perfect answer lol

[@nicoles_handle]

the editing is amazing holy shit!!

[@nicoles_handle]

the production is so good, the colours are so good i am amazed (im not sure about the audio bc im not using my headphones)

[@adrikosmos]

For me, it seems like this change could end up not having as huge of an effect on the hierarchical culture if people just start asking “what year were you born?” instead? Like it seems like that is the natural way to determine who is 동생 and who is older. Like I can’t imagine getting away with calling my 언니 “친구야“ just because we are technically the same age for 3 months 😂

[@jumpsuitgirl3835]

Right? It's really the obvious solution. I commented that too.

[@TheCyanScreen]

When hearing "그럼", my brain went "다음에 또 봐". Then I realized which Korean learning channel I'm on. XD Great video. I was wondering whether the Korean age system would persist.

[@Fluglecheese]

Same..

[@nevercircles]

GoBilly’s ending song played in my head 😅

[@bluecandies]

Saaaaame

[@Ebs72PJ95]

same here 😂😂

[@aditi4689]

We are all same😅

[@DieezahArts]

The first time I ever heard of the Korean age was back in 1997. My new roommate was trying to explain it to me, as we were getting to know each other. She's the one responsible for my lasting interest in Korean language and culture. Sadly, we lost contact abruptly due to some sad circumstances in her life. I wish I could find out if she's okay...

[@dudie5403]

I'm glad it's all the same now so no more confusion. I remember an idol was rambling on social media how depressed he felt when he turned 30. I was like just use the international age and you just became 29.

[@ParkJiminFTLFFProductions]

or 28 depending on when they were born...it is a little confusing

[@AlfgardVicAenorDuFay]

Vous parlez de Jin (BTS) ?

[@AyakoSapphirePhoenix]

i will say this over and over but there was a girl at our school who was in the 5 year old class as a 3 year old. her actual birthday was dec 31st. in kor you turn the korean age you will be that year on jan 1st. so she turned 4 internationally the day before she turned 6 korean age. it just blew my mind

[@Muhammad-Jacobs699]

Can't help but think of IU who celebrates her age in her music. She already celebrated entering her 30's a few years ago. Now she gets to do it all over again!

[@ParkJiminFTLFFProductions]

😅😅

[@stanleymaximillian8403]

Actually, she won't. This regulation will come into effect starting June this year. IU will be 30 on 16th May this year. So she will be already 30 anyway when the new system comes into effect

[@sonia-thespacelover5663]

This video is so helpful for Korean people to not worry about their age. Wish you guys forever young! 🙂 (Love from Sonia)

[@anatcaspi5540]

As someone who studies Korean and Korean culture and customs, I actually liked the difference in age calculation. But as a non-Korean, it makes sense to me to combine the two methods into one, especially if it creates confusion for the Koreans themselves in certain situations. And regarding the hierarchy related to age that is deeply embedded in Korean culture (and I actually appreciate it) it seems to me that it will still remain because the age differences will still remain, only the number will change. Happy new Birthday to all Koreans. 💜💜💜

[@melodramatic7904]

I think it will remain for most but change for some. For example, if someone was born in December, they were already 1 year old, then turned 2 the following month (January). Will the change, that person will now be 2 years younger than someone who was.....actually born 2 years before them.

[@jeannettemaldonado4628]

Thanks!

[@talktomeinkorean]

Thank you for your support!

[@mapetidye]

I’m glad this change is being made! It clears up unnecessary confusion :) i hope Koreans will embrace it with a warm welcome~~~ change is better than remaining stuck/stagnant/in limbo or clinging onto the past or what was before. That’s just my philosophy though~

[@2010seajay]

It made me slightly uncomfortable meeting an 18 year old Korean saying they had to suddenly act like an adult now because they were 20 in Korean age. I feel like you should embrace your youth as long as possible.

[@Rita_Arya]

승완씨 연기 잘하시네요 ㅋㅋ 영상 재밌게 봤습니다!

[@seung-wanyu8419]

감사합니다

[@Daggiri]

Thanks for the info. I was actually curious about the status/progress of this change in korean age system as it was announced before.

[@Korea4Me]

I'm surprised and glad about this change. When I taught in a kindergarten hagwon, the 5 year olds never acted like 5 year olds in Western age. Some of them were more like toddlers. It was crazy.

[@melodramatic7904]

And now it all makes sense.

[@aunticarol2942]

the hierarchy is so heavily engrained into the culture that even me as a foreigner, who only watches korean content, has adapted this behavior😂 i was feeling kind of uneasy about not knowing one colleagues age who is about my age too but started a year earlier, and when i found out she is one year younger than me i felt so much more at ease 😂

[@milenabts9562]

this is crazy, I never ask for age, what?

[@aunticarol2942]

@@milenabts9562 i didnt used to either

[@jonok42]

Why does someone's age even matter to you one way or the other? A person shouldn't be treated differently because they are your elder, contemporary, or junior. All people should be treated with the same level of kindness and respect. Nor should someone who is older dismiss a younger person's knowledge or experience. They may have knowledge that the elder does not, and this goes in reverse as well. Age hierarchy is outdated, and needs to be done away with.

[@aunticarol2942]

@@jonok42 did you not watch the video or read my comment, the age culture is basically about older ones taking care of younger ones and taking them under their wing and younger ones respecting older ones and taking care of them too. I did not say i treat people differently it just changed the way i felt, i now feel caring about her

[@litenmighty]

@@aunticarol2942 interesting take on it. For me the taking care of / respecting as a senior has nothing to do with age. It has to do with personality and competence and emotional fragility etc. Outside of Korea having other peoples ages influence your behavior too much seems a bit dangerous. Can lead to patronizing young people and respecting older incompetent people. Not what I think you are doing btw but just my thoughts on it.

[@catsoftheworld08]

whatI thought you were 24 !! thank you for the explanation btw!

[@dayana4654]

Need more talking in korean like this please, really helps improve my listening

[@hilmastaffangard4354]

Thank you for making this very informative video. cause I always gets confused when it comes to the age stystem. Who doesn't love to get younger than before?

[@Kari0520]

I never thought I'd see it go away. It's kind of exciting. I think & hope it will only bring good things. Even if it's just less confusion.

[@zoejaneir5907]

Wow!! This video is AWESOME!!! Amazing job TTMIK! I had many questions about this topic and now I am satisfied hahahaha Hugsssssss!!

[@yue6678]

It's funny how I found out how this was changing. I've been watching K-dramas since high school and barely wrapped my mind around the Korean age system. I was watching Bravo, My Life the other day and noticed the aging was different. In the Korean age system, high schoolers would graduate 19-20. I didn't realize the FL's age until a time skip where she told a character she was 27 even though she was raising a kid that was 8-9, because she was raising him since just graduating from high school. If she went by Korean age, she would have been 28-29 after the time skip. That moment right there caught me and wondered if South Korea had decided to go by the international age system now and I just happened to miss the news😂🤪

[@farbenrausch]

As a language learner I always like those (to me) little cultural differences, they make good conversation topics and are the main reason for me to learn a new language anyway. But the problems in a more and more global society are real so I guess it was only a question of time. After a transition period everybody will be fine: We somehow suvived the change to the Euro in 1999 - 2000 and even the computer sytems handeld the the Millenium beautifully .😅 Also I think 형/오빠...won't change because everybody becomes younger, right?

[@farbenrausch]

@@gillove189 Yes, it will make things a lot easier! (I actually found it fascinating, when I learned that the infant's time in the womb was counted to the age. This biologically seems more right to me than wrong. The following is not to rain on your parade, but I always tend to see light and shadow in things: Especially with children I'm afraid problems will remain or even arise: Here in my country (Europe) early born infants with a disadavantageous birthdate have to enter school one year early compared to the other children, even though they'd need more time in comparison. Also parents often compare their kids to others of the same age (here there is no misunderstanding as there is only one way to count). This is hard for parents whose children take longer in their development. So, not all is bliss... Be careful when "valueing youth"! Having passed my fourties I have to face the fact that I'll be old longer than I was young in my life. (If that makes sense) I can sulk over that or make every day count...)

[@AlfgardVicAenorDuFay]

Similarly, the countries that drove on the left and had to pass on the right managed to get used to it! Human beings have one of the greatest capacities for adaptation, it's in their nature!

[@AlfgardVicAenorDuFay]

@@LinaEmily In fact, school (instruction) has been compulsory in France for a few years now from the age of 3!

[@glodhum]

Very interesting, thank you! I'm wondering is it gonna in some way affect k-hierarchy

[@lisaschumaker9100]

I think I read that it won't be changed for Military Manpower Administration or schools. I'd like to understand why for each case. Is it more a simplicity issue or because of the social implications?

[@karlfrias2863]

Ooohhhh I'm curious what the ordinary Koreans will think of this. I would like to suggest that you conduct some kind of street interview and ask their opinions about this topic. Anyways, thank you for the informative vid :>

[@madmakluvr]

I think this is a great switch, as it would clear a lot of legal stuff and formalities as well, but I can see the Korean Age, the one that relies on the Lunar Calendar, staying forever in Koreans. It would still be used in a casual setting, and would continue to be a unique part of the Korean culture~ there's a lot of stuff that's been changed around the world in the legal sense, but in base value, nothing really much changes. At least, I don't see it changing that fast and be integrated into the everyday lives. It may take a few years, or even generations before it disappears, if it would really go.

[@clairefranzen5753]

I've heard on and off for awhile about this change. When I started learning Korean and about the culture one some of the very first things I learned about were age and K hierarchy. While I found it fun and interesting to learn about, I also found it confusing. I'm glad this change is going to be made because there's so much confusion around it. I really hope the transition goes well, I know there's more to it than just age.

[@BEATV12]

its good for korean people and for everyone ... congratulations

[@choicelyon2131]

승완 씨 잘 설명해주셔서 감사합니다! :) 재미있는 주제네요!

[@seung-wanyu8419]

감사합니다🤗

[@fuhmab157]

My bday is on Jan 1st so it isn’t much of a hassle for me 😂 Just need to +/- 1 year and not worry about the exact date itself

[@betsey96]

Same same 😆 only time having birthday as Jan 1st being useful LOL

[@EmelyPhan]

I feel like the Korean age system is known throughout Asia but is not widely used. It gets mentioned sometimes (even by Asians outside of Asia) but people say the age that they are currently at.

[@faustinuskaryadi6610]

Only in Sinosphere aka Confucian cultural sphere. South East Asian like Indonesian don't understand this system except Chinese Indonesian who still keep their tradition.

[@kittenbubbley]

This is so cool! Now I understand this 👏 If I were Korean, I'd be excited too! 🙌 😁 Thanks for explaining this! And congratulations to everyone who just became technically younger! 😃 🥳 👍👍

[@Learninglotsoflanguages]

I always found the idea if how age was counted very interesting and neat and feel a little sad about its loss but if it is easier for Koreans then it is understandable. And I've certainly been confused when saying my age thinking oh I wonder if they think I mean international or Korean age?

[@julieaskingforafriend]

Watched a Korean variety show recently where two college guys were discussing visiting the United States. One noted that you do not come to the states and ask us our age, especially women! The other was horrified to find this out because apparently, he spent his entire trip asking every American he met how old they were. And while Korean culture may honor age, Americans despise the concept - we do everything in our power not to get old. I certainly don't want to tell anyone that I'm two years older then I think I am!

[@AlfgardVicAenorDuFay]

In France, there is a golden rule.... you do NOT ask a woman her age, ever. She is the only one who can say her age if she wishes.

[@iddaalbar2129]

Yay congratulations 🎉

[@thekoreanbibliophile]

Very detailed video 👏 thank you!

[@adelapanioglo3888]

Thank you for helping! ♡

[@janewen7131]

this will make it a lot eaiser for korea's born k outside of korea it will be less counfising

[@jenniferrankin7940]

I love your videos! ❤️

[@talktomeinkorean]

Thank you so much!!

[@JessicaSantos-tj3tq]

This is very interesting! I liked the video very much, I've never been able to guess correctly my favorite Idols age, and they always looked even more older with the korean system, so I'm happy 😄

[@aposslex]

Thank God! I’m thinking of moving to South Korea and I really didn’t want those extra years 😅

[@GreenT_LoR]

Seung-wan is the best. That is my opinion on this topic.

[@eneri83]

the looks are getting younger, the age getting older, BTS V born Dec.30 but at Jan.01 he turns 2 years old just 2 days when he was born 😅

[@minstorm]

My personal opinion is that I find it sad to see it go away. I have a great appreciation for differences in culture, languages and systems throughout our world. The beauty of humanity is our diversity. This is just another example of conforming to globalization and the increasing eradication of cultures. I liked the idea of being able to denote age in a very different but viable way. Makes you think "oh you can calculate age like that also! That's interesting" Now that is gone. Everyone will be the same. There will be much fewer people who will ever have that thought in the future. Languages and cultures will continue to fade away. Korean is a strong language so it will remain. But small languages will continue to die.

[@nazeera2]

finally no headache anymore calculating the age as a foreigner. So if i go to korea know, i just use my normal age and they too and we dont have to add the +1 anymore

[@carlos2004]

the korean age system was always confusing to me. sure in understood how it works, but i find it's unnecessarily confusing. same with the imperial system of measurements in the US. sure i can use it and work with the system, but when the metric system exists, it's pretty dumb we still have to use it.

[@ivanatrip4504]

I think it is a good idea. Your example of kids on the playground didn't fully explain how to resolve that issue. My observation is that only those born in the same year are "friends" not having to use formal speech but when someone born the last week of December meets someone born the first week of January, only 7 days apart, can they be friends now or is everyone's individual birthday now by date and not year therefore December birthday is still hyung? Is it the same if they are born 1 week apart in January, does the younger say hyung or friend? It is still confusing to me.

[@talktomeinkorean]

Haha actually right. As you said in your example, the one that was born in December will still be 형 to the one born in January, BUT only for a few days of a year. We'll see how the change of the age system will impact address terms in Korean!

[@janetf23]

As a person with a birthday that's late in the year, I feel younger already! Yay! 🤸‍♀️

[@WarlordX7]

so since im 29 then i suddenly am older than you and not the other way around anymore. Korean time travel is cool.

[@sarsysnape]

I think this is good. I love korean culture, but I never understood this point, why someone ages in their birthday and when it's new year, I could never find the "logic". I think it will be pretty good and will help with the confusion. I don't think it will affect the culture in that point to not care about the age anymore, it will just change the counting ^-^

[@mrunals.7309]

😅 actually.... I like that last bye greeting! The way 우리 님 say it is Super cute & expressive one! 💚 Changes are necessary with upcoming new generation, technology etc. Happy for all SK citizens. Thank You Sir for this update info 🙏 graphics are ✅👌 representations and editing - good good!

[@Amjuun]

I've been a long time Kdrama and Kpop fans so I automatically count Korean age when enjoying Korean contents. But when I read a recent webnovel I got confused for a while when it mentioned 19 years old as the legal adult age until it mentioned that it was 만 나이 in the later chapters. Yet another webnovel used 만 나이 without any explanation until I count the mentioned birth year and the background year. So it surprised me with the change of using international age. And I just found out the more exact reason today...

[@Mad.E]

I didn't realize this change in age system would also be so closely linked to age-based hierarchy :o

[@SewolHoONCE]

example: two people, one born in May - one in November. In Korean age, they are always the same age like race horses, but in international age, for 6 months - same age then for 6 months the May born person is elder by a year. Would you like to change your honorary title every 6 months?

[@Mad.E]

@@SewolHoONCE tbh I have no idea what race horses have to do this 🙈 but one person will be older than the other 100% of the time, I don't see why any titles or hierarchies should change every six months

[@SewolHoONCE]

@@Mad.E Acknowledged: Race horses all change competition age on January 1. Therefore, breeders schedule births in the Spring.

[@idilyolo]

i think it's a good thing it will cause less confusion

[@dashavershinina5631]

My birthday is in November, so of course I'm happy I don't need to add age anymore 😭❤️

[@SewolHoONCE]

¿Christopher BangChan vs. Sally Chou: sunbaenim vs. maknae? Respect!

[@magickittenz]

Good video☺️

[@DJPaoloDelaCruz]

There is one concern I have among the use of Korean age and international age: Hallyu fandoms. Will these entertainment agencies (regardless if it's music or drama-related) and fans themselves abide by the change whenever their talents celebrate their birthdays, given that official government documents will be the main focus on the age reckoning change?

[@brownvirtue]

If you change it from who’s older in years to who’s older in months, you can still keep your hierarchy. You just ask for the birth date and not the birth year and whoever is older in years remains your hyung/oppa/noona/unnie. It only affects same age friends. Whoever is older in months becomes the hyung/oppa/noona/unnie. Someone born December 31, 2000 will still be older than the person born on January 1, 2001 even though now they will both be 22 all but one day in 2023.

[@Bess1201]

Hm, I can understand that this will ease espeially legally difficult cases like the ones shown here. I don't think it will make a difference though about even small kids in Korea asking for the age first. The system of paying respect to older people will remain, only the numbers will shift. About the surveys, well, I'm sceptical about those in general, and especially if the resulst differ so clearly in such a short time like shown here. How many people voted in both surveys? How old were the people who voted? It would be easy to get such results if the survey was larger in 2016 and it was many older people voting (for keeping the old system) and fewer and only younger people voted in the newer survey so you'd get the 86% pro new system. I'm just saying this because in many countries these surveys are actively (mis-)used by either asking very few people and only a certain age or interest group. It happens all the time that concerning policticla topics you get ever new surveys saying '90% of the whole population are pro or contra this and that - and way down in tiny letters you then find that they have asked 75 people in a certain parties' political youth center and then say 90% of 85 million inhabitans of that country are of the opinion - which is - a lie. ;)

[@fletcher-m4p]

I had a headache doing the maths whenever someone asked me for my age. Thank god I don’t need to do any maths anymore.

[@Jessica-caitlin]

Hi my i ask How to differentiate verb , adjective ,noun in korean ? How to know which one is 동사 or 형용사 ? Thanks

[@ghostie7790]

It’ll be nice for when Koreans are abroad. I had a Korean roomate in college and she tried to explain this to me, I was like what? 😂😊

[@jumpsuitgirl3835]

I mean if people really really want to maintain the hierarchy system in daily life just as it is then that's no problem. They can simply change the question from "how old are you?" to "what year were you born?" Because obviously that doesn't change..

[@kimcole1093]

I am shocked that this is happening ....wow But it came in handy when i lived in korea as a teen....because i was intl age 17 when i lived there but by my korean age i was 19 ..which got me access to the clubs ..lol But i am gladcits happening then there is no more confusion ... Wise move korea 👍

[@grai5y]

So excited for this as It seems most Koreans are also happy about it. My question is, if you've recently celebrated the korean legal age does that mean with the new international age, you're no longer the legal age?

[@irmar]

Yes you are, because the legal age has gone down one year, it's not 20 anymore, but 19. So if you have become an adult in the old system, you are still an adult in the new one.

[@cherylschaeffer7832]

I'm curious, do you think this will have an affect on the younger/older culture (how you speak with others such as 오빠, 누나, 형, 언니)?

[@Jinraiblade]

This will definitely adjust as well. But hopefully they'll stick to it. I like their concept of basing the hierarchy on the year they are born.

[@Ebs72PJ95]

I doubt that this part will change bc a) even with int age there will be age difference technically and b) it is an integrated part of the Asian culture to be respectful towards older/elder people

[@로이드-k7d]

I don't think that will change at all. You say 오빠, 누나, 형, 언니 to people who are older than you. And Koreans refer to their birth year in checking who's older, even if it's just a year-old gap.

[@jeff__w]

The transitional period will be no time at all. This is one of those changes where a population may be divided in surveys but, when the reality comes, the old system is so inconvenient and the new one so much easier, that the old one drops away pretty quickly and, in a few years, everyone wonders why they put up with it for as long as they did.

[@karlaevans6175]

Welcome to the club guys!

[@EnglishLearnersHere]

Enjoyed this video!

[@melisroom]

Yaaaaaaaaay 🎉🎉🎉

[@rainstarr1]

I totally understand the first two reasons. But the hierarchy thing, will it still be used by Koreans? I think it's just respectful. You know 'respect your elders" thing. Thanks for explaining. I'm happy that Koreans can become younger. 😊

[@Lxmxn97]

Yes hierarchy is still going to be used

[@shuzennn]

Nooo, honestly it was such a cool and unique thing that blew my mind when I first learned it. It becomes history anyway ♡

[@bes03c]

I know Koreans who still use the lunar calendar for their birthdays. I suspect Korean age will persist in common usage for a while but official things will use international age.

[@channylim8885]

It's kind of sad(?) Idk, I was actually amazed when I found out that Korean has an age counting method like older Chinese(or descendants) did. The elders in my family are either passed away or sick. In the past, when they ask me about my age, they would expect me to say my Chinese zodiac and they can tell my age in no time. Idk if there are countries out there which are still using this method of counting age, but it feels kinda sad to see this tradition kind of fading away, feels like there's more gap between elders and youngsters.

[@angelsabillon93]

I dont know the age to enter clubs in Korea, but some youngs will be disappointed when they cannot enter clubs after june I believe xD Also, I would like to know how k-hierarchy will change... now they will consider the months difference in age?

[@larissafonseca4007]

So is the hierarchy also ending?

[@TheAngel3767]

The most shocked for me as i started into kpop in 2009/2010 🤭🤭 korean age

[@fatmaabdullah9706]

That’s great but I have a question, if two people had few months between them, what will they do when they turn the same age? Would one call the other hyung then when his birthday comes he’d stop? Or does it depend on the year of birth But still the same thing can happen help!

[@talktomeinkorean]

Great question! That remains to be seen. Everyone is looking forward to seeing how the change of the age system will impact the addressing terms in the Korean language!

[@mrs.potatoo267]

Like how will the school thing work tho. Say you graduated last year but you became a year younger would you have to go back into 12th grade since you became a year younger? Or say your just about to go into high school but you become a couple years younger would u go back into middle school or go straight into high school??

[@ParkJiminFTLFFProductions]

that's probably why they said it's not gonna apply to the schools and military

[@bwelchbtr1]

How will this change affect when men have to go to the military? Especially if they were supposed to go this year?

[@KBowWow75]

So do you have to change the age on all the bottles of alcohol to 18, or do they already use international age? If so, it's interesting that 19 is the adult age.

[@thiya4627]

yeah, i wonder about this too. how about the legal age then? since you need to be 20 (in korean age) to get driving license, drink, smoke, vote, etc. is it going to change to 18 or stay as 20?

[@jonok42]

@@thiya4627 no, all age based laws in Korea are based on International age. Legal adult at age 19, and also legal drinking and smoking age. Legal driving and voting at age 18, and age of consent is 16.

[@clover3k]

In my opinion, We Korean has "형 hyung" "언니 Unni" (동생) culture. so, age is most important for personal relationships. When we use korean age system, 1st day of new year everybody get 1 more age so 형 , 동생 is always same. But in international age system, if I have 6 months older 형 , he changes to 친구(same age person) for a while. {sorry for my short English 😅 }

[@Lxmxn97]

For international age , we don't focus on the month that the person was born( unless they are interested in giving you a present or your zodiac) . We just focus on the year. For example my brother and I are exactly 1 year and 6 months apart. But when our parents or even school teachers talk about our age difference , they say 2 years. Because he is born in 99 and I'm 97. So as long as he was born in a different year than you , then he will always be your 형. Another example is that my cousin is 8 months older than me, but we are born in the same year. So 우리는 친구처럼이요.

[@clover3k]

@@Lxmxn97 I don't know that thank you for your explanation 😊

[@akankshamishra8127]

NOOOIIICCCEEEE!!!!!!! FINALLLY!!!!!!!

[@Garnishes]

Curious: will koreans now base their honorifics usage n age hierarchy relationships on international age? or will they still base it on korean age even if korean age is officially not used in all administrative n legal systems? the whole age hierarchy is still a social cultural norm that won’t change. what’s changed now is just the system of counting age… and that’s only for official documents n laws.. so i wonder if international age counting system will be used in social n cultural age hierarchy practices too….anyone korean can share any insight?

[@unstablemolecules]

I'm personally disappointed that the Korean age system is being abolished, because I hold sacred the cultural quirks and idiosyncrasies that make countries unique from one another 😥

[@faustinuskaryadi6610]

There is no need to keep unnecessary tradition.

[@IdaMariaASMR]

Wauw!! 😮😮😮

[@scoupofnoodles4547]

i have a question! what about the people that just turned old enough to drink in january 2023, when their age gets younger will they lose the right to drink? or will the drinking age change?

[@chickpeapeace]

i imagine it won't change anything since it's 20 korean age, 19 international. so it'll just be going off when people turn 19. this is just my assumption i know nothing about the law lmao

[@michaeljex8091]

A little sad tbh, I’ve felt there’s something beautiful about the way Korean age is counted and enjoyed using it while I lived there

[@nikkajay9823]

I was always bothered whenever I see Korean celebrities my age claim that they're a year older, when in fact, we are all born in the same year. I'm so glad the Korean age is changing so that there's less confusion.

[@cassandrawiggins6033]

So with using international age…how does that use/affect the k-hierarchy? Before as long as you were the same year you were the same age. For example, now that isn’t the case, does that mean even those born in the same year, will have to switch to Hyung or eunnie for their peers a few months older than them? Or does it not change? That’s the part I’m confused about.

[@talktomeinkorean]

Great question! We'll see how this change will impact address terms in Korean! So far, no one knows 🤔

[@cassandrawiggins6033]

@@talktomeinkorean thank you for answering! Only time will tell :)

[@northlight6759]

I've heard that there are actually 3 age counting methods in Korea, and this law deals only with one of them. So I wonder if the last one is also going away. I've always enjoyed the unique age counting system, but as a foreigner, I realize that for me it's only something interesting, whereas for Koreans there are real stakes. I have to admit, I'm really skeptical that this will do much to change the hierarchical nature of Korean culture. That has been part of being Korean for who knows how long, centuries? Millennia? So I really doubt it will change in a few years or even in my lifetime.

[@almakorhonen1028]

Out of context but this is first time I'm seeing laptop decorated with googly eyes I'm guessing people in Korea are going to get quite easily used to using international age in documents and such but in social interactions I suppose it'll take fairly longer time. Maybe I'm in the wrong here but I think it's quite common for kids to ask their ages before anything else and not to ask names - just calling each other "hey, you I played with yesterday" idk.

[@leeyubinsproperty]

안녕하세요! 질문이 있어요. I was born in june 2004 which means im 18 in the international age and 20 in korean age. The age of consent is 20 in Korea, so im wondering if thats going to change along with age, or will people born in 2004 no longer be of legal age to consent?

[@piaparrot1150]

For example: V from BTS (Kim Taehyung) is born on Dec 30th 1995. So he was 1 year old that day. Two days later he was 2 years old Korean age then. Kind of confusing and funny for people only used to international age when he was only 2 days old. South Korea being so open towards other countries has made a good decision in my humble opinion to skip the Korean age.

[@bryann_110]

I will always prefer the Korean age simply because it acknowledges the time you spent in your mother's womb. Nowadays, Americans consider you to be inhuman when you are still in the womb.

[@ParkJiminFTLFFProductions]

this is very true