[WHY] Social dilemma behind the Korean age controversy

[Korea JoongAng Daily Kim Jee-Hee] (전략) Despite the cultural barriers, a growing number of Koreans are calling for change. 

According to a survey by market research firm Hankook Research held in December last year on 1,000 Koreans, 82 percent of respondents used Korean age when telling their age to someone else; 71 percent thought that the country should only use international age and stop using Korean age. 

The results show a stark contrast to a past survey done by another market research firm, Realmeter, in 2016. Then, 46.8 percent of the 529 respondents said Korean age should be kept, and 44 percent said the country should only use international age. 

Asked to choose the major reasons why they wanted change, 53 percent of the respondents to the Hankook Research survey said the biggest reason is to reduce the confusion and social costs created in the legal and administrative sector. Fifty percent also said the change is necessary to align with international standards. (후략)

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