Photo: James Lee/Xinhua via Getty
South Koreans are about to get a little younger.
The South Koreanparliament votedThursday toofficially dismantlethe country’s current “Korean Age” system, which differs from the method used internationally, according to Reuters and BBC News.
Beginning in June 2023, Koreans will determine their age based on their birthdate as the country moves away from two other methods of calculating age, per the reports.
Most commonly, Koreans areconsidered 1 year old at birthand add one year to the number every Jan. 1, Reuters andThe Washington Postreported. Under a separate system, individuals are considered 0 at birth and tack on one year every Jan. 1.
As a result, Koreans will be considered either one or two years younger than their current Korean Age when the official change takes effect next year.
SeongJoon Cho/Bloomberg via Getty
Medical and legal documents in South Korea have used the international age calculation since the 1960s, according to Reuters. But now, all official documents will follow the method.
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South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol previously promised to change the age system as part of his campaign for office, according to thePost.
Now, the government is following through on that promise. Presidential spokesman Lee Jae-myoung said the new age system “follows the global standard and puts an end to unnecessary social and economic confusions,” per the report.
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Lee Wan-kyu, South Korean minister of government legislation, said lowering peoples' ages will likely yield favorable results, per thePost.
“People finding their age one or two years younger will create a positive social impact,” Wan-kyu explained.
source: people.com
