Frequently Asked Questions

Translation Services – FAQs

How will I be able to view and print the Korean translation if my computer only has an English version of Windows®?

This is probably the most common question we get from clients. Fortunately, there are easy solutions available.

If you have Office 2000® or XP® or later, then one of the installation options on the original program CD is the Asian Fonts Pack. If you install this, you will not have any trouble manipulating, viewing or printing the translation you receive from us.

If you don’t have Office 2000® or above, then we’ve got other easy options too. Using Adobe Reader® (a free download from www.adobe.com), you can view the PDF document we send on any computer platform.

We can also convert your document to a graphic format that will be viewable using a standard Internet browser.

If your document is being prepared for professional printing, we are able to work with your local print shop to deliver just the right format for high-quality four-color printing.

We can even just fax your translation or send you printed hardcopies from our color laser printer if this would be most convenient for you.

We’re experts at what we do and you WILL easily be able to receive and use your translation in any format required.


How do I know you will do a good job on my translation project?

Our experts are all professionals with extensive experience in their respective fields and your job will be assigned to the appropriate translator, proofreader and/or designer.

Our translation process into Korean always includes an initial translation by a first language expert – and then a thorough review by a second translator. If your project requires typesetting and desktop publishing, a design expert will handle this step. Finally, the final file will be reviewed one last time for final proofing before we deliver to you.

We use the latest technology to achieve efficient collaboration between team members and our approach ensures that we deliver the highest quality work to you. We have been in this business for many years and are proud of our record.


Will you use a computer program to translate my project or does a real person do it?

Machine translation software is useful for providing the gist of a block of foreign-language text but the quality is very poor due to the intrinsic complexity of human language. Thus, for the majority of important jobs, machine translation is virtually useless. In almost every case, you really must employ the services of a human translator.

We never use automatic machine translation software and if you send your work to us, the job will be performed by a professional human translator.


Are your translations certified?

Yes, for an additional fee, we can prepare and mail you a hardcopy of a notarized certification of your translation. This will be recognized by a court of law and by government agencies.


How much do your services cost?

Each project is different, and project prices depend on a wide range of factors. Therefore, we will need to see your document (by e-mail, fax or hardcopy) and learn a few additional details about your project before providing a quote.


Our document for translation is confidential? How can we be sure it will stay that way after I send it to you?

As professionals, we have handled many confidential projects in the past. Rest assured that we maintain the highest standards of confidentiality on every document that is sent to us. Your file or hardcopy will only be seen on a need-to-know basis within our organization and we will be glad to back this promise up by signing your non-disclosure agreement, too.


Your price is lower/higher than some of your competitors. Why is this?

Because we specialize only in Korea and the Korean-language, our rates are very competitive among quality providers. General translation agencies that handle many different languages subcontract nearly every project to freelancer translators and single-language agencies and so, because their prices are generally quite high, they are really only able to add significant value on multi-lingual projects. Therefore, if you only need Korean translation, then you will save money by dealing with a specialist agency like Korean Consulting & Translation Service, Inc.

On the other hand, we are not the cheapest supplier in the market. However, the quality of our work is second to none and we stand behind our work in extraordinary ways that our competitors cannot match. Our quality control processes mean that your important documents are delivered with the highest quality.


We need this document translated quickly! How fast can you do it?

We can provide amazingly quick turnaround on just about any project, if necessary. While we are often able to deliver 2-3 day turnaround even at standard rates, rush charges may apply in exceptional circumstances. Contact us with information about your project and we’ll be glad to discuss your options.


Do you handle small, personal jobs?

Yes, we do. Just email us your file and we will be glad to quote you a reasonable price.


I have a super easy question that won’t take but a moment. Will you do it for free?

No, unfortunately this is not possible. Even small jobs often turn out to involve more effort than expected and incur legal responsibility on our part. Due to the many requests we get for such work, we are unable to handle these small jobs for free.

Steven Bammel

Steven S. Bammel is president and chief translator/consultant at Korean Consulting & Translation Service, Inc. A graduate of the University of Texas at Arlington (B.B.A. Economics) and Hanyang University (M.S. Management Strategy), Steven has worked for over twenty years in Korean business and translation. | more about Steven

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