Wednesday, June 5, 2019

What Are Years?

South Korea has a unique method for determining age -- a newborn baby starts at one, and when the Lunar New Year hits (usually in February) it turns two.  This leads to confusion, to say the least:
"A South Korean MP is attempting to overturn a centuries-old tradition in which every newborn baby turns one on the day they are born and two on the next New Year’s Day.
The unusual custom means a baby born on New Year’s Eve becomes two years old as soon as the clock strikes midnight.
When asked their age by a foreigner, many South Koreans give both their 'Korean age' and 'international age', followed by an explanation that invariably leaves the questioner confused.
The system’s origins are unclear. One theory is that turning one year old at birth takes into account time spent in the womb – with nine months rounded up to 12. Others link it to an ancient Asian numerical system that did not have the concept of zero."
Any foreigner will tell you that they prefer using "International Age" since it's routinely one or two years younger then their "Korean Age."

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