Korean birthdays can be very confusing

As we celebrated a long weekend with Family Day, the Koreans were celebrating the Lunar New Year. Half the South Korean population was expected to be traveling this past weekend to visit parents and grandparents.
This family holiday is much like a Christmas holiday as Canadians travel to be with family or the Thanksgiving Holiday in the United States. Like most cultures, the Koreans celebrate with favourite dishes cakes, cookies and sweets.
When Marnie and I traveled about downtown Seoul, in the sewing and fabric street section the “Hanbok” was prominently displayed is colours, and sizes. It is a traditional Korean dress, from the Joseon Dynasty. The simple design without pockets features vibrant colours. The dresses can be a rich silk colour or may be intricately embroidered.
While we celebrate New Years, on the Lunar New Year, children bow to their parents, and grand parents and older relatives and in turn receive a blessing and gifts of money.
Koreans celebrate their age on the lunar calendar. On the day one is born, they are 1 year old. When the next lunar New Year begins they add another year to their age. If one were born on January 1st of this year, this past weekend they would celebrate their second birthday and would be now two. It is really confusing.
All males in Korea go into the military when they turn 20 for two years. After the completion of their service, they are required to receive training regularly and can be reactivated anytime during the next 7 years of their life.
One can’t receive a driver’s license until you turn 20 in Korea.
The government of Korea is now beginning to clamp down on how late students can go to school. Education is greatly valued and competition for placement in better schools begins before kids get to elementary or secondary schools. As a result parents are paying to send their children to private schools called “Hogwans” after school hours. There they will receive lessons in math, science, languages and specialized tutoring.
Many “Hogwans” hold classes until 11:00 at night. Students can then be expected to do homework until 1 or 2 in the morning before crashing to begin school the next day. The government is trying to pass legislation, so that students won’t be in school after 9:00 at night. Often the students are going to the Hogwans to learn English. Children begin at three or four years of age and can write stories in full English sentences before they enter kindergarten.
At our hotel and at tourist sites and museums we were always able to speak with someone who understood English. Public signage throughout Seoul often has an English component. Even when we could not converse to pay bills, we would be shown the numeric number, which would make payment easy. Even then, the people would apologize for not speaking English, and we would acknowledge their efforts.

–Jim Cumming,
Publisher