CNN "Three Ages of Koreans to Become Younger Starting Next Year"

Interest in the Introduction of "Man-nai" Age System

On the 8th, the partial amendment to the Civil Act, which unifies the age calculation method to 'man-nai' starting from June next year, was passed at the plenary session held at the National Assembly. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] Following the recent passage of amendments to the Civil Act and the Framework Act on Administration, which regulate the use of 'man (full) age,' foreign media have shown interest, noting that Koreans' ages will become 1 to 2 years younger.

On the 9th (local time), the US CNN broadcast reported on South Korea's adoption of man age, explaining that currently Koreans have three types of age: the internationally recognized 'man age,' the so-called Korean-style age called 'se-neun age,' and the 'year age,' which is calculated by subtracting the birth year from the current year.

Man age starts at 0 at the time of birth and increases by one year each time the birthday passes.

However, the age calculation method commonly used in daily life in Korea is se-neun age, where a person is considered 1 year old at birth and gains one year every January 1st thereafter. CNN reported that this method has been influenced by China and referred to it as 'Korean-style age.'

Additionally, CNN noted that in certain situations, year age is used instead of man age or se-neun age, which often causes confusion regarding age calculation. For example, the singer Psy, famous for 'Gangnam Style,' was born on December 31, 1977, so his man age is 44, his year age is 45, and his se-neun age is 46.

CNN explained, "While man age is frequently used in legal and official matters in Korea, some laws related to drinking, smoking, and military conscription use year age," and added that to resolve this confusion, the Korean National Assembly passed a bill on the 8th to unify the age calculation method to man age starting from June next year.

CNN evaluated that after long-standing controversy, the unification of age calculation to man age has established the same age system in Korea as in other countries worldwide. It also mentioned that a similar bill was proposed in the Korean National Assembly in 2019 and that Korea's three age systems have been criticized not only for causing confusion but also for promoting hierarchical order based on age and causing phenomena such as avoiding childbirth in certain months.