비전 아포코리아Translation & Certified Translation for Overseas Submission, Vision ApoKorea
We translate Korean documents into your destination country's language
and add certified translation when required.
3-Second Summary — If the receiving institution only requires an official translation, translation alone is enough; if it requires a certified translation, notarized translation is also needed. Not sure which applies? Check with our Path Finder.
Why Translation Is Needed
Public documents issued in Korean are generally not accepted as-is by receiving countries, so accurate translation — and certified translation when required — is necessary. The translation must match the original content exactly, and notarization requirements vary depending on the receiving institution (university, government, court, or company).
Languages We Cover (7)
Korean ↔ English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian, Arabic. We guide you on translation direction and whether notarization is needed based on your destination country and institution's requirements.
Frequently Translated Documents
Personal / Family
Study Abroad / Education
Employment / Career
Corporate
Contracts / Legal
Process
1. Document Review
Even the same document may need a different translation direction and notarization depending on which country and purpose (study abroad, employment, visa, marriage registration, etc.) it's submitted for. Since required translation format and notarization requirements also differ by receiving institution (university, government, court, or company), confirming the issuing country, destination country, and purpose before starting prevents having to re-translate later.
2. Professional Translation
The translation must match the original down to details such as names, dates, and seal text — arbitrarily rephrasing or summarizing content can get the document rejected by the receiving institution. In particular, if the romanization of names, place names, or organization names differs from your passport or previously submitted documents, it can cause inconsistency problems, so matching existing spellings is important.
3. Certified Translation
A translation alone often has no official legal effect, so when the receiving institution requires it, a notary certifies that the translation matches the original — this is certified translation. Not every institution requires notarization, so confirming in advance whether a plain translation is enough helps avoid unnecessary steps and cost.
4. Apostille / Consular Authentication
Even after translation (and notarization) is complete, if the destination country requires it, an apostille or Ministry of Foreign Affairs consular authentication plus embassy legalization must follow before final submission. Which path applies depends on whether the country is an Apostille Convention member, so we carry the destination-country information confirmed at the translation stage forward seamlessly into the next step.
Common Mistakes / Cautions
Proceeding without confirming the receiving institution's required translation language and notarization format → risk of rejection
Make sure name/place spellings (romanization/local form) match official documents like your passport
Machine translation may not be acceptable for official submission — check the receiving institution's requirements
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the requirements for a certified translation of a Korean document?
There is no single universal format — the receiving institution decides. In Korea a certified translation is usually a translation notarized at a notary office. Because the notarized translation is a notarial document, its apostille is issued by the Ministry of Justice, and you apply at the Overseas Korean Agency's Integrated Civil Service Center. If the destination is not an Apostille Convention party, consular confirmation plus embassy legalization is used instead.
Should the apostille go on the original or on the translation?
Two methods are used: apostille the original and separately notarize and apostille the translation, or apostille the notarized translation itself. Choose the method your receiving institution asks for. How to get an apostille on Korean documents
Do Korean public documents need notarization before translation?
No. Public documents issued by state agencies (e.g. family relation certificates, criminal record certificates) are apostilled without notarization. Only private documents and translations need notarization first. Public vs private documents
中文: 韩国文件翻译认证要求 · Related: What is an apostille? · Notarization · Consular legalization
Request a Consultation
※ If the form doesn't work for you, you can also reach us by email. apokorea@kakao.com
※ Vision ApoKorea is a private agency service. Translation and notarization requirements vary by receiving institution, so please confirm details before applying. Government issuance fees (KRW 1,000 per copy for apostille/consular authentication) are charged separately from our agency fee.