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Regulations allow filing complaints in foreign languages, but on-site, it's "in Korean"
Foreigners anxiously use acquaintances or translation apps… "Promotion and education are needed"
A 75-year-old who returned to Korea after working as a lawyer abroad. Last month, he received about 20 threatening texts and calls from a man in his 50s living downstairs, saying things like “XX year, I’ll kill you” and “I’ll send you to jail.” A went to a police station in Seoul for help, but was told by the police to write the complaint in Korean himself and left without filing the complaint.
A lamented, “I’m a lawyer abroad, but I can’t write a complaint in Korean.”
According to News1's investigation on the 18th, while foreign crime victims can file complaints in foreign languages, this system is not properly utilized on-site.
Article 217 of the National Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Regulations allows foreigners to file complaints in foreign languages. Since foreigners who are not proficient in Korean may find it difficult to write complaints in Korean, the system is designed to let them write in their native language.
However, most foreigners respond by bringing along acquaintances who can communicate or using translation apps, unaware of this system.
J, a Chinese national who was a victim of sexual violence last year, said, “I called my younger sibling, who can communicate somewhat, to the police station to help.” A 30-year-old Lebanese woman who has lived in Korea for 11 years said, “Even though I’ve lived here for so long, I barely know legal terms” and “I relied on translation apps because I didn’t understand the meaning of 'delegation' at the police station.”
The police operate with the principle of Korean complaints but provide foreign language-speaking staff or interpreters as needed. A police station chief said, “We support interpretation during investigations but have complaints written in Korean by foreign language-capable staff.”
Last month, at the Criminal Division of D Police Station, when a foreigner asked for help after being told to submit a Korean complaint, the police said, “You need to handle it yourself,” and refused assistance.
Kim Ju-Hyeong, deputy head of the Majung Law Firm Foreigners' Center, which specializes in foreign criminal cases, criticized, “Koreans can freely file complaints, but foreigners cannot. It’s a structure where foreigners have to handle it on their own.”
In response, Professor Kim Do-woo from Kyungnam University’s Department of Police Administration said, “Frontline police officers may not know that complaints can be filed in foreign languages,” and “The recognition is lacking as the foreign population has not been large for long.” He added, “Promotion and education for public officials are needed in the multicultural society.”
There are concerns about increased police workload due to foreign language complaints. Some suggest expanding legal support personnel and services for foreigners to reduce the burden.
Lee Jae-ho, a lawyer providing legal advice at an immigrant center, pointed out, “Problems arise as police need to translate foreign language complaints,” noting that it is quite cumbersome and time-consuming, which can overload police work. He added, “There is a perception that having an interpreter is sufficient, but more comprehensive legal support services are needed.”
Professor Kim Do-woo mentioned, “Some police stations hire foreign affairs officers who can speak specific languages or hire private interpreters, but the scale is small and not active.” He concluded, “It takes a long time to receive services after application, and some police officers are still unaware, so improvements are needed.”
Majung provides legal consultations for foreigners residing in Korea who need legal assistance. For more detailed consultations, please contact us at the information below.
Regulations allow filing complaints in foreign languages, but on-site, it's "in Korean"
Foreigners anxiously use acquaintances or translation apps… "Promotion and education are needed"
A 75-year-old who returned to Korea after working as a lawyer abroad. Last month, he received about 20 threatening texts and calls from a man in his 50s living downstairs, saying things like “XX year, I’ll kill you” and “I’ll send you to jail.” A went to a police station in Seoul for help, but was told by the police to write the complaint in Korean himself and left without filing the complaint.
A lamented, “I’m a lawyer abroad, but I can’t write a complaint in Korean.”
According to News1's investigation on the 18th, while foreign crime victims can file complaints in foreign languages, this system is not properly utilized on-site.
Article 217 of the National Police Agency's Criminal Investigation Regulations allows foreigners to file complaints in foreign languages. Since foreigners who are not proficient in Korean may find it difficult to write complaints in Korean, the system is designed to let them write in their native language.
However, most foreigners respond by bringing along acquaintances who can communicate or using translation apps, unaware of this system.
J, a Chinese national who was a victim of sexual violence last year, said, “I called my younger sibling, who can communicate somewhat, to the police station to help.” A 30-year-old Lebanese woman who has lived in Korea for 11 years said, “Even though I’ve lived here for so long, I barely know legal terms” and “I relied on translation apps because I didn’t understand the meaning of 'delegation' at the police station.”
The police operate with the principle of Korean complaints but provide foreign language-speaking staff or interpreters as needed. A police station chief said, “We support interpretation during investigations but have complaints written in Korean by foreign language-capable staff.”
Last month, at the Criminal Division of D Police Station, when a foreigner asked for help after being told to submit a Korean complaint, the police said, “You need to handle it yourself,” and refused assistance.
Kim Ju-Hyeong, deputy head of the Majung Law Firm Foreigners' Center, which specializes in foreign criminal cases, criticized, “Koreans can freely file complaints, but foreigners cannot. It’s a structure where foreigners have to handle it on their own.”
In response, Professor Kim Do-woo from Kyungnam University’s Department of Police Administration said, “Frontline police officers may not know that complaints can be filed in foreign languages,” and “The recognition is lacking as the foreign population has not been large for long.” He added, “Promotion and education for public officials are needed in the multicultural society.”
There are concerns about increased police workload due to foreign language complaints. Some suggest expanding legal support personnel and services for foreigners to reduce the burden.
Lee Jae-ho, a lawyer providing legal advice at an immigrant center, pointed out, “Problems arise as police need to translate foreign language complaints,” noting that it is quite cumbersome and time-consuming, which can overload police work. He added, “There is a perception that having an interpreter is sufficient, but more comprehensive legal support services are needed.”
Professor Kim Do-woo mentioned, “Some police stations hire foreign affairs officers who can speak specific languages or hire private interpreters, but the scale is small and not active.” He concluded, “It takes a long time to receive services after application, and some police officers are still unaware, so improvements are needed.”
Majung provides legal consultations for foreigners residing in Korea who need legal assistance. For more detailed consultations, please contact us at the information below.
- Majung Law Firm Foreigners' Center: 02-3143-1158
- Online Consultation: https://majungforeign.kr/contact/?lang=en
