From K-barbecue to K-Pop and K-dramas, South Korean culture has warmed its way into the hearts of many. The Korean wave has swept the world and ignited an interest in the East Asian country. The “Land of the Morning Calm” is equally known for its beauty trends and the population’s love for physical enhancements.

Diving deeper into the nation’s culture and traditions, a South Korean is one year old at birth. One school of thought suggests that since they already spent nine months in the womb, it’s close enough to one year, hence the addition to their age. Here are other 44 fascinating facts about South Korea that you probably didn’t know.

With Decreasing Enrollment Rates, South Korean Schools Opened Their Doors to Elderly Learners

South Korea has experienced plummeting birth rates since 2015, and rural schools are finding it increasingly difficult to fill classrooms. Several learning institutions found a solution by opening their doors to elderly learners. Specifically, these campuses decided to enroll illiterate grandmothers willing to learn how to read and write.

On the extreme left, Hwang Wol-geum is one of the elderly learners who started attending Daegu Elementary in Gangjin County. Her grandkids are some of her schoolmates, and according to the New York Times, the need to learn how to write letters to her children motivated her to return to school.

A Mini Library in a Seoul Subway Car