S. Korean babies born Dec. 31 become 2-year-olds next day
Posted April 11, 2019 9:39 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
DAEJEON, Korea, Republic Of — Every baby born in South Korea last year was considered to be 2 on Jan. 1.
According to one of the world’s most unusual age-calculating systems, South Koreans become 1 on the day of their birth and then get an additional year tacked on when the calendar hits Jan. 1.
A lawmaker is working now to overturn the centuries-old tradition amid complaints that it’s an anachronistic, time-wasting custom that drags down an otherwise ultramodern country.
The origins of this age reckoning system aren’t clear. Being 1 upon birth may be linked to the time babies spend in their mothers’ wombs or to an ancient Asian numerical system that didn’t have the concept of zero.
Hyung-Jin Kim, The Associated Press
