Certified Korean Document Translation

Korea's family relations registration system issues five distinct certificate types, each serving a specific purpose. The Basic Certificate (기본증명서) records identity details including name, birth date, gender, and parents. The Family Relations Certificate (가족관계증명서) lists parents, spouse, and children. The Marriage Relations Certificate (혼인관계증명서) proves current and past marital status. The Adoption Relations Certificate (입양관계증명서) documents domestic and international adoptions. The Plenary Adoption Relations Certificate (친양자입양관계증명서) covers full adoptions with different legal status. Each certificate is available in General and Detailed versions. The receiving authority determines which certificates you need — a US immigration agency typically requires the Basic and Family Relations certificates, while a marriage registration abroad may require the Marriage Relations Certificate.

Yes. South Korea has been a member of the Hague Apostille Convention since 14 July 2007. Korea designates four competent authorities: the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (외교부) for most administrative documents, the Ministry of Justice (법무부) for court records and notarial acts, the National Court Administration (법원행정처) for court-issued documents, and the Overseas Koreans Agency (재외동포청) for overseas Korean services. For translated documents, the translation is first notarized by a Korean notary public, then the apostille is applied to the notarized package. The apostille fee is 1,000 KRW per document. DoVisa handles the complete apostille process through the appropriate authority.

South Korea operates a fully electronic apostille system at apostille.go.kr. The e-Apostille allows online application, electronic issuance, and remote verification of apostilles. Receiving authorities in any Apostille Convention member state can verify the authenticity of a Korean e-Apostille by entering the unique certificate number on the portal. The e-Apostille system is administered by the Overseas Koreans Agency and significantly speeds up the apostille process compared to physical-only issuance. Processing through the e-Apostille system typically takes 1-3 business days. DoVisa coordinates e-Apostille issuance for documents requiring electronic verification.

The Certified Public Translator (외국어번역행정사) is a licensed professional authorized by the Korean Ministry of the Interior and Safety (행정안전부) under the Licensed Administrative Agent Act (행정사법). These translators must pass a national qualifying examination and are authorized to issue official certificates of translation (번역증명서) under their own seal and license number. The system currently covers eight languages: English, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Russian, Spanish, and Arabic. Their translations are recognized by Korean government ministries and public offices without additional notarization. DoVisa provides certified translations accepted by both Korean and international authorities.

DoVisa's Korean translation pricing follows a transparent per-page structure with volume discounts that apply automatically for larger projects. Pricing varies based on document length, language pair, and processing speed. Korean documents with mixed Hangul-Hanja text or pre-2008 hojuk format may require additional processing time. Express and rush service options are available for time-sensitive projects. Apostille processing through the appropriate competent authority is quoted separately. Upload your documents on our order page to receive an instant, detailed quote — no hidden fees.

Yes. Korean citizens can request family relations certificates through the e-Family portal (efamily.scourt.go.kr), administered by the Supreme Court of Korea. The portal allows electronic issuance of all five certificate types in both Korean and English. Overseas Koreans can access the system through the dedicated overseas portal (kfamily.scourt.go.kr) or visit their nearest Korean embassy or consulate. Certificates can also be obtained in person at any local gu-office (구청), dong-office (동사무소), or eup/myeon office. DoVisa can guide you on which certificates to obtain based on the receiving authority's requirements.

The Korea Immigration Service (출입국·외국인정책본부) requires certified translations of all foreign-language documents submitted with visa applications. Common requirements by visa type include: E-7 (professional) — academic credentials, employment contract, professional licenses; F-2 (residence) — criminal record certificate, proof of income, academic credentials; F-5 (permanent residence) — criminal record, tax records, employment documentation; F-6 (marriage) — birth certificate, single-status certificate, criminal record. Requirements vary by nationality and individual circumstances. DoVisa provides translation packages tailored to specific Korean visa categories.

DoVisa follows the Revised Romanization of Korean, the official romanization system adopted by the Korean government in 2000. However, Korean personal names often have established romanized spellings that differ from the standard system — for example, the surname 이 is officially romanized as "I" but commonly written as "Lee" or "Yi" on Korean passports. Our translators check the individual's passport or existing official documents for their preferred romanization and use that consistently throughout the translation. When both Hangul and Hanja renderings appear on the source document, we preserve both in the translation to maintain disambiguation of the name.

A certified translation includes a translator's formal statement of accuracy with their professional credentials and signature. This is sufficient for most immigration agencies, universities, and employers in English-speaking countries. A notarized translation (번역공증) adds an additional layer: the translator appears before a Korean notary public (공증인) who verifies the translator's identity, witnesses the signing of an accuracy affidavit, and applies their official seal. Notarized translations are required when the apostille process is involved, as the apostille is affixed to the notary's attestation. DoVisa advises on which level of authentication your receiving authority requires.

Yes. Korea's civil registration system changed from the household-based hojuk (호적) system to the current individual-based family relations register on 1 January 2008. Pre-2008 hojuk documents often contain handwritten entries, mixed Hangul-Hanja text, and archival formatting that differs significantly from modern certificates. Our Korean translators are experienced with both the old hojuk format and the transitional documents from 2007-2008. We also handle historical Korean documents including Japanese colonial-era family registers (日本語戸籍) for heritage and genealogical purposes. Legacy document translations may require additional processing time.

Yes. USCIS requires that all foreign-language documents be accompanied by certified English translations with a Certificate of Translation Accuracy. DoVisa's certified Korean-to-English translations meet USCIS requirements for all application types including family-based petitions (I-130), adjustment of status (I-485), naturalization (N-400), and employment-based immigration. Common Korean documents submitted to USCIS include the family relations certificate (가족관계증명서), basic certificate (기본증명서), criminal record certificate (범죄경력회보서), and marriage relations certificate (혼인관계증명서). Our translations include the USCIS-required certifier's statement with name, signature, address, and date.

Processing time depends on the competent authority and submission method. Through the e-Apostille system at apostille.go.kr, processing typically takes 1-3 business days. Physical apostille applications submitted to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs office in Seoul generally take 3-5 business days. The Ministry of Justice processes apostilles for court documents and notarial acts within a similar timeframe. The apostille fee is 1,000 KRW per document regardless of the issuing authority. DoVisa recommends the e-Apostille route when the receiving authority accepts electronic verification, as it is both faster and enables remote authentication.