Korean age · Free
One birthday,
three ages.
Korea counted age three ways until 2023, and two of them are still in daily use. Enter a birth date and see all three, with the rule behind each.
Why Koreans ask your birth year
Speech changes with age: whether someone is 형·누나·오빠·언니 or a 동생 decides the verb endings. Year age settles it in one question.
Since 2023 the answer to “how old are you?” is the international age, but the question at a first meeting is still “what year were you born?”
How to use it
- Type your birth date into “Date of birth”. Digits alone, like 19920515, work too.
- To see your ages on another day, change “As of”. It starts at today.
- Press “Count my ages” to see your international age, year age and counting age together.
- Open “In Korea” for what people would call you, and “Milestones” for dates such as your 100th day and 60th birthday.
If something goes wrong
- If nothing is counted, check that the birth date is a real date and not after the “As of” date.
- Not sure which age to use? Contracts and paperwork go by international age; school entry, military service, alcohol and tobacco go by year age.
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Last updated ·
Arithmetic on the calendar, the same for everybody. Sources: 법제처 (Ministry of Government Legislation), 만 나이 통일법 2023-06-28; school-entry rule of 2009 for the fast-birthday cutoff.
Quick questions
Is Korean age still used after 2023?
Since 28 June 2023 the international age (만 나이) is the default for law and paperwork. Year age is still what school entry, military service and the drinking and smoking rules count by, and the old counting age is still heard in conversation — which is why this page shows all three.
How is the Korean counting age worked out?
Counting age (세는 나이) makes you one at birth and adds a year every New Year's Day, so it is your year age plus one. Year age (연 나이) is simply this year minus your birth year. International age is the number of birthdays you have actually had.
What is a “fast birthday” (빠른 년생)?
Children born in January or February used to start school a year early and were counted with the year above them. The rule ended for those born from 2003 on (the 2009 school year), but older Koreans still mention it.