The South Koreans they became by law younger overnight after Seoul abolished the “Korean age”. More than 51 million people in South Korea woke up Wednesday to find themselves a year or two younger — at least according to the law.

Under legislation that came into force on Wednesday, “all judicial and administrative sectors” across the East Asian country will adopt the “international age” system used by most of the world, ending years of debate over the problems. caused by the common use of “Korean age” and “calendar age”. Standardizing the ages “will reduce various social confusions and disputes,” Lee Wan-kiu, Minister of Government Legislation, said at a press conference on Monday.

The law, passed by South Korea’s parliament last December, is also expected to “significantly reduce social costs that were unnecessary due to the mixed use of age standards,” Lee said, adding that this was an important promise by the President on who took office last May.

In South Korea, “international age” refers to the number of years since a person’s birth and starts at zero – the same system used in most other countries. But when asked about their age in social settings, most South Koreans will answer with their “Korean age,” which can be a year or two older than their international age.

According to this system, which has its roots in China, babies are considered one year old on the day they are born, with a year added each January 1st. In some cases, South Koreans also use the “calendar age” – a combination of the international age and the Korean age – which considers babies to be “zero years old” on the day they are born, adding a year to their age every January 1st.

Take him for example popular singer Psy of ‘Gangnam Style’. Born on December 31, 1977, he is considered 45 in international age, 46 in calendar age and 47 in Korean age.

If you find the whole situation confusing… you’re absolutely right, as day-to-day life in the country often switches between the different systems. Even with the new standardisation, the old systems will still be used in some cases, such as in the education system and age-based drinking laws, the government clarified on Wednesday.

However, many residents are likely to continue to use the traditional Korean age system in everyday life, as is customary. But others welcome the change. In a Department of Government Legislation poll, 86.2% of respondents said they would use the international age system. And it marks a victory for lawmakers who have spent years campaigning to standardize the international age, fed up with the multiple systems…