Korean Translation Services
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Korean Translation Services
Professional Korean Translation Services
AsiaLocalize provides professional and certified Korean translation services for companies reaching South Korea and Korean speakers worldwide. Native Korean linguists translate medical, technology, multimedia, legal and marketing content between Korean and English or other languages, in the right speech level, under an ISO 17100-certified translation and revision process.
Trusted by the world’s leading companies
Quick definition
What are Korean translation services?
Korean translation services convert content between Korean and other languages for readers in South Korea and Korean-speaking communities worldwide. Professional Korean translation chooses the right speech level, follows South Korean spelling and spacing rules, and adapts terminology and tone for each industry.
Korean translation at a glance
- Official language of South Korea and North Korea
- Script: Hangul, an alphabet of 24 basic letters created in the 15th century
- Speech levels mark formality and politeness in every sentence
- Words are grouped into spaced units, with strict spacing rules
- South and North Korean differ in some vocabulary and spelling
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Language challenges
What makes Korean translation difficult?
The US Foreign Service Institute places Korean in Category IV, its hardest group for English speakers. In translation, the main challenges are:
- Speech levels that must match the reader, channel and brand voice
- Verb-final word order and frequently omitted subjects
- Spacing rules that change meaning and affect line breaks
- English loanwords and Konglish that need careful handling
- Honorific titles and forms of address in business communication
- Text length differences that affect UI and subtitles
We agree speech level and terminology with you before translation starts.
Which Korean speech level should your content use?
Korean marks politeness in every sentence ending. Choose the level that fits your audience and channel, then apply it consistently.
| Ending style | Typical use | Our advice | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formal polite (hapsyo-che) | -mnida and -seumnida endings | Official notices, legal and financial text, presentations, announcements | Use for formal and institutional content |
| Informal polite (haeyo-che) | -yo endings | Websites, apps, customer service, most marketing | Default for friendly, respectful customer content |
| Plain and informal styles | Dictionary and casual endings | Headlines, UI labels, social media and content for younger audiences | Use carefully and consistently for a casual brand voice |
Specialist translation
Which types of Korean translation do we provide?
Specialist Korean translators for regulated, technical and creative content.
Korean medical translation
Life sciences content from anesthesia reports to pharmaceutical documents, handled by medical specialists.
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Technology translation
Electronics, IT and software content localized for a fast-moving Korean market.
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Multimedia localization
Film, entertainment, subtitling and dubbing with voice-over talent and localization engineers.
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Korean legal translation
Court documents, business contracts and privacy policies with precise legal terminology.
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Our team
Who works on your Korean project?
We match you with native Korean linguists who are subject-matter specialists, supported by experienced project managers, DTP experts and localization engineers who keep your content accurate and visually consistent.
- Native Korean linguists with subject expertise
- Three-step quality process: translation, revision and final checks
- Translation memory and glossaries for consistent terminology
- DTP and engineering support for layouts, apps and media
Services
What other Korean language services do we offer?
One native Korean team for documents, digital products and media.
Document translation
Contracts, reports, manuals and certificates translated by native Korean linguists.
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Website localization
Korean websites with localized SEO, formats and natural copy.
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App localization
UI strings and app store listings in the right speech level.
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Game localization
In-game text, UI and store content for Korean players.
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eLearning localization
Courses and training material for Korean learners.
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Interpreting
Korean interpreters by phone or video for meetings and appointments.
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Industries
Which industries do our Korean translators serve?
Native Korean translators for regulated, technical and consumer content.
Marketing Korean translation
Campaigns, advertising and social content.
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Gaming Korean localization
In-game text and store pages.
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Manufacturing Korean translation
Specifications, SOPs and quality documents.
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Pharmaceutical Korean translation
Labels, regulatory and clinical documents.
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Financial Korean translation
Banking, reports and investor communications.
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Telecom Korean translation
Network, device and support content.
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Ecommerce Korean localization
Product listings and checkout flows.
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eLearning Korean localization
Courses and training programs.
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More languages
Which other Asian languages do we translate?
Expanding across Asia? We translate the main languages of East and Southeast Asia.
Why Choose Us?
What clients say about our work
Need Korean translation?
Tell us about your audience, content and deadline, and we will send a clear quote. Native Korean linguists handle translation, revision and final checks, and we support 120+ languages if you need more.
Frequently Asked Questions About Korean Translation
How many languages are spoken in South Korea?
Korean is the national language of South Korea and is spoken by almost the entire population. Regional dialects exist, and the Seoul dialect is the basis of standard Korean used in business, media and education.
Is English widely used in South Korea?
English is taught widely, but most consumers and many business partners prefer Korean, especially for contracts, product information and customer support. Professional Korean translation helps you build trust and avoid misunderstandings.
Which Korean speech level should I use?
Most customer-facing content uses the informal polite haeyo-che style, while official notices, legal and financial documents use the formal polite hapsyo-che style. We agree the level with you before we start.
How much does Korean translation cost?
Korean translation is usually priced per source word. The rate depends on subject matter, file format, turnaround and any desktop publishing needed. Send us your files and we will provide a detailed quote.
Do you provide certified Korean translations?
Yes. We provide certified Korean translations of legal, academic and business documents with a signed statement of accuracy. Requirements vary by authority, so tell us where the translation will be submitted.
Do you translate Korean video and entertainment content?
Yes. We provide Korean subtitling, dubbing scripts and voice-over for film, entertainment, training and marketing content.
How do I get a quote for Korean translation?
Send the files or describe the scope, the target audience and your deadline. We assess the material and come back with a quote covering what the work involves.
