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South Koreans to become a year or two younger

Being Younger - Level 0

A South Korean law will make people a year or two younger. There were three ways Koreans could tell their age. One was an "international age". A baby is a year old a year after it is born. The second was a "Korean age" – a baby is one when they are born, and a year is added every January. There was also a "calendar age".

Age in Korea is now simpler. Documents will use the international age. This will be the age for drinking, getting married, and smoking. Some people will still use the Korean age. A woman was happy. She is two years younger. She tweeted: "I turned two years old two weeks after I was born, as I was born in December."

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Being Younger - Level 1

A South Korean law will make people a year or two younger. Before the law, there were three ways people could tell their age. One was an "international age". A baby becomes one year old a year after it is born. The second was a "Korean age" – babies are a year old when they are born, and a year is added every January. The third method was a "calendar age". Babies are zero years old at birth, and a year is added every January.

The new law makes age in Korea simpler. All official documents will use the international age. This will be the legal age for drinking, getting married, and smoking. It will end the problems of the old system. However, some people will still use the Korean age. A woman was happy with the simpler law, and of being younger. She tweeted: "I turned two years old two weeks after I was born, as I was born in December. Finally, I'm about to get my real age back."

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Being Younger - Level 2

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A law in South Korea will make people a year or two younger. The law was passed last Thursday. Before then, there were three ways people could tell their age. South Koreans had three ages. One was an "international age". This is how most people in the world calculate their age. A baby becomes one year old a year after it is born. The second was a "Korean age" – babies are a year old on the day they are born, and then a year is added every January the 1st. The third method was a "calendar age". Babies are zero years old at birth, and a year is added to their age every January the 1st.

The new law makes age in Korea simpler. It will end confusion about how old people are. From June, all official documents will use the international age. This will be the legal age for drinking, getting married, smoking, and military service. It will help to end the problems of the old system. However, some people will use the Korean age in informal situations. A Twitter user was happy with the simpler law. She tweeted: "I'll become two years younger.…I turned two years old two weeks after I was born, as I was born in December. Finally, I'm about to get my real age back."

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11 online activities    |    8-page printable   (PDF)

Being Younger - Level 3

A new law in South Korea means South Koreans will be a year or two younger. The law was passed last Thursday. Before it was passed, there were three different ways that people could tell their age. South Koreans could have three ages. One was an "international age". This is the same as how most people in the world calculate their age. A baby is zero at birth and becomes one year old a year after it is born. The second was a "Korean age". Under this system, babies are considered a year old on the day they are born, and then a year is added every January the 1st. The third method was a "calendar age". This makes babies zero years old at birth, and a year is added to their age every January the 1st.

The new law simplifies age in South Korea. Lawmakers hope it will end confusion about how old people are. From June 2023, all official documents must use the standard international age. It will be used for the legal ages for drinking, getting married, smoking, and military service. It should help to end legal and social problems caused by the old system. However, many people will continue to use the Korean age in informal situations. A Korean Twitter user was relieved there is a new law to make things simpler. She tweeted: "I'll become two years younger. I'm so happy. I turned two years old two weeks after I was born, as I was born in December. Finally, I'm about to get my real age back."

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