Professional Certified Translations in South Korea
If you need to submit documents for official purposes in South Korea, and they are not in Korean, you need certified translations.
These certified translations (번역공증 (beonyeogongjeung)) must be completed by professional translators authorised under the Licensed Administrative Agent Act or the Public Administrative Attorney Act. They provide certified translations that include their name, licence number, seal, contact details, and a signed statement confirming the accuracy of the translation.
Once translated, the document can be notarised by a notary public. Notarisation confirms that the translator's identity and signature are genuine. However, it does not verify the accuracy of the translation's content. Notarised translations are often requested when submitting documents to local authorities or institutions in South Korea.
Furthermore, if you need to authenticate your documents for use in South Korea, you may need to go through a legalization process.
If your document was issued outside South Korea, it must first be authenticated by the competent authority in the issuing country (such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs), then legalized by the South Korean embassy or consulate in that country.
Only documents issued by South Korea can be apostilled by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or the Ministry of Justice in Korea. This is because South Korea is part of the Hague Apostille Convention (since 2007), which allows apostilled Korean public documents to be recognised in over 120 other countries.
Choosing the right translation provider is important for your official applications. At Translayte, we provide legally valid certified Korean translation, Korean to English translation, or any other language pair. Our translations meet all legal and institutional requirements in South Korea, so your documents are accepted for official use.
Why do you Need Certified Translations in South Korea?
You need certified translations in South Korea for a wide range of official purposes. These include;
Immigration and Visa Applications
If you’re applying for a visa, work permit, or residency in South Korea, you’ll need certified translations of supporting documents like birth certificates, marriage certificates, police background checks, and employment contracts. These documents may require notarisation, apostille, or consular legalisation depending on their origin.
Foreign Business Registration
Foreign companies registering in South Korea must submit key documents such as articles of incorporation, board resolutions, and powers of attorney translated into Korean. Korean regulations also require that the company name be written in Hangul (Korean script) for official registration and documentation.
University Admissions and Study in Korea
International students applying to Korean universities are commonly asked to submit certified Korean translations of their academic transcripts, diplomas, and proof of financial support.
Legal or Court-Related Matters
For individuals involved in legal cases such as inheritance, divorce, or civil disputes, South Korean courts require certified translations of legal documents. This may include court rulings, wills, divorce decrees, or legal agreements.
Personal Matters and Local Authority Submissions
Certified translations are often needed for everyday processes like submitting a foreign driver’s licence, medical records, or insurance claims. If you’re registering with a local clinic, enrolling in health insurance, or dealing with a traffic matter, Korean institutions require translated and, in some cases, notarised documents to process your request smoothly.
Who Requires Certified Translations in South Korea?
Many official authorities request a certified translation into Korean to ensure foreign documents are legally valid. They include;
- Government agencies such as the Ministry of Justice, Immigration Office, and local city halls request certified Korean translations for visa applications, residence permits, marriage registration, and naturalisation.
- Universities and educational institutions require certified translations of transcripts and diplomas from international students applying for admission or scholarship programmes.
- Courts and legal bodies need certified translations in civil, criminal, or family law cases involving foreign documents like divorce decrees, contracts, wills, or legal statements.
- Banks and financial institutions may request certified translations of financial records, employment contracts, or proof of income for account opening, loan applications, or business registrations.
- Korean embassies and consulates abroad, as well as foreign embassies in Korea, also rely on certified translations for verifying supporting documents during visa, passport, or legalisation processes.
- Private companies doing business with international clients or partners often require certified translations of incorporation papers, board resolutions, power of attorney, and legal contracts, especially during business registration or compliance audits.
What Languages do we Translate Into Korean?
- English to Korean / Korean to English
These are our most requested language pair translations for business contracts, immigration documents, academic documents, and legal paperwork.
- Chinese (Simplified & Traditional) to Korean / Korean to Chinese
This language pair is in high demand for business transactions, academic credentials, legal matters, and immigration in South Korea.
- Japanese, Vietnamese, Tagalog (Filipino), and Russian to Korean and vice versa:
We frequently translate documents from these languages for expats, business partners, workers, international students, and legal clients handling residency applications, business transactions, academic submissions, or court documents.
- Other Languages
Beyond the major languages we receive translation requests for in South Korea, we also offer certified translations in over 150 languages, including:
- Thai to Korean
- Indonesian to Korean
- Malay to Korean
- Uzbek to Korean
- Bengali to Korean
- Urdu to Korean
- French to Korean
- German to Korean
- Spanish to Korean
- Italian to Korean
- Polish to Korean
- Portuguese (Brazilian & Portugal) to Korean
- Dutch to Korean
- Romanian to Korean
- Hungarian to Korean
- Turkish to Korean
- Serbian to Korean
Commonly Translated Documents in South Korea
- Personal Documents: Birth certificates, marriage certificates, divorce decrees, passports, national ID cards, driver's licenses, and police clearance certificates.
- Academic Documents: Diplomas, degree certificates, academic transcripts, letters of recommendation, enrollment confirmations, and language proficiency certificates.
- Legal Documents: Contracts, court rulings, divorce decrees, affidavits, wills, powers of attorney, and immigration-related documents.
- Business Documents: Articles of incorporation, shareholder agreements, commercial register excerpts, financial statements, annual reports, company contracts, and patents.
Why Choose Translayte for Certified Translations in South Korea?
- Guaranteed Acceptance: Our certified English to Korean translation is recognised and accepted by all major institutions, including government agencies, universities, and legal authorities in South Korea, ensuring your documents meet all formal requirements to support your application.
- Expertise: Translayte is a global translation agency with a team of highly experienced translators across various industries and languages. We guarantee that our certified translation services in South Korea are completed by expert translators fluent in both the original and source language and can offer accurate translations that capture the nuances and subtleties of your original content.
- Confidentiality: We take data privacy and security seriously. All our team members are bound by strict non-disclosure agreements, and we implement the latest encryption technologies to protect your files and information.
- Fast Turnaround: We understand the importance of meeting deadlines and are committed to delivering your translations on time, without compromising quality. We offer flexible turnaround times (from 12-24 hours) to suit your project needs and can accommodate urgent requests.
- Native Speakers: All translations are performed by native speakers delivering highly accurate, legally compliant, certified translations in South Korea that are stamped and signed for official use.
- Fast Digital Ordering and Secure Document Handling: You can easily upload your document(s) online through our secure platform for translation. We accept documents in any format: PDF, JPG, DOC, etc. We guarantee the confidentiality and protection of your documents from submission to delivery.
- Quality Assurance: We follow a rigorous, multi-step quality assurance process, including multiple rounds of proofreading and editing to ensure your translations are accurate, clear, and culturally appropriate.
- Personalised Service: We value our clients and are dedicated to providing personalised attention to each project. Our responsive customer support team is available 24/7 to address your concerns and answer any questions you may have.
How Much Does a Certified Translation Cost in South Korea?
The cost of an English to Korean or Korean to English translation in South Korea is from $20 to $100, depending on several factors, such as the language pair, document complexity, and length.
At Translayte, the cost for a certified translation in South Korea starts at $31.75 per page. We ensure you receive high-quality translations, on time, and at affordable rates.
For a free quote, please upload your document to our website or contact our customer service team. We'll provide you with a detailed estimate at no cost.
How to Order a Certified Translation in South Korea
- Navigate to "Check Prices & Place Order" on the top right side of this page.
- Select "Certified Translation".
- Select the source and target languages, respectively.
- Upload the official document that needs translation.
- If you want expedited services, select that option. Provide any extra instructions after this.
- Select the type of certification you require (Also indicate if you need notarisation or apostille services.)
- Click "PROCEED TO ORDER"
- Make the payment securely online. Once your order is placed, our team will assign it to a professional translator, and you'll receive the translated document via email or post within the specified timeframe.
