Korean age by birth year — 2026

Korea has had more than one way to count age. Pick your birth year below to see your international age (만 나이), your year age (연 나이) and the old Korean counting age (세는 나이) for 2026, plus your zodiac animal, the Seollal date of your birth year and milestones such as school entry and pension age in Korea. The table gives international age as "before / after birthday", because it goes up on the birthday itself, while the old Korean age goes up for everyone on January 1.

The quick rule: old Korean age = 2026 − birth year + 1; year age = 2026 − birth year; international age = 2026 − birth year, minus 1 if your birthday has not come yet this year. If you want your exact age on a particular date, use the international age calculator.

Korea's international age rule (June 28, 2023)

Korean law has long counted age in full years (Civil Act, 민법 Article 158). Amendments to the Civil Act and the Administrative Basic Act (행정기본법, Article 7-2), effective June 28, 2023, made international age (만 나이, man-nai) the explicit default in civil and administrative matters: unless a specific law says otherwise, age is calculated and stated in full years. An age written in a law, contract or official document without "만" in front is still read as international age. The old counting age (세는 나이, se-neun nai), where everyone is 1 at birth and gains a year every New Year, is no longer used in official documents, although some people still use it in conversation.

A few systems were not switched to international age. The age for buying alcohol and tobacco under the Youth Protection Act (청소년 보호법) and the group called for military service examinations under the Military Service Act (병역법) use year age (연 나이, yeon-nai: current year − birth year), and entry to elementary school follows the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (초·중등교육법). Systems that already used international age, such as the National Pension, did not change.

Zodiac column: people born in January or February may belong to the previous year's sign, because the sign usually changes at Seollal (lunar new year).

Born in the 2020s

Born in the 2010s

Born in the 2000s

Born in the 1990s

Born in the 1980s

Born in the 1970s

Born in the 1960s

Born in the 1950s

Born in the 1940s

Korean edition: 출생연도별 나이표

Sources

• Korea Law Information Center (국가법령정보센터): Administrative Basic Act (행정기본법) Article 7-2, counting in international age, effective 2023-06-28 — checked 2026-11-03
• Korea Law Information Center: Civil Act (민법) Article 158, calculation and expression of age — checked 2026-11-03
• Korea Law Information Center: Elementary and Secondary Education Act (초·중등교육법) Article 13 and addendum (Act No. 8577) — checked 2026-11-03
• Korea Law Information Center: Military Service Act (병역법) Article 11, military service examination — checked 2026-11-03
• Korea Law Information Center: National Pension Act (국민연금법) Article 61 and addendum (Act No. 8541) Article 8, pension starting age by birth year — checked 2026-11-03
• Korea Law Information Center: Youth Protection Act (청소년 보호법), definition of youth (law text)

This is a reference summary; official guidance from the relevant institution takes precedence. The lunar new year dates come from Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute data; dates before 1962 may differ by one day because of the standard-time difference at the time.