So, it was my birthday yesterday, or today depending on your timezone. Because of the local voting this week, I had Wednesday off, and we visited the Naju Image Theme Park and had some ice cream. Plans for the weekend include going to Seoul, get some good food, hang out with friends, and drink. Probably, profusely drink and get into shenanigans together, because what else are friends for?

Never been a big cake person anyways.

Anyways, Korea has a unique way of counting age. It is based on the Confucius thinking that life starts at conception, so you are considered one year old when you are born. Then, you turn another year old at New Years (technically lunar, legally Jan. 1st) So, for me, my western age is 24, my Korean age is 25, I will turn another Korean year older on New Year's Day. Is that confusing? If you said yes, don't worry, it is.

Why does Age matter?

Well, going back to Confucius, it comes from the pillars of this belief for living a good life. That belief is respect for elders and those above you. So, if someone is older than you, you should call them by different titles. Examples of these are:

For men

• to an older man: 형 (hyung)
• to an older woman: 누나 (noona)

For women

• to an older woman: 언니 (unnie)
• to an older man: 오빠 (oppa)

Same age: 친구 (chingu) means friend
Younger than you (men and women): 동생 (dongsaeng) or just call them by name

Even the way you talk to people is different with the highest forms reserved for your grandparents or the CEO of your company. I could go on with other examples, but you understand what I mean.

Other Important age-related things

First birthday 돌잔치 (doljanchi)

I've had one experience of this; it was my friend's nephew's first birthday. He told me it was a big thing. I didn't think it would be that big of a celebration though. They had a whole reception hall that is specifically for first birthdays reserved. An entire buffet with sushi and dessert, a professional photographer, and a comedian. Never seen such a thing for a baby's birthday in my life. Then, they also put a bunch of items in front of the kid to decide what their strengths will be. So, if the baby picks up a microphone (entertainer), food (won't go hungry), money (wealthy), pen (smarts), thread (long life). There are other things as well that can be options.

60th birthday 환갑 (Hwangap)

This is basically what we think of like the over the hill birthday in Korea, a celebration of your long life. It also has to do with zodiac signs aligning every 60 years. With everyone having longer lives today, a lot of people are starting to move the big celebration to 70 years, instead of 60.

Alright, I hope you learned something new reading this post about age in Korea. There are tons of other things that I could go on about, but I think this is enough for today. Now, I have to start preparing for my birthday weekend!!

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