Korean Birthday Calculator
Calculate your Korean age and discover how birthdays are celebrated in Korean culture.
Your Korean Age
Understanding Korean Age
The Korean age system (called "세는 나이" or "seoneun nai") differs from the international age system in two key ways:
- Starting Age: In the Korean system, you're considered 1 year old at birth, not 0
- New Year Aging: Everyone gets a year older on New Year's Day (January 1st), regardless of their actual birth date
This means that a baby born on December 31st would be considered 2 years old on January 1st, just one day after birth in the traditional Korean age system.
Korean Age Calculation Example
- On May 10, 2000: 1 year old in Korean age (0 in international age)
- On January 1, 2001: 2 years old in Korean age (still only 7 months in international age)
- On May 10, 2001: Still 2 years old in Korean age (1 year in international age)
- On January 1, 2023: 24 years old in Korean age (22-23 in international age)
Korean Birthday Traditions
Birthdays are significant celebrations in Korean culture, with several special traditions:
Seollal (설날) - Lunar New Year
Traditionally, Koreans considered Seollal (Lunar New Year) as everyone's collective birthday, when everyone became a year older together. This tradition stems from agricultural societies where exact birth dates weren't always recorded.
Miyeok-guk (미역국) - Seaweed Soup
Seaweed soup is traditionally eaten on birthdays. This tradition comes from the fact that new mothers eat seaweed soup after childbirth for its nutritional benefits. Eating it on your birthday honors your mother and the day of your birth.
Dol (돌) - First Birthday
The first birthday is especially important in Korean culture. A traditional ceremony called Dol includes a ritual where the child chooses from various objects (like money, string, or a pencil), which is said to predict their future.
Hwangap (환갑) - 60th Birthday
The 60th birthday is a major milestone, traditionally marking the completion of the zodiac cycle (5 elements × 12 zodiac animals). This was especially significant in the past when life expectancy was much shorter.
Recent Changes to the Korean Age System
In June 2023, South Korea officially standardized to the international age system for most legal and administrative purposes. However, the traditional Korean age system still remains culturally relevant and is used in many social contexts.
The three age systems that have been used in Korea are:
- International Age (만 나이, man nai): Based on birth date, starting at 0
- Korean Age (세는 나이, seoneun nai): 1 at birth, +1 every New Year
- Calendar Age (연 나이, yeon nai): 1 at birth, +1 when the birth year changes (less common)
Korean Birthday FAQ
Why does the Korean age system exist?
The Korean age system has roots in ancient East Asian age reckoning methods, which consider the time spent in the womb (roughly 9 months) as the first year of life. It also simplified age tracking in traditional societies by having everyone age together on New Year's Day.
Is the Korean age system still legally used?
As of June 2023, South Korea has officially standardized to the international age system for most legal and administrative purposes. However, the traditional Korean age system is still used culturally and in certain social contexts.
How do Koreans celebrate birthdays today?
Modern Korean birthday celebrations often blend traditional elements with contemporary practices. Many Koreans still eat seaweed soup on their birthday, but also incorporate cakes, parties, and gift-giving similar to Western celebrations.