Korean culture calculates age differently than Western cultures, adding one year at birth and another year on January 1st, regardless of the actual date of birth. This system is known as "Korean Age" or "East Asian Age," and it was adopted during the Joseon Dynasty to show respect to elders and differentiate between those born in the same year. Korean age affects everyday life, including school admission, legal drinking age, and military service. The confusion that can arise when Koreans interact with people from other cultures who have different age systems can lead to miscommunication and misunderstandings. The Korean government has attempted to simplify age calculation by introducing the "International Age" system, but it has yet to gain widespread adoption in everyday life. Understanding cultural differences such as age calculation is important when interacting with people from different backgrounds.