Freelance Korean Interpreter and Translator

SILA Linguists; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 25,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Remote work

Fair compensation

Professional development

Operations support

Varied assignments

Flexible schedule

Job summary

SILA Linguists is seeking freelance Korean interpreters and translators to handle business, legal, healthcare and education assignments across the UK. You will interpret in business and formal settings, translate documents between Korean and English, and maintain strict confidentiality.

We value accuracy, glossary building, and timely delivery, with remote video/phone work and on-site bookings. North/South Korea vocabulary awareness and DBS clearance for healthcare or education work are

Qualifications

• Excellent spoken and written Korean and English, with the ability to switch register for different clients.
• The DPSI (Diploma in Public Service Interpreting), DPI or an equivalent qualification is an advantage; CIOL or ITI membership is welcome.
• Awareness of North Korean vocabulary differences is an advantage.
• Willingness to complete a DBS check for assignments in healthcare, education or with vulnerable people.
• Right to work in the UK if you will take on-site assignments in the UK.
• A reliable internet connection, headset and quiet, private workspace for remote assignments.

Responsibilities

• Interpret in business and formal settings using the correct speech levels.
• Translate commercial, technical and legal documents between Korean and English.
• Keep everything you hear and read on assignments strictly confidential, and remain impartial throughout.
• Build and maintain your own glossaries for the sectors you work in.
• Deliver written translations that are accurate, complete and proofread, on or before the agreed deadline.
• Produce accurate transcripts and English translations of recorded Korean speech, for example police interviews or research recordings.

Skills

Korean language proficiency

English language proficiency

Register switching

Remote/onsite flexibility

Education

DPSI / DPI or equivalent

CIOL or ITI membership welcome

Job description

SILA Linguists® recruits freelance Korean interpreters and translators for business, legal, healthcare and education assignments. Business work forms a large share of Korean assignments.

Korean speakers in the UK include long-established communities, students and staff of Korean companies. Correct use of speech levels and honorifics is important in Korean, especially in business and formal settings. Some clients are from North Korea, whose vocabulary differs in places from South Korean usage.

Requests include business meetings and contract translation, technical documentation, university and school matters, healthcare and legal proceedings.

Responsibilities

• Interpret in business and formal settings using the correct speech levels.
• Translate commercial, technical and legal documents between Korean and English.
• Keep everything you hear and read on assignments strictly confidential, and remain impartial throughout.
• Build and maintain your own glossaries for the sectors you work in.
• Deliver written translations that are accurate, complete and proofread, on or before the agreed deadline.
• Produce accurate transcripts and English translations of recorded Korean speech, for example police interviews or research recordings.

Requirements

• Excellent spoken and written Korean and English, with the ability to switch register for different clients.
• The DPSI (Diploma in Public Service Interpreting), DPI (Diploma in Police Interpreting) or an equivalent qualification is an advantage; CIOL or ITI membership is welcome.
• Awareness of North Korean vocabulary differences is an advantage.
• Willingness to complete a DBS check for assignments in healthcare, education or with vulnerable people.
• Right to work in the UK if you will take on‑site assignments in the UK.
• A reliable internet connection, headset and quiet, private workspace for remote assignments.

What we offer

• Remote work by video and telephone, plus on‑site bookings.
• Fair compensation for your skills and time.
• Opportunities for professional development.
• Help from our operations team before and after assignments.
• Varied assignments across healthcare, legal, government, finance and more.
• Flexible working: choose the assignments that suit your availability.

Korean work with SILA Linguists®

SILA Linguists® is a language services company providing interpreting, translation and transcription across the UK, North America, Australia, New Zealand and beyond, in more than 350 languages and dialects. As a Korean linguist with us, you can take on the full range of work we offer in Korean:

• Korean interpreting of every type: face‑to‑face, telephone (OPI) 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, video (VRI) through the SILA Linguists® app or the client's platform, consecutive, simultaneous, conference and remote simultaneous (RSI), community and escort interpreting.
• Korean translation of documents into and out of English, from letters, medical reports and school records to contracts, research and websites.
• Certified Korean translation with a signed statement of accuracy, accepted by UK authorities such as courts, the Home Office, universities and employers.
• Korean transcription of audio and video recordings, with time stamps, translation of the transcript and subtitling.

Our vetted, trained and qualified linguists work in legal, police and court settings, immigration and asylum matters, NHS and private healthcare, social care, schools and universities, charities and business. Every assignment is covered by confidentiality agreements and UK GDPR.