Korean Interpretation Rates

Sand sculpture of Sangpyeong Tongbo (상평통보), cash coins introduced in 1633 and minted through 1894, during the Joseon Dynasty.

Our rates for Korean interpretation services can vary significantly depending on the type of assignment. Except for telephone/Zoom interpretation (and sometimes simultaneous interpretation), the fees are usually based on an hourly rate with a half-day minimum. The rates are the highest for simultaneous interpretation, for which the highest levels of skill and experience are required in most cases. Simultaneous interpretation also requires 2 or more interpreters for continuous service of more than 1 hour.

At the other end of the skill-level spectrum, the applicable rates for consecutive interpretation for casual and informal situations (such as independent medical examinations conducted for insurance purposes), are generally much lower by comparison.

The rates are the highest for simultaneous interpretation,
which requires the highest levels of skill and experience.

Professional Korean Interpretation Rates

Table 1 – U.S. RATES – EFFECTIVE 1/1/2023 (See Table 2 below for applicable rates in Korea)
Service Type	Interpretation Category	Rate^1,6					Remarks
		Hourly Rate	Minimum Fee²		Full Day³	OT⁴
		Hourly Rate	NYC (Manhattan)	Other Local	Full Day³	OT⁴
Consecutive Interpretation English/Korean	Business Level I	$135	$295 up to 2 hrs.	$425 up to 3 hrs.	$835	$150/hr.	Informal, unstructured
	Business Level II	$175	$375 up to 2 hrs.	$550 up to 3 hrs.	$1,075	$195/hr.	Public audience, media, formal business meetings
	Legal	$175	$375 up to 2 hrs.	$550 up to 3 hrs.	$1,075	$195/hr.	Non-technical depositions, hearings, trials
	Technical/ Specialized Field	$185	$395 up to 2 hrs.	$585 up to 3 hrs.	$1135	$215/hr.	Includes hearings and depositions covering technical subjects
Simultaneous Interpretation⁵ English/Korean	Conferences, Seminars	$215	$455 up to 2 hrs.	$675 up to 3 hrs.	$1,325	$245/hr.	Simultaneous interpretation equipment required.
Simultaneous Interpretation English/Korean	Focus Groups	$575 per session					Based on a single 90-minute focus group, standard structure; 2 simultaneous interpreters needed for longer sessions.
Telephone Interpretation English/Korean	Consecutive Business Interpretation	$2.75/min. for up to 1 hour, $2.50/min. thereafter; Minimum fee $165.00 (Reserved, 1 hr. minimum)					Add $0.10/min. for international call(s) placed by Korean Translation Group
Language Consulting	Business/ Language Consulting	$175-$225/hr.					Advisory, research and intermediary services; rates vary depending on type of assignment

Table 2 – RATES FOR KOREA (IN-PERSON/ZOOM) – EFFECTIVE 1/1/2023
Service Type	Interpreter Class	Rate^1,6				Remarks
Service Type	Interpreter Class	Up to 2 Hrs.	Per Additional Hour²	Full Day³	OT⁴	Remarks
Consecutive Interpreter English/Korean	Master – Business Level II	NA	NA	$1275	$195/hr.	Top-level interpreter with a graduate degree in conference interpretation and 5+ years of professional interpretation experience
	Professional – Business Level I	$595	$165	$975	$175/hr.	Business interpreter with a graduate degree in interpretation and 2+ years of professional interpretation experience
	Proficient	$375	$95	$595	$95/hr.	Current candidate for graduate degree in interpretation
Conference/ Simultaneous Interpreter⁵ English/Korean	Master – Conferences, Depositions	$1,050 (Up to 1 hr.)	NA	$1385	$225/hr.	Top-tier interpreter with a graduate degree in conference interpretation and 5+ years of professional interpretation experience. Two interpreters and interpretation equipment required.
Language Consulting	Business/Language Consulting	$150-$225.00/hr.			NA	Advisory, research and intermediary services; rates vary depending on type of assignment

NOTES

1. Includes up to 1 hour of local travel (roundtrip) within the interpreter’s home area. Rates subject to local interpreter availability.
2. Additional hours billed at the regular hourly rate.
3. Full day = 6 working hours + 1-hour lunch break
4. Overtime rate. Applicable after 6 working hours under normal full day schedule
5. 2 interpreters are required for simultaneous interpretation assignments lasting more than 1 hour.
6. Up to a 50% surcharge may apply for proceedings that are audio- or video-recorded where the interpreter’s voice and/or image becomes an integral part of the record (e.g. video-recorded conferences, hearings, depositions, etc.)
7. We can provide simultaneous interpretation equipment in most areas in Korea. We do not provide interpretation equipment in the U.S.

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Questions about our Korean language services?

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I represent a local government and used this company’s services for Korean translation. Customer service was great, turnaround time was quick, and delivered a high quality product.

John Ahumada