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While in Korea

Interpretation Services for Foreigners in Korea

How can foreign residents of Korea who are not fluent in Korean get information about their stay? Su-hyeon discusses with her friends interpretation services for such residents.

Written by •  Kim Hyelin      Illustrated by •  Yuhaill

1

Su-hyeonGuys, have you heard of bbb Korea?

JessieYou mean the free three-way interpretation service? Yes, I¡¯ve used it once. I was once hospitalized when I wasn¡¯t fluent in Korean, but could understand the hospital¡¯s explanation well thanks to bbb Korea.

JacquesIt¡¯s free? Is it available in French, too?

Su-hyeonUh-huh, the service is available 24 hours a day in 20 languages including French. A non-profit organization registered with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism runs the service through volunteers who can speak foreign languages. I learned of it while helping my Indonesian friend, an exchange student, and it seems useful for foreign friends because they can use it whenever they need interpretation.

2

JacquesI see. Is there an interpretation service other than bbb Korea? I have a lot of questions about laws on staying in Korea, but I don¡¯t know whom to ask.

PedroIn that case, just use the 1345 Immigration Contact Center, an affiliate of the Ministry of Justice. It¡¯s very useful if you need information about a work visa since it offers counseling on civil affairs in immigration and stay.

JessieThat¡¯s right. There are also three-way interpretation services offered by public organizations such as the Korean National Police Agency and the National Tax Service, so use these services if you have a problem in Korea.

Pedro1345 also provides service in 20 languages and is available from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., so keep that in mind.

JacquesThank you so much.

3

Su-hyeonThere are other interpretation services as well. Have you heard of the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline?

HuongOf course. The last time I came to Korea for travel, I had a problem with my accommodations and the counselor was so nice and helpful.

PedroDoes 1330 specialize in tourism information? That¡¯s good, because I was looking for routes and accommodations to travel solo around the Jeolla-do provinces by bicycle. I should definitely use it.

HuongWhen you call 1330, you¡¯ll get answers in a foreign language to questions on planning a trip in Korea. Or you can use interpretation services if you have difficulty communicating with employees at accommodations, restaurants or malls. The services are available 24 hours a day in eight languages.

Su-hyeonYou can also report here any inconvenience at the tourist spots. Just be sure to present documented evidence like receipts when you report one.

PedroThis is crucial information when traveling in Korea. Planning will be so much easier.

4

JessieHere¡¯s something I found when I moved in Korea. When looking for housing or a job, I recommend Danuri Helpline 1577-1366.

HuongRight, Danuri Helpline is so useful. Its purpose is to help marriage immigrants settle here and provide comprehensive information for multicultural families. It helped me a lot when I was looking for a job. The service is available year-round in 13 languages.

JacquesWow, I¡¯m impressed how varied the guides in foreign languages and free interpretation services are. I was often embarrassed when I found it hard to communicate with Koreans freely, but feel relieved with these services. Su-hyeon: You guys are more than welcome to ask for my help if you have any problems while in Korea, but I might not be available at all times. So it¡¯s good for you to keep a close eye on this information. I also learned a lot today. Thank you all!

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