Transition Team Aims to Standardize Legal and Social Age Criteria Using Full Age by Early Next Year

Yongho Lee, Secretary of the Political, Legal, and Administrative Subcommittee of the Transition Committee

[Asia Economy Reporter Buaeri] The Presidential Transition Committee is pushing to unify the legal and social age calculation methods based on the 'international age' standard.

Lee Yong-ho, secretary of the Political, Judicial, and Administrative Subcommittee of the Transition Committee, stated at a briefing on the 11th in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul, "In Korea, three different age calculation methods are used: Korean age, international age, and year age, causing ongoing confusion and disputes," explaining the plan.

Currently in Korea, three age calculation methods are mixed and used: the Korean age 'Seneun nai' (counting age, starting at 1 from birth), 'international age' (increasing by 1 each year after the birth date), and 'year age' (considering the age based on the calendar year, treating everyone as the same age from January 1 of the year they reach a certain age).

Lee explained, "The Transition Committee will first establish regulations for calculating and expressing 'international age' under the Civil Act and the Framework Act on Administration, thereby setting the principle of using 'international age' in civil and administrative laws. Subsequently, it will also work on revising individual laws that currently adopt the 'year age' calculation method."

The committee plans to actively consider codifying the principle and notation method of applying 'international age' in the Civil Act.

Additionally, it will promote a plan to stipulate in the Framework Act on Administration that the state and local governments use only 'international age' when formulating various policies or drafting official documents, and have the responsibility to actively publicize the 'international age' calculation method to the public.

Lee added, "Once established in daily life, confusion among citizens will be minimized when laws are applied or administrative and medical services are provided based on a specific age, and misunderstandings in international relations will be prevented. Disputes over age interpretation in various contracts will disappear, significantly reducing legal conflicts and unnecessary costs, leading to positive effects throughout society."

Regarding the timing of adopting the 'international age' system, Lee said, "It is primarily a declarative announcement to inform the public, but strictly speaking, legal approval is required. Since the opposition party has also proposed legislation, there is no particular reason to oppose it." Committee member Park Soon-ae stated, "Currently, the goal is to implement it by early next year."