South Korea Adopts International Age Counting Method (Free ESL Lesson)
Lesson made on June 29, 2023
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Reading Lesson:
In South Korea, people have just become one or two years younger thanks to a change in how they count age! This might sound surprising, but it's all because of the switch from their traditional method to the international standard of counting age.
In the traditional Korean way, someone was considered to be one year old right when they're born. Then, they would add another year to their age every January 1st, no matter when their birthday was. So, a baby born late in December would turn two years old just a few days later!
But now, the rule has been changed. People in South Korea will start at zero years old when they are born, just like a newborn baby, and they'll only turn one year older on their actual birthday. This method, known as the "international age," has been used in South Korea since the 1960s for important stuff like medical records and legal documents, but in day-to-day life, many people still used the old way.
This switch was made to prevent any mix-ups and disagreements that sometimes happened because of the two different age counting methods. In fact, according to a survey done by the government last year, most South Koreans (86%) were ready to use the international age in their everyday life when the new laws kicked in.
However, in South Korea, there is still another way they count age for certain things. This includes when you can join the army, start school, or become old enough to drink or smoke. This system also starts counting at zero at birth and adds a year every January 1st. Officials say that this method isn't going to change just yet.
Comprehension Questions:
Speaking and Writing Activities:
- Discuss these questions with a partner or a small group.
- Choose one topic and write a response to it. Show your writing to a classmate or teacher.
1. What is a good legal age for driving, drinking alcohol, or voting? Explain your opinions.
2. In the USA, they use different measurement systems than the rest of the world, such as feet, inches, and Fahrenheit. Do you think they should change them?
3. What is the best age to be, and why?
More Reading Practice:
What is the legal voting age around the world?
The voting age—the age at which one is legally allowed to participate in an election—varies widely around the globe. The concept of a voting age exists to ensure that those casting votes have reached a certain level of maturity and understanding, enabling them to make informed decisions about who will lead their nation. Different countries have diverse perspectives on when a person gains this ability, leading to a range of voting ages worldwide.
Many countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, have set their voting age at 18 years old. These nations believe that by this age, individuals are usually mature enough to weigh the pros and cons of various political stances and make well-considered decisions. They also align this age with other legal milestones such as the age of adulthood, or the age at which one can legally sign contracts, join the military, and make other important decisions.
On the other hand, there are countries that have even lower voting ages. For example, Argentina and Austria have lowered their voting age to 16. They believe that young people at this age are already engaging in many adult activities, like working and paying taxes, and thus should have a say in government matters.
Meanwhile, a few countries have higher voting ages. For instance, the United Arab Emirates has set its voting age at 25. They believe that a higher age limit ensures a more mature voting population.
It's important to note that these ages are not set in stone. Countries can and do change their voting ages in response to social, political, and cultural shifts. For example, Japan and South Korea both lowered their voting ages from 20 to 18 in the past few years, reflecting changing views on youth maturity and engagement.
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