Talking Business

GIC Small Business Translation Service

For many small Korean businesses, breaking into the global marketplace is difficult because of language barriers.

In 2013, the Gwangju International Center (GIC) expanded its translation program to break down that barrier for small businesses in South Jeolla. Partnering with Korea International Trade Association (KITA) and Gwangju City, the program pairs ambitious Korean companies seeking to tap into overseas markets with foreign translators living in the Gwangju area.

Many of these translators are international students or immigrant women living in multicultural families. Piao Shannu, a Chinese immigrant, has become a GIC translator. Once she arrived in Korea, Shannu had difficulty finding a job because of cultural and linguistic barriers.

“When I heard about this program, I saw it as a golden opportunity I could not miss,” said Shannu. “I was lucky to pass the interview and started working with some companies soon after.”

Translators visit companies once a month and translate the company’s mission statement as well as other documents and contracts. Shannu specializes in Chinese translation. She researches the Chinese market and helps companies with promotional product catalogues.

“I have gained more self-confidence as I realized I could get involved in activities while using my native language in Korea,” said Shannu.

Twenty-five companies are currently using this service, and there are 15 primary translators. Translators come from a number of countries, including Bangladesh, China, Japan, Morocco, Russia and Taiwan.

Nanoom, a medium-sized business specializing in defibrillators and portable medical devices, is one company that has benefitted from GIC’s Chinese translation services. The company, based in Buk-gu, began in 2005 and has seen demands for its products growing domestically in hospitals, government facilities, private apartments and senior care facilities. While the company has entered the global market, it hopes to make a bigger impact.

Along with defibrillators, the company’s X-ray bone mineral density (BMD) scans have the potential to find success abroad as well.

“In terms of our BMD scans, in developing countries it is used in clinics, so that they don’t have to have radiology departments,” said Terry Kim, overseas sales manager. “With quick training of clinicians, they can operate the machine for their community.”

Last year, GIC translators accompanied Nanoom employees in meetings with buyers from Taiwan and China and played a key role in closing the deals and finalizing contracts. The start-up also has plans to put an innovative high-frequency device that stimulates joint flexibility for seniors on the market.

“Next year we expect to enter the Vietnamese market, so we chose a GIC translator to translate documents such as manuals, catalog instructions and simple instructional video text,” said Kim. “In overseas business, the most difficult barrier to entry is not being able to communicate with the target audience… A company cannot hire a person from every country or cultural background, so it makes sense to use this kind of service if it is available and we are very glad that it is.”

Translating has been a fulfilling job for Shannu, and she hopes more opportunities like this will become available for immigrant women.

“I was greatly touched by one GIC Coordinator in charge of the program,” said Shannu. “She felt sympathy for immigrant women like us who have become subjected to many job restrictions when we move to Korea after marriage.”

The GIC translation program is helping both immigrant women like Shannu and young businesses overcome obstacles and find success abroad.