Korean Zodiac

Twelve animals, Korean astrological heritage

Signs: 12 Origin: ~6th c. AD Region: East Asian

The Signs

Years: 2020, 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

丑

Chuk (Ox)

Years: 2021, 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

寅

In (Tiger)

Years: 2022, 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

卯

Myo (Rabbit)

Years: 2023, 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

辰

Jin (Dragon)

Years: 2024, 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

巳

Sa (Snake)

Years: 2025, 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

午

O (Horse)

Years: 2026, 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

未

Mi (Goat)

Years: 2027, 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

申

Sin (Monkey)

Years: 2028, 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

酉

Yu (Rooster)

Years: 2029, 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

戌

Sul (Dog)

Years: 2030, 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

亥

Hae (Boar)

Years: 2031, 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971 (every 12 years). Note: the Korean zodiac follows the lunar calendar — the year begins at Seollal (Korean Lunar New Year), which falls in late January or early February. Those born in January or early February should verify the exact Seollal date for their birth year.

History & Origins

The Korean zodiac — your tti (띠) — is not a native Korean invention: it is the Chinese twelve-animal cycle, adopted through centuries of exchange with China. The twelve animals run in the familiar order (Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Pig), and unlike some of its neighbours Korea kept the Dragon rather than swapping in a local creature. The animals are the twelve Earthly Branches (십이지, sibiji) — one half of the sexagenary system that pairs them with ten Heavenly Stems to form a 60-year cycle.

The system reached Korea during the Three Kingdoms period (roughly 57 BCE–668 CE), together with the lunar-solar calendar and much else of Sinitic learning. By the era of Unified Silla it was thoroughly at home — and Koreans still change their animal year not on 1 January but at Seollal, the Lunar New Year of late January or February, the most important holiday of the year.

Where Korea made the system unmistakably its own is in art and cosmology. Under Unified Silla it developed the sibijisin (십이지신) — twelve guardian deities with animal heads and human bodies, carved in stone around royal tombs. These were no mere decoration: each guardian stood at the compass point matching its animal's place in the cosmos, warding the tomb from that direction. The idea of twelve guardians had Buddhist and Chinese roots, but the stone zodiac guardians ringing the Silla tombs are a distinctively Korean elaboration.

So the honest picture is a familiar one: the signs themselves are Chinese, shared across much of East Asia, not an ancient Korean creation. What is distinctively Korean is everything built around them — the tomb guardians, the weight of the tti in identity and fortune-telling, and its central place at Seollal, where families still mark which animal governs the coming year. Adopted, yes; but made deeply, unmistakably Korean.

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