Tottenham Hotspur forward Son Heung-Min has recently become a year younger in the eyes of his native South Korea. A change in the country’s age counting system has caused a ripple effect, prompting a shift in how citizens’ ages are recognized.
Let’s have a look at more details of the Age Reversal Phenomenon in South Korea : Son Heung-Min
The Traditional Korean Age System
- For centuries, South Korea employed a unique age counting system.
- Babies were considered one year old at birth, with the gestation period included in their age calculation.
- On every January 1st, individuals would automatically become one year older, regardless of their actual birth month.
The International Age Counting System
- South Korea had already been using the international system, where babies are considered to be zero at birth, for official purposes such as medical and legal documentation.
- Under this system, individuals’ ages increase by one year annually on their birthdays.
The Law Change
- In December, Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol campaigned for the abolition of the traditional age counting method, aiming to align the country’s practices with international standards.
- The law finally took effect this week, resulting in every member of the Korean populace becoming either one or two years younger collectively.
Son Heung-Min’s Age Reversal
- Son Heung-Min, born on July 8, 1992, is 30 years old according to the international age system.
- With the recent constitutional changes, he is now officially recognized as being a year younger in South Korea.
- However, this alteration will not impact Son’s registration information with Tottenham Hotspur, as clubs are required to provide the Premier League with a verified date of birth rather than an age.
Benefits and Impact
- The shift to a unified age counting system aims to minimize disputes and confusion caused by the disparity between the traditional and international methods.
- By aligning with global practices, South Korea expects reduced legal disputes, complaints, and societal confusion regarding age calculations.
Son Heung-Min’s sudden age reversal highlights the recent transformation in South Korea’s age counting system. As the country embraces international standards, citizens now share a collective experience of becoming a year younger. While Son’s status in Europe remains unaffected, this change reflects the ongoing efforts to streamline age recognition and mitigate societal complexities arising from differing age counting methodologies.
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