Since June 28, 2023, Korea counts age the international way (만 나이) — the age on your passport — in laws, contracts and official documents. Two older ways are still around: year age (this year minus your birth year) decides when you can buy alcohol and cigarettes and is used for military service, and the traditional counting age (1 at birth, plus 1 every New Year’s Day) is still heard in conversation. Enter your birthday to see all three, how to say your age in Korean, and your Korean zodiac animal (띠), which changes at Seollal, the Lunar New Year.
Key facts — Korean Civil Act and Framework Act on Administrative Regulation (international age, from 2023-06-28); Juvenile Protection Act (year age 19)
- Since June 28, 2023, Korean laws and official documents use international age (만 나이), the same age as on a passport.
- In Korea you can buy alcohol and cigarettes from January 1 of the year you turn 19 (year age 19), even before your birthday.
- The old Korean counting age is this year minus birth year plus 1; someone born on December 31, 2005 is 22 in counting age on January 1, 2026, but 20 in international age.
- A Korean zodiac animal (띠) follows the lunar year, so people born before that year’s Seollal take the previous year’s animal.
Korean age calculator
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Three ways to count age in Korea
Someone born on December 31, 2005 is, on January 1, 2026: 20 in international age, 21 in year age and 22 in the old counting age — two years apart from one day to the next.
| Way of counting | How it works | Where you meet it |
|---|---|---|
| International age (만 나이) | Your age on your passport; goes up on your birthday | The legal standard since June 28, 2023: laws, contracts, hospitals, forms, news |
| Year age (연 나이) | This year minus your birth year; goes up on January 1 | Buying alcohol and cigarettes, military service, school year groups |
| Counting age (세는 나이) | Year age + 1; 1 at birth | Only in conversation, mostly among older people |
Because of year age, everyone born in the same year can buy alcohol in Korea from January 1 of the year they turn 19 — even before their birthday. Shops ask for ID; a passport works.
How to say your age in Korean
In conversation use native Korean numbers + 살 (sal): 스물다섯 살 is 25. On forms and in formal speech you see Sino-Korean numbers + 세, often with 만 in front for international age. To ask: ▶ 몇 살이에요? (How old are you?) — to someone older, the polite ▶ 연세가 어떻게 되세요?.
| Age | Said (살) | Written (세) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ▶ 한 살 han sal |
▶ 만 일 세 |
| 5 | ▶ 다섯 살 daseot sal |
▶ 만 오 세 |
| 10 | ▶ 열 살 yeol sal |
▶ 만 십 세 |
| 15 | ▶ 열다섯 살 yeoldaseot sal |
▶ 만 십오 세 |
| 18 | ▶ 열여덟 살 yeolyeodeol sal |
▶ 만 십팔 세 |
| 19 | ▶ 열아홉 살 yeolahop sal |
▶ 만 십구 세 |
| 20 | ▶ 스무 살 seumu sal |
▶ 만 이십 세 |
| 21 | ▶ 스물한 살 seumulhan sal |
▶ 만 이십일 세 |
| 22 | ▶ 스물두 살 seumuldu sal |
▶ 만 이십이 세 |
| 25 | ▶ 스물다섯 살 seumuldaseot sal |
▶ 만 이십오 세 |
| 29 | ▶ 스물아홉 살 seumulahop sal |
▶ 만 이십구 세 |
| 30 | ▶ 서른 살 seoreun sal |
▶ 만 삼십 세 |
| 35 | ▶ 서른다섯 살 seoreundaseot sal |
▶ 만 삼십오 세 |
| 40 | ▶ 마흔 살 maheun sal |
▶ 만 사십 세 |
| 50 | ▶ 쉰 살 swin sal |
▶ 만 오십 세 |
Korean zodiac animals (띠)
The twelve animals repeat every 12 years. In Korea your animal is set by the lunar year, so if you were born in January or early February, check whether your birthday came before that year’s Seollal — then you belong to the year before. (Fortune tellers often use Ipchun, around February 4, instead; this page follows Seollal, as most people do.)
| Animal | In Korean | Lunar years |
|---|---|---|
| 🐭 Rat | ▶ 쥐 | 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020 |
| 🐮 Ox | ▶ 소 | 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021 |
| 🐯 Tiger | ▶ 호랑이 | 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022 |
| 🐰 Rabbit | ▶ 토끼 | 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023 |
| 🐲 Dragon | ▶ 용 | 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024 |
| 🐍 Snake | ▶ 뱀 | 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025 |
| 🐴 Horse | ▶ 말 | 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026 |
| 🐑 Goat (sheep) | ▶ 양 | 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027 |
| 🐵 Monkey | ▶ 원숭이 | 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028 |
| 🐔 Rooster | ▶ 닭 | 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029 |
| 🐶 Dog | ▶ 개 | 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030 |
| 🐷 Pig | ▶ 돼지 | 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031 |
Zodiac by year, with the Seollal date
| Year | Animal | In Korean | Animal year starts (Seollal) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1940 | 🐲 Dragon | ▶ 용띠 | 1940-02-08 |
| 1941 | 🐍 Snake | ▶ 뱀띠 | 1941-01-27 |
| 1942 | 🐴 Horse | ▶ 말띠 | 1942-02-15 |
| 1943 | 🐑 Goat (sheep) | ▶ 양띠 | 1943-02-05 |
| 1944 | 🐵 Monkey | ▶ 원숭이띠 | 1944-01-26 |
| 1945 | 🐔 Rooster | ▶ 닭띠 | 1945-02-13 |
| 1946 | 🐶 Dog | ▶ 개띠 | 1946-02-02 |
| 1947 | 🐷 Pig | ▶ 돼지띠 | 1947-01-22 |
| 1948 | 🐭 Rat | ▶ 쥐띠 | 1948-02-10 |
| 1949 | 🐮 Ox | ▶ 소띠 | 1949-01-29 |
| 1950 | 🐯 Tiger | ▶ 호랑이띠 | 1950-02-17 |
| 1951 | 🐰 Rabbit | ▶ 토끼띠 | 1951-02-06 |
| 1952 | 🐲 Dragon | ▶ 용띠 | 1952-01-27 |
| 1953 | 🐍 Snake | ▶ 뱀띠 | 1953-02-14 |
| 1954 | 🐴 Horse | ▶ 말띠 | 1954-02-04 |
| 1955 | 🐑 Goat (sheep) | ▶ 양띠 | 1955-01-24 |
| 1956 | 🐵 Monkey | ▶ 원숭이띠 | 1956-02-12 |
| 1957 | 🐔 Rooster | ▶ 닭띠 | 1957-01-31 |
| 1958 | 🐶 Dog | ▶ 개띠 | 1958-02-19 |
| 1959 | 🐷 Pig | ▶ 돼지띠 | 1959-02-08 |
| 1960 | 🐭 Rat | ▶ 쥐띠 | 1960-01-28 |
| 1961 | 🐮 Ox | ▶ 소띠 | 1961-02-15 |
| 1962 | 🐯 Tiger | ▶ 호랑이띠 | 1962-02-05 |
| 1963 | 🐰 Rabbit | ▶ 토끼띠 | 1963-01-25 |
| 1964 | 🐲 Dragon | ▶ 용띠 | 1964-02-13 |
| 1965 | 🐍 Snake | ▶ 뱀띠 | 1965-02-02 |
| 1966 | 🐴 Horse | ▶ 말띠 | 1966-01-22 |
| 1967 | 🐑 Goat (sheep) | ▶ 양띠 | 1967-02-09 |
| 1968 | 🐵 Monkey | ▶ 원숭이띠 | 1968-01-30 |
| 1969 | 🐔 Rooster | ▶ 닭띠 | 1969-02-17 |
| 1970 | 🐶 Dog | ▶ 개띠 | 1970-02-06 |
| 1971 | 🐷 Pig | ▶ 돼지띠 | 1971-01-27 |
| 1972 | 🐭 Rat | ▶ 쥐띠 | 1972-02-15 |
| 1973 | 🐮 Ox | ▶ 소띠 | 1973-02-03 |
| 1974 | 🐯 Tiger | ▶ 호랑이띠 | 1974-01-23 |
| 1975 | 🐰 Rabbit | ▶ 토끼띠 | 1975-02-11 |
| 1976 | 🐲 Dragon | ▶ 용띠 | 1976-01-31 |
| 1977 | 🐍 Snake | ▶ 뱀띠 | 1977-02-18 |
| 1978 | 🐴 Horse | ▶ 말띠 | 1978-02-07 |
| 1979 | 🐑 Goat (sheep) | ▶ 양띠 | 1979-01-28 |
| 1980 | 🐵 Monkey | ▶ 원숭이띠 | 1980-02-16 |
| 1981 | 🐔 Rooster | ▶ 닭띠 | 1981-02-05 |
| 1982 | 🐶 Dog | ▶ 개띠 | 1982-01-25 |
| 1983 | 🐷 Pig | ▶ 돼지띠 | 1983-02-13 |
| 1984 | 🐭 Rat | ▶ 쥐띠 | 1984-02-02 |
| 1985 | 🐮 Ox | ▶ 소띠 | 1985-02-20 |
| 1986 | 🐯 Tiger | ▶ 호랑이띠 | 1986-02-09 |
| 1987 | 🐰 Rabbit | ▶ 토끼띠 | 1987-01-29 |
| 1988 | 🐲 Dragon | ▶ 용띠 | 1988-02-18 |
| 1989 | 🐍 Snake | ▶ 뱀띠 | 1989-02-06 |
| 1990 | 🐴 Horse | ▶ 말띠 | 1990-01-27 |
| 1991 | 🐑 Goat (sheep) | ▶ 양띠 | 1991-02-15 |
| 1992 | 🐵 Monkey | ▶ 원숭이띠 | 1992-02-04 |
| 1993 | 🐔 Rooster | ▶ 닭띠 | 1993-01-23 |
| 1994 | 🐶 Dog | ▶ 개띠 | 1994-02-10 |
| 1995 | 🐷 Pig | ▶ 돼지띠 | 1995-01-31 |
| 1996 | 🐭 Rat | ▶ 쥐띠 | 1996-02-19 |
| 1997 | 🐮 Ox | ▶ 소띠 | 1997-02-08 |
| 1998 | 🐯 Tiger | ▶ 호랑이띠 | 1998-01-28 |
| 1999 | 🐰 Rabbit | ▶ 토끼띠 | 1999-02-16 |
| 2000 | 🐲 Dragon | ▶ 용띠 | 2000-02-05 |
| 2001 | 🐍 Snake | ▶ 뱀띠 | 2001-01-24 |
| 2002 | 🐴 Horse | ▶ 말띠 | 2002-02-12 |
| 2003 | 🐑 Goat (sheep) | ▶ 양띠 | 2003-02-01 |
| 2004 | 🐵 Monkey | ▶ 원숭이띠 | 2004-01-22 |
| 2005 | 🐔 Rooster | ▶ 닭띠 | 2005-02-09 |
| 2006 | 🐶 Dog | ▶ 개띠 | 2006-01-29 |
| 2007 | 🐷 Pig | ▶ 돼지띠 | 2007-02-18 |
| 2008 | 🐭 Rat | ▶ 쥐띠 | 2008-02-07 |
| 2009 | 🐮 Ox | ▶ 소띠 | 2009-01-26 |
| 2010 | 🐯 Tiger | ▶ 호랑이띠 | 2010-02-14 |
| 2011 | 🐰 Rabbit | ▶ 토끼띠 | 2011-02-03 |
| 2012 | 🐲 Dragon | ▶ 용띠 | 2012-01-23 |
| 2013 | 🐍 Snake | ▶ 뱀띠 | 2013-02-10 |
| 2014 | 🐴 Horse | ▶ 말띠 | 2014-01-31 |
| 2015 | 🐑 Goat (sheep) | ▶ 양띠 | 2015-02-19 |
| 2016 | 🐵 Monkey | ▶ 원숭이띠 | 2016-02-08 |
| 2017 | 🐔 Rooster | ▶ 닭띠 | 2017-01-28 |
| 2018 | 🐶 Dog | ▶ 개띠 | 2018-02-16 |
| 2019 | 🐷 Pig | ▶ 돼지띠 | 2019-02-05 |
| 2020 | 🐭 Rat | ▶ 쥐띠 | 2020-01-25 |
| 2021 | 🐮 Ox | ▶ 소띠 | 2021-02-12 |
| 2022 | 🐯 Tiger | ▶ 호랑이띠 | 2022-02-01 |
| 2023 | 🐰 Rabbit | ▶ 토끼띠 | 2023-01-22 |
| 2024 | 🐲 Dragon | ▶ 용띠 | 2024-02-10 |
| 2025 | 🐍 Snake | ▶ 뱀띠 | 2025-01-29 |
| 2026 | 🐴 Horse | ▶ 말띠 | 2026-02-17 |
| 2027 | 🐑 Goat (sheep) | ▶ 양띠 | 2027-02-07 |
| 2028 | 🐵 Monkey | ▶ 원숭이띠 | 2028-01-27 |
| 2029 | 🐔 Rooster | ▶ 닭띠 | 2029-02-13 |
| 2030 | 🐶 Dog | ▶ 개띠 | 2030-02-03 |
| 2031 | 🐷 Pig | ▶ 돼지띠 | 2031-01-23 |
| 2032 | 🐭 Rat | ▶ 쥐띠 | 2032-02-11 |
| 2033 | 🐮 Ox | ▶ 소띠 | 2033-01-31 |
| 2034 | 🐯 Tiger | ▶ 호랑이띠 | 2034-02-19 |
| 2035 | 🐰 Rabbit | ▶ 토끼띠 | 2035-02-08 |
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FAQ
Does Korea still use Korean age?
Not officially. Since June 28, 2023, laws and official documents use international age (만 나이), the same as your passport. Year age is still used for alcohol and tobacco sales and military service, and the old counting age is heard only in conversation.
How do I calculate my Korean age?
Old counting age = this year − birth year + 1. Year age = this year − birth year. International age is your normal age. The calculator on this page shows all three.
What is the drinking age in Korea?
You can buy alcohol and cigarettes from January 1 of the year you turn 19 (year age 19), even before your birthday.
What is my Korean zodiac sign?
It is the animal of the lunar year you were born in. If your birthday is before that year’s Seollal (Lunar New Year, between late January and mid-February), you take the previous year’s animal. Enter your birthday above to check.
What animal is 2026?
2026 is the year of the Horse (말띠), from Seollal on 2026-02-17.
How do you say your age in Korean?
Use native Korean numbers with 살: 스무 살 (20), 스물다섯 살 (25), 서른 살 (30). Ask with 몇 살이에요?
The calculator runs in your browser; your birthday is not sent anywhere. Seollal dates are calculated with the Korean lunar calendar and checked against the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute holiday data. ▶ sounds use your browser’s Korean voice.
Last updated 2026-11-03. Editorial policy
