○ Gyeonggi Province conducts 2020 Immigrant Translator and Interpreter Competence Development Training Program
– Training for 80 immigrant translators and interpreters in four cities (Suwon, Ansan, Uijeongbu, and Goyang)
– Reducing language barriers by developing immigrant translator and interpreter competencies in translation, interpretation, labor and human rights
○ This year’s newly established medical interpretation course aims to provide immigrants with swift and precise medical services
– Some trainees dispatched as medical interpreters to hospitals with large numbers of immigrant patients

Gyeonggi Province is enhancing immigrant translator and interpreter competencies in order to help foreign residents of Gyeonggi Province who may otherwise have communication difficulties.

As one of the election pledges of the current provincial government (“Human Rights without Discrimination”), Gyeonggi Province has been conducting its 2020 Immigrant Translator and Interpreter Competence Development Training Program since April.

Gyeonggi Province has been providing courses for immigrant translator and interpreter competence development training for two years. Through this project, Gyeonggi Province provides immigrant translators and interpreters with professional translation and interpretation skill training as well as legal and policy education in order to enhance the efficiency of civil affairs services and right protection for immigrants.

This program was expanded from two cities (Suwon and Uijeongbu) last year to four cities (Suwon, Ansan, Uijeongbu, and Goyang) this year. Training will be provided for 20 immigrant translators and interpreters in each city, 80 persons in total.

The curriculum consists of the General Interpretation Course and Medical Interpretation Course, which are provided by the Gyeonggi Institute of Research and Policy Development for Migrants’ Human Rights (GMHR).

The General Interpretation Course includes instruction in Korean grammar and writing as well as translation and interpretation skills, the Labor Standards Act, work permit system, sexual harassment prevention, human rights sensitivity, and more while embracing translation, interpretation, labor and human rights.

The Medical Interpretation Course was established this year in order to reduce the inconveniences experienced by immigrants in medical institutions.

Gyeonggi Province provides trainees specializing in the three most commonly used languages—English, Russian, and Thai—with advanced training including basic medicine, medical terminology, and clinical classes by medical field as well as interpretation practice with professors.

Some trainees will be dispatched to hospitals with high numbers of immigrant patients to serve as interpreters.

Hong Dong-gi, Director of the Foreigner Policy Division of the Gyeonggi Provincial Government, said, “One of the biggest problems in immigrant integration into the local community is the language barrier. We will pursue this project proactively in order to reduce immigrant inconveniences resulting from language issues.”