With the increase of human exchanges and globalization an irreversible phenomena, Korea finds itself welcoming an increasing number of foreign visitors. From visitors who come for a short while to either attend conferences or simply tour the country or those who stay longer seeking employment, the purposes of the visits vary greatly. At the same time, today, non-Koreans can be the instigators of a lawsuit or be asked to be a witness in court. The number of cases involving court interpretation, consequently, has nearly doubled from 124 cases in 1998 to 232 in 1999. The languages being used in the courts have also become more varied. English, Chinese and Japanese as well as Arabic, Hindi, Urdu, Vietnamese and other exotic languages have been required. Some of the current problems include the lack of qualified interpreters; unrealistic interpretation fees and difficulties in securing qualified interpreters; lack of relevant knowledge and training as assistants of the court. There is an obvious need for improvement. Such deficits could result in international human rights lawsuits as well as negatively affecting the confidence in the Korean court system. Even if it is just to fulfill our obligations to international law, Korea needs to improve its court interpretation system to match international standards.
