Whether you require Korean translation of software, documents, or online material, you need a Korean translator with the requisite education, accreditation, professional development, and technical skills for the job. Every project makes different demands on a translator, from technical terminology to tight deadlines. For this reason, it is critical to understand what qualifications are required for Korean translators, and their relative importance.

Education

Educational requirements vary, but most professional Korean translators have at least a Bachelor's degree and many have earned their Master's degrees. Korean translators who specialize in a field such as pharmaceuticals or law usually possess additional educational or professional experience in that field.

Accreditation

Different countries have different accreditation programs. In the United States, the American Translators Association offers one accreditation program. It is important to remember that although a Korean translator may not have formal accreditation, he/she may still have the experience and education to be a highly-skilled, professional translator.

Professional Development

Perhaps even more so than during their education, successful Korean translators need to develop specialized translation skills in the course of their careers. The more professional experience an Korean translator has, the more likely he or she is to have mastered specialized terminology (telecommunications, for example), approaches to subject matter research, and the ability to maintain efficiency and accuracy under tight deadlines. Exposure to a wide variety of clients and project types also increases a Korean translator's skill set.

Technical skills

Beyond pure linguistic talents, modern translators need to have proficiency with translation memory (TM) tools such as Trados, Déjà Vu, or Catalyst. Such tools assist translators in managing terminology and repurposing repeated text for added consistency and efficiency. In addition to TM tools, it is helpful if Korean translators have a working knowledge of desktop publishing applications.

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