Korean Age

Ok, here is the skinny on Korean age.  This is from a friend of mine that is Korean; born and raised here.  When you are born into a Korean family, you are 1 year old at birth. Now, if you are born in January, December, or any month in between, the following January 1st, when the new year starts, you age, you are now 2 years old.  So yes, if you were born December 31st, 2007,  on January 1st, 2008, you are considered 2 years old, when you are actually 2 days old.  Crazy huh?  Birthdates do not age you, the new year ages you.  Also, when you are 100 days old in Korea your family has a huge celebration for you (as long as you are healthy), because at 100 days, you are expected to live.  They get this from long ago when there was no modern medicine & many infants died.  Koreans do celebrate the day of their birth, typically the same way American's do with a birthday cake, and going out to dinner.

So, be warned, if you ask a Korean their age, (which is very common in this country, and not considered rude at all) you may get up to a 2 year difference.  Instead you should ask their birth date, including the year to get a more accurate (American) age.