Refugee News shares information for refugees and migrants living in Korea in multiple languages. This article explains the translation principles we follow when moving that information across languages. Recommended translations for individual terms are covered in the multilingual glossary; this article explains the broader reasoning behind those choices. These principles apply MAP’s Easy-to-Read Information Production Guide to translation work, and draw on the people-centered approach of the U.S. USDR’s Spanish Translation Guide for Benefits Programs.

Our Approach

The goal of translation is to help readers make the right decisions for their own situation. Before translating anything, we think about three things. First, plain language: rather than carrying legal and administrative terms over word for word, we unpack them into everyday language that anyone can understand. Second, people-centered writing: we keep the reader’s situation in mind while making sure the facts stay accurate. Third, precision about residence status: even within the everyday word “refugee,” the legal situation can differ significantly, and blurring those differences causes readers to misunderstand their own rights.

Translation Principles

  • Korean is the source. All other languages are produced from the Korean. If something is wrong, do not correct it in only one language — fix the Korean source first.
  • Plain language, but accurate. Write as though you are speaking kindly to the reader. Put only one idea in each sentence and use everyday words.
  • Do not blur residence status. Legal categories such as asylum seeker (refugee applicant), humanitarian stay holder (G-1), and recognized refugee (F-2-4) are legally distinct situations, and translations must reflect those distinctions clearly. Visa and residence codes (for example G-1, F-2-4) are kept as-is.
  • A careful tone for legal, residence-status, and cost information. Do not include reassurances that promise a particular outcome (“don’t worry”). Note that outcomes depend on each person’s situation, cite official sources, and add the instruction to verify with the Immigration Contact Center (1345) or the competent Korea Immigration Service (KIS) office.

Warm, reassuring language is used only in health, mental health, and victim-support content.

  • Numbers and names are facts. Write monetary amounts, ages, and dates exactly as they appear in the Korean source, using Arabic numerals. Take institution and program names from the glossary; do not guess.
  • Translate the whole article. Every section heading that appears in the Korean must appear in the translation as well.

Things We Are Especially Careful About

The detailed terminology is in the glossary, but the following points are highlighted here as principles because a mistranslation directly affects readers.

  • Distinctions in residence status. In everyday speech people may all be called “refugees,” but someone waiting for a decision is an asylum seeker (refugee applicant), someone staying for humanitarian reasons is a humanitarian stay holder (G-1), and only someone whose status has been legally recognized is a recognized refugee (F-2-4). We do not group all three together.
  • “Protection” in Korean immigration contexts does not mean care. The word “보호” (boho) in “외국인보호소” (foreigner detention center) means detention, not protection or care. We do not translate it as “protection” or “care” in any language.
  • Health insurance, benefits, and support programs are different things. Contributions you pay into health insurance, benefits paid to eligible recipients, and advance payments you repay later are all separate systems. Translate them distinctly.
  • Keep numbers as they are. Write large Korean numbers out in full digits (1억 원 → 100,000,000 won), translate the range symbol ~ as “X to Y,” and never omit or change hotline numbers (119, 112, 1345, 1577-1366).

Glossary and Per-Language Review

Recommended spellings in each language for institution names, policy names, visa categories, organization names, and key concepts are listed by category in the multilingual glossary. We produce a first draft using AI machine translation, then a reviewer (L1 or L2 in each language) refines it. Correct terms found during review are added back to the glossary so that all future translations inherit them.

References