Question 1

Why are Koreans 1-2 years older?

Accepted Answer

In the Korean age system, a baby is considered 1 year old at birth because the time spent in the womb counts. Then, every person gains one year on January 1st regardless of their actual birthday. This means a Korean person can be 1 to 2 years older than their international age.

Question 2

What is the difference between Korean age and international age?

Accepted Answer

International age (만 나이, man na-i) counts from 0 at birth and increases on your birthday. Korean age (세는 나이) starts at 1 at birth and increases on January 1st. Since June 2023, South Korea officially uses international age for legal purposes, but Korean age remains common in daily life.

Question 3

What do oppa, unnie, hyung, and noona mean?

Accepted Answer

These are Korean honorifics based on age and gender. Oppa (오빠) is used by females to address an older male. Hyung (형) is used by males to address an older male. Unnie (언니) is used by females to address an older female. Noona (누나) is used by males to address an older female. If someone is the same age as you, they are called 동갑 (dong-gap).