All South Koreans become one year younger under new law

South Korea has revealed a new law which has resulted in citizens becoming at least a year younger.

The country previously used two traditional age-counting methods - the 'Korean age system' and a 'counting age' system.

Now, South Korea has announced a new law which is more similar to other nation's age-counting methods which comes into affect as of today (28 June).

Alamy Stock Photo/ Associated Press

In the UK - and in many other countries - a baby is considered zero at birth, turning one after having lived in the world for a year.

However, in South Korea, the traditional 'counting age' system sees a child similarly given the age of zero when born, but a year added every 1 January - opposed to them turning a year older on their date of birth.

Another traditional system - the 'Korean age' system - includes a baby's time in the womb as its first year so children become one as soon as they enter the world. The system then sees a year gained on 1 January, opposed to a person's birth date.

For example, if you were born on the 31 December - if going by the 'Korean age' system - you'd be one on 31 December and turn two the very next day.

Pexels/ Sesinando

South Korea will now follow the international standard or calendar age system - age-counting based on birth date - and so citizens will see their age decrease by a year or some even by two.

For example, if you were born on 23 March, 2000, you would be 24 according to the 'counting age' system or 25 according to the 'Korean age' system but according to the international standard, you would now be 23.

Last year, a member of the ruling People Power party Yoo Sang-bum told parliament: "The revision is aimed at reducing unnecessary socioeconomic costs because legal and social disputes, as well as confusion, persist due to the different ways of calculating age."

Twitter/ @KoreanUpdates

Fear not if you've just turned 19 - the legal age to purchase cigarettes and alcohol in South Korea - because you'll still be able to buy the products as some of the statutes that use the 'counting age' system will remain.

This means you're able to buy cigarettes and alcohol in South Korea from the year you turn 19, opposed to your actual birthday.

The change in law has been widely well-received by South Koreans, with content creator Jeongsuk Woo celebrating the change.

The 28-year-old said, as per the BBC: "There is a subconscious layer of ageism in people's behaviour. This is evident even in the complex language system based on age...

"I hope the abolition of 'Korean age' system and the adaptation of the international standard get rid of old relics of the past."

Doctor Hyun Jeong Byun - who's now two years younger because his birthday is in December - said: "I love it. [...] Now that Korea is following the global standard, I no longer have to explain my 'Korean age' when I go abroad."