In Korean age, an 18-year-old is either 19 or 20 years old. It depends on whether their birthday has already passed in the current year.
Understanding Korean Age
The Korean age system is different from the international age system. Here's how it works:
- At birth: A baby is considered one year old.
- New Year's Day: Everyone adds another year to their age on January 1st, regardless of their actual birth date.
Calculating Korean Age for an 18-Year-Old
According to the provided reference, if you are 18 and your birthday has already passed this year (2024), your Korean age is 19. Otherwise, if your birthday is later in the year, your Korean age is calculated differently.
Here's a breakdown:
- Birthday Already Passed: If an 18-year-old has already had their birthday this year, their Korean age is their international age plus one. Therefore, their Korean age is 19.
- Birthday Not Yet Passed: If an 18-year-old hasn't had their birthday yet, their Korean age might still be 20, because everyone turns a year older on January 1st.
Example
Let's say someone is 18 years old in January 2024, and their birthday is in December. On January 1st, everyone gains a year in Korean age. So even though they haven't had their 18th birthday, their Korean age would already be 20.
