Korean Age, Why You’re Older in Korea!

There’s something called Korean age, which basically adds one or two more years to your age (like we need it!). A lot of people have a hard time calculating their Korean age, but it’s easy, yo. Check out this video for a super simple Korean age calculator formula :)

The Korean age system basically adds 1 year (or two years) more than your actual age. Many people don’t know how to calculate their Korean age, but it’s pretty simple. Try this super simple Korean age calculator:

(This year – Your Birth year) + 1 = Your Korean age

Example:
(2012 – 1990) + 1 = 23
(2012 – 1982) + 1 = 31

And don’t worry about your birthday. It doesn’t matter if it passes or not. Korean age is calculated by year (not by birthdays)!

What’s your Korean age???

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24 Comments »

  • JonB October 2, 2012

    32 – I was born in 1981. Five years is a good difference, right?

    Another great video, you two! Also, good work on the KoreanClass101 side dishes video.

  • Keith October 3, 2012

    not bad… ;)
    Thanks Jon!

  • DavidXian October 4, 2012

    Interesting…. This is a good way to explain to foreign people and the easiest way to count Korean year.
    But, most of my friends are (still?) using Lunar New Year (설날 Seolnal/Seollal) to add one year to their age instead of Solar New Year (1st January) each year.
    Lunar New Year falls on the second new moon after winter solstice, it could be anywhere between January and February. So, people who born on Jan-Feb 1991 is often considered at the same age with people who born on 1990.
    CMIIW :)
    Btw, the next 설날 is on February 10, 2013. ;)

  • DavidXian October 4, 2012

    Ah… and one thing, you can’t be one year older before you finish eating your 떡국 (tteokguk). ㅋㅋㅋ

  • Kaekae October 8, 2012

    Actually, the easiest way (for me at least) is before your B-day add 2 years to your age; and after your B-day add 1 year. No “How old are?” “uh give me a second”

  • MM October 10, 2012

    I want to watch the newest videos or pictures !!Plz upload more and more~~~
    this website is knida of energizer for me,I definitely know she’s super cute, really wanna see Keith more often tho:)

  • Cuteee October 14, 2012

    I’m 12 years old in Korea :)

  • Kay November 15, 2012

    Ok! Wow I’m born 1994 at the end of the year makes me 19 :D OMG but cool in Korea I’m legal here I’m 17 haha :)
    Thanks another awesome video. Keep ‘em coming

  • SeoulMate November 21, 2012

    Your comment…

  • SeoulMate November 21, 2012

    You guys know why korean age adds 1 or 2 years?? Cuz we calculate our age since we were in mother’s stomach~~ so as soon as we born, we are 1 year old!!

  • Diana February 5, 2013

    so I’m born in December 1989…that makes me 23
    but in Korean age I’m going to be 25 starting with February 10…… the idea of being older doesn’t appeal to me as much as it did when I was little :-< I want to stay young :P
    p.s. @kay the legal age in Korea is 20 so being 19 means you are still not legal yet

  • Bobot February 7, 2013

    hehehe… i was about to say that Diana! I’m currently into KPOP… and yes 20 yrs old is the legal age! kekeke

  • rachel February 19, 2013

    ok i was born in 1980 – 2013 + 1 = 34 nooooo 4 years makes me old ;)

  • erna February 23, 2013

    my god i’m 22 already…kekeke

  • mojan.hp March 9, 2013

    my korean age is 21 ..

  • Masha March 18, 2013

    my korean age is…. ok I was born in 1998 and now it is 2013 plus 1…. oh I am already 16 :o here I am only 14

  • Tricia March 19, 2013

    I am 20. i was born 1994.

  • Tricia March 19, 2013

    Your comment…

  • rose gianne March 29, 2013

    Okay, so I was born in 1987, and in Korea my age would be 27 when my actual age is only 25..haha so weird…

  • cristine joyce March 31, 2013

    Okay…… I was born in 1999…. my actual age is 13, so, it means that my Korean age is 15… Haha! I’ll just accept my actual age, ‘cos I don’t want to become older…

  • cristine joyce March 31, 2013

    I was born in 1999…. my actual age is 13, so, it means that my Korean age is 15… Haha! I’ll just accept my actual age, ‘cos I don’t want to become older…

  • What it Means to Be Oppa, Unnie, Hyung, Noona (Older in Korea) | Seoulistic – Korea Simplified April 2, 2013

    [...] to first understand this post properly, you’ll have to know your Korean age. Koreans calculate age by birth year. And this means even if you’re only 1 month older than [...]

  • sarahi alvarado May 15, 2013

    I I’m born in December 1996..and I’m 16 right now so.. 2013 – 1996 = 17+1 = 18..wow I’m soo old!!! I still want to be a kid!!

  • jina May 21, 2013

    hi i was born in 1987 22th june how old i am in korea?

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