Interpretation services for foreigners in Korea

Su-hyeon: Guys, have you heard of bbb Korea?

Jessie: You 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.

Jacques: It's free? Is it available in French, too?

Su-hyeon: Uh-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.

Jacques: I 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.

Pedro: In 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.

Jessie: That'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.

Pedro: 1345 also provides service in 20 languages and is available from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., so keep that in mind.

Jacques: Thank you so much.

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

Huong: Of 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.

Pedro: Does 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.

Huong: When 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-hyeon: You can also report here any inconvenience at the tourist spots. Just be sure to present documented evidence like receipts when you report one.

Pedro: This is crucial information when traveling in Korea. Planning will be so much easier.

Jessie: Here's something I found when I moved in Korea. When looking for housing or a job, I recommend Danuri Helpline 1577-1366.

Huong: Right, 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.

Jacques: Wow, 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!

Written by Kim Hyelin
Translated by Yoon Hee Young
Illustrated by Yuhaill
kimhyelin211@korea.kr