+380935340152
+380935340152If you are looking for a Korean language translator, you have come to the right place! AventA Translation Agency offers qualified linguists who translate texts from Korean to Ukrainian (Russian) and from Ukrainian (Russian) to Korean. We are happy to assist with the translation of any materials.
Korean translation services
We offer both standard and specialized Korean translation services, including notarized and express translations. At the client’s request, we also provide interpreting services from and into Korean — both simultaneous and consecutive.
Important notice
We invite you to explore our services and review our pricing. Please note that the prices for translation to/from Korean are approximate. Each project is evaluated individually based on the specific nature of the text, deadlines, languages, and translation direction. We offer discounts to clients interested in long-term collaboration and large volume projects.
In the case of technical and specialized texts, translations are performed by professional Korean translators who, in addition to having perfect language proficiency, also possess additional industry-specific experience in fields such as medicine, technology, mathematics, physics, or chemistry.
We translate all types of documents from and into Korean, including contracts, invoices, diplomas, certificates, websites, technical, medical, and humanities texts, books, comics, textbooks, marketing materials, user manuals, and other materials.
Who speaks Korean?
The number of native speakers of Korean is estimated to be around 80 million people, which is more than 1% of the world’s population. Korean ranks as the 17th most popular language globally.
Please note
The origin of the Korean language is a topic of debate among researchers. Most typologists consider it an isolate, meaning it does not belong to any known language family. Some linguists classify Korean as part of the Altaic language family (specifically the Manchu-Tungus group), while certain American researchers see a connection with the Japanese language.
Korean is the official language of both countries on the Korean Peninsula: North Korea and South Korea. It is also recognized as an official language in parts of China that border North Korea, such as Yanbian Prefecture and Changbai County. Korean speakers are also found in former Soviet republics, the United States, Canada, Brazil, and Japan.
The Korean language is regulated by the National Institute of the Korean Language (South Korea) and the Language Institute of the Academy of Social Sciences (North Korea). The promotion of the Korean language worldwide is a task undertaken by the Sejong King Institute.
History of the Korean language
The origins of the Korean language can be traced to the region of Manchuria, a land located in northeastern China. Chinese characters appeared in Korea around the 1st century BCE. The oldest written records in the Korean language were written using the Chinese alphabet.
Korean script dates back to 108 BCE when the territory of modern-day North Korea was occupied by China. In the 5th century CE, Koreans adopted the classical Chinese writing system.
Later, the Korean language developed its own alphabet, which, however, also included Chinese characters. It was only in 1444 that the original Korean alphabet, Hangul, was created, which was introduced two years later during the reign of King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty.
Note
Hangul is distinguished by being one of the rare «artificial» alphabets – its characters were created anew, not derived from any other script. Hangul is also called the most scientific of alphabets because it was designed in such a way that even illiterate Koreans could understand it, based on the resemblance of the characters to the shape of the mouth when pronouncing the corresponding sounds.
At the turn of the 18th and 19th centuries, a new writing system emerged: a blend of the Hangul alphabet and Chinese characters, called Hanja. Over time, they displaced Chinese characters.
What makes the Korean language interesting and what makes it so difficult to understand is how freely it incorporates the vocabulary of two other major languages while maintaining its individuality. Korean clearly utilizes Japanese grammatical structures, as these two languages are undoubtedly almost identical in this regard.
Korean language has borrowed a lot from Chinese over the centuries: vocabulary and the Chinese alphabet. Despite these extensive borrowings, it has retained its unique character. In Korean, there is a separate vocabulary that is inherently Korean, and Chinese borrowings are separate. However, they can be freely mixed.
Due to very limited contact between North and South Korea, the Korean language variants in both countries demonstrate differences in pronunciation, spelling, vocabulary, and grammar. Both varieties are also characterized by dialectal diversity.
Today in North Korea, only Hangul is used, while in South Korea, both Hangul and Hanja are used. The modern literary language emerged in the 20th century. In North Korea, it is based on the so-called Pyongyang dialect, while in South Korea, it is based on the Seoul dialect.
Thus, the Korean language has a mysterious past and a scientific future simultaneously, making it one of the most intriguing languages in the world!
Interesting facts about the Korean language
- A good Korean translation requires an understanding of the country’s history and many fascinating cultural connections.
- Similar to the Chinese language, Korean was traditionally written vertically and right-to-left. However, nowadays it is often written in the Western style — horizontally and left-to-right.
- In the Korean alphabet, the shape of consonants resembles the shape of the mouth when producing their corresponding sounds.
- Vowel forms are based on three principles: man (vertical line), earth (horizontal line), and sky (dot). In modern Hangul, the heavenly dot has been replaced by a short line.
- The core of Korean vocabulary consists of native words, but many terms denoting abstract concepts are direct borrowings from the Chinese language or words created in Korea and Japan using Chinese characters.
- In Korean, the word order is subject – object – verb. Therefore, the verb usually comes at the end of the sentence.
- From a grammatical point of view, Korean is similar to Japanese, but its vocabulary has been heavily influenced by Chinese.
- Words consist of at least two syllables.
- In the Korean language, there is no grammatical gender.
- The most widely used Korean word in the world is “taekwondo,” the name of an Eastern martial art.
- To effectively communicate in Korean, it’s important to remember the norms of politeness, which boil down to mastering the “respectful system.” Depending on the social status of the recipient, appropriate nouns or verb endings are used.
Korean in business
While the Korean language plays a minor role in the international market, Korean automobiles and electronics are widely known. Brands like Kia, Daewoo, Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and SsangYong have numerous buyers worldwide. Therefore, when operating in the Korean market, it is extremely important to ensure professional translations of all company materials into Korean. However, when importing goods into the domestic market, it is essential to ensure professional translation from Korean into Ukrainian. This will undoubtedly contribute to success in the demanding international market.