South Koreans Are Now , Younger Under New Law.<br />South Koreans became a year or two younger as a new age-counting law took effect <br />on June 28, the BBC reports.<br />Previously, South Koreans were <br />considered one year old at birth.<br />Additionally, everyone in the country was considered to have aged by a year on the <br />first of January as opposed to their birthdays.<br />Both of those age-counting methods were scrapped, and international standards of determining age based on birth date were adopted. .<br />When President Yoon Suk Yeol ran for office last year, he pushed for the change, saying it created "unnecessary social and economic costs.".<br />For example, determining age for <br />insurance purposes or government <br />assistance programs often caused disputes.<br />However, some statutes that utilize <br />one's "counting age" will remain.<br />For example, cigarettes and alcohol can <br />be purchased in the country from the <br />year someone turns 19, rather than the day.<br />Most other East Asian countries have also done away with the traditional age-counting methods.<br />Japan started using the international <br />standard for counting age in 1950.<br />North Korea did the same in the 1980s.<br />North Korea did the same in the 1980s
