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How it works
- In 2026, someone born in 2000 is 26 from their birthday, 25 before it. Year age 26, counting age 27.
- International age drops 1 until your birthday. Counting age is year age plus 1.
- Since June 28, 2023, Korean law and government use international age.
- Alcohol and tobacco: from January 1 of the year you turn 19, so in 2026 people born in 2007 or earlier.
Ages in 2026 by birth year
Before your birthday you are 1 younger than your year age. Calculated on October 7, 2026.
| Birth year | Before birthday | From birthday | Year age | Counting age |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 (Horse) | 35 | 36 | 36 | 37 |
| 1991 (Sheep) | 34 | 35 | 35 | 36 |
| 1992 (Monkey) | 33 | 34 | 34 | 35 |
| 1993 (Rooster) | 32 | 33 | 33 | 34 |
| 1994 (Dog) | 31 | 32 | 32 | 33 |
| 1995 (Pig) | 30 | 31 | 31 | 32 |
| 1996 (Rat) | 29 | 30 | 30 | 31 |
| 1997 (Ox) | 28 | 29 | 29 | 30 |
| 1998 (Tiger) | 27 | 28 | 28 | 29 |
| 1999 (Rabbit) | 26 | 27 | 27 | 28 |
| 2000 (Dragon) | 25 | 26 | 26 | 27 |
| 2001 (Snake) | 24 | 25 | 25 | 26 |
| 2002 (Horse) | 23 | 24 | 24 | 25 |
| 2003 (Sheep) | 22 | 23 | 23 | 24 |
| 2004 (Monkey) | 21 | 22 | 22 | 23 |
| 2005 (Rooster) | 20 | 21 | 21 | 22 |
| 2006 (Dog) | 19 | 20 | 20 | 21 |
| 2007 (Pig) | 18 | 19 | 19 | 20 |
| 2008 (Rat) | 17 | 18 | 18 | 19 |
| 2009 (Ox) | 16 | 17 | 17 | 18 |
| 2010 (Tiger) | 15 | 16 | 16 | 17 |
Birth years 1990 to 2010. The zodiac animal is by calendar year; if you were born in January or February before Lunar New Year, yours is the year before.
Three ways to count age in Korea
International age (만 나이) is the age used in most countries: this year minus your birth year, minus 1 more if your birthday hasn't come yet. Year age (연 나이) is this year minus your birth year, with no birthday check. Counting age (세는 나이) is year age plus 1: you are 1 at birth and everyone gets a year older on January 1.
A baby born on December 31, 2025 is 0 in international age on January 1, 2026, but already 2 in counting age.
The June 28, 2023 law change
The amended Civil Act (민법) Article 158 and the new General Act on Public Administration (행정기본법) Article 7-2, promulgated on December 27, 2022, took effect on June 28, 2023. Since then, ages in law, contracts and government work are counted in international age, unless another law says otherwise. Under 1, age can be shown in months.
| Rule | How age is counted |
|---|---|
| Contracts, government, general rule | International age |
| Alcohol and tobacco sales (Youth Protection Act) | From January 1 of the year you turn 19 |
| Military service (Military Service Act) | From January 1 of the year you turn 18 |
| Voting | 18 or older on election day |
| Legal adult (Civil Act Article 4) | From the 19th birthday |
Your zodiac animal (띠) starts at Lunar New Year
In Korea, the zodiac year follows the lunar calendar, so it changes at Lunar New Year (Seollal, 설날), not on January 1. If you were born in January or February before Seollal, your animal is the one for the year before. The calculator checks this with Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute lunar data for dates from 1900 to 2050. Saju fortune telling starts the year at the solar term Ipchun (입춘) instead; this calculator does not use that.
Born on February 29
In years without February 29, you get a year older on March 1. The Civil Act (Article 160, paragraph 3) ends a period on the last day of the month when that date doesn't exist.
FAQ
How old am I in Korea?
Officially, the same as your international age. Since June 28, 2023, Korean law uses international age. Someone born in 2000 is 25 before their birthday in 2026 and 26 from their birthday. In counting age they are 27.
Is Korean age still used?
Not in law or government documents, which use international age. Year age is still used for some rules, like alcohol and tobacco sales and military service. Counting age has no legal use.
How old do you have to be to drink or smoke in Korea?
The Youth Protection Act counts from January 1 of the year you turn 19. In 2026, people born in 2007 or earlier can buy alcohol and tobacco, even before their birthday.
Why is Korean counting age 1 or 2 years older?
You are counted as 1 at birth, and everyone adds a year on January 1. So before your birthday you are 2 years older than your international age, and after it 1 year older.
What is my Korean zodiac animal?
It is the animal of the lunar year you were born in. If you were born in January or February before Lunar New Year, it is the previous year's animal. Enter your birth date to check.
Sources
- Civil Act (민법) Article 158, amended December 27, 2022: age is counted in full years including the day of birth; under 1, months may be used
- General Act on Public Administration (행정기본법) Article 7-2, added December 27, 2022: the same rule for administrative matters, unless another law has a special rule
- Ministry of Government Legislation (법제처) announcement, June 26, 2023: the unified age law takes effect on June 28, 2023
- Civil Act (민법) Articles 157, 159 and 160: start and end of periods; a period ends on the last day of the month when the date does not exist
- Youth Protection Act (청소년 보호법) Article 2 item 1 and Article 28 paragraph 1: under 19, excluding people who have reached January 1 of the year they turn 19; no alcohol or tobacco sales to youth
- Military Service Act (병역법) Article 2 paragraph 2 and Article 8: from age 18, counted from January 1 of that year
- Public Official Election Act (공직선거법) Articles 15 and 17: voting from age 18, counted on election day
- Civil Act (민법) Article 4: adulthood at 19
- Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute (한국천문연구원) lunar and solar calendar data, astro.kasi.re.kr: Lunar New Year dates for the zodiac year
Rules last checked on October 7, 2026.
Not included
- Lunar birth dates (convert to a solar date first with the lunar calendar converter)
- Time of birth
- School grade and early school entry
- Age rules in laws not listed on this page
- Saju zodiac years that start at Ipchun (입춘)