PURPOSES : This study was performed to evaluate the short-term aging (SA) protocols of the normal hot-mix asphalt (HMA) mixture, to explore problems, and to suggest proper procedures based on fundamental principles of SA in terms of the SA temperature (T) and length of time (Lt) in existing specifications in several countries including Korea. METHODS : As the SA in our lab is a simulation of field SA, which is an inevitable procedure occurring naturally in the current field practice, major SA guidelines of foreign countries and Korea were reviewed to investigate problems that showed discrepancies with field practice. The aging quantity (Aq) model was introduced as a function of T and Lt, based on the correlation with absolute viscosity (AV) to estimate Aq by T and Lt. The normal SA (NSA) was suggested through an example procedure inducing binder aging level similar to the RTFOtreated binder AV or Aq. Based on the NSA Aq level, lower, proper, or higher SA conditions were discovered from the existing SA guidelines. RESULTS : As Aq has excellent correlation with AV, the proper T and Lt for NSA as an example was suggested based on the AV of RTFOtreated binder to induce an Aq range of 19,000-25,000 min.℃. It was found that there were several problems in the existing guidelines in USA and Korea. These included lower T, shorter or longer Lt, and air blowing or stirring the mix during SA, which were not matched with the practical condition of loaded HMA mixtures that were short-term aged under hot temperatures in trucks. CONCLUSIONS : It was concluded that there are several problems in the current SA guidelines, which do not provide proper HMA temperature to mixtures for proper (modal) length of time. Therefore, these guidelines should be reevaluated carefully and revised based on the fundamental field SA principle. The NSA condition should be suggested using proper HMA T and modal Lt for better simulation of field SA practice.