South Koreans are getting younger
On Wednesday, everyone in South Korea will get one or two years younger. A new law is switching how the country calculates age to the international norm of starting the clock at zero from birth. For centuries, South Korea has counted time inside the womb towards a person’s age, with babies born aged one, and everyone turning a year older together on 1 January. A New Year’s Eve baby turns two within hours. For some, the change is a gift, says the WSJ – Park Jeong-yeon, an office worker turning 28 from 30, is freed – for now – from parental pressure to get married. For others, it’s a mixed blessing. Kim Hae-yeon will have to face turning 50 twice.
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