Can Foreigners Attend a Police Interview with an Interpreter in Korea?

Short Answer

Yes, in many cases.

If you do not speak Korean sufficiently, you may generally request the assistance of an interpreter during a police interview in Korea.

The key issue is not nationality alone, but whether you can practically understand and communicate in Korean during the investigation.

Accurate interpretation is important because your statements may become evidence in the criminal investigation and, in some cases, later court proceedings.

---

Do Foreigners Have the Right to an Interpreter?

Generally, yes.

Foreign nationals who have difficulty communicating in Korean may receive interpretation assistance during criminal investigations.

However, interpretation is not based simply on being a foreigner. The main question is whether the person can understand the questions and communicate answers accurately in Korean.

In practice, interpretation may be important where:

• You do not speak Korean fluently
• You cannot understand legal or investigative terms in Korean
• You are unsure whether your answers are being recorded accurately
• You cannot comfortably review or sign a Korean interview record

The purpose of interpretation is to help ensure that the suspect understands the questions and that the investigator accurately understands the suspect’s responses.

---

Who Provides the Interpreter?

In many cases, the investigative authority arranges or provides the interpreter.

Depending on the circumstances, the interpreter may be:

• An interpreter designated by the police
• An interpreter designated by the prosecution
• Another interpreter available for the investigation

The interpreter’s role is to provide accurate and neutral interpretation.

The interpreter does not act as your lawyer, does not give legal advice, and does not decide how you should answer questions.

---

Can You Bring Your Own Interpreter?

Sometimes, but it should not be assumed.

A privately arranged interpreter may not automatically be accepted as the official interpreter for the police interview record.

Whether a private interpreter may participate depends on the decision of the investigative authority and the practical circumstances of the interview.

Even if you bring someone who can interpret for you, the police may still use an officially designated interpreter for the formal questioning and interview record.

If interpretation is important in your case, you should discuss this issue with your lawyer before attending the interview.

---

What If the Interpretation Is Incorrect?

Interpretation errors can create serious problems during a criminal investigation.

If you believe that a question has been translated incorrectly, or that your answer has not been interpreted accurately, you should raise the issue immediately.

Before signing any interview record, you should carefully confirm:

• What language was used for interpretation
• Whether the interpreter’s information is recorded
• Whether the record states that it was interpreted or read back to you
• Whether the record accurately reflects what you intended to say
• Whether any correction, addition, or clarification is necessary

You should not sign an interview record that you do not understand or that does not accurately reflect your statement.

---

Can Your Lawyer Attend the Interview Together with the Interpreter?

Generally, yes.

In many cases, both your attorney and an interpreter may be present during the police interview.

They serve different roles.

The interpreter helps communication between you and the investigator.

The lawyer helps protect your procedural rights, monitors the questioning process, and provides legal assistance during the investigation.

If a suspect clearly requests counsel’s attendance, the request should generally be respected unless there is a proper reason to restrict it.

Where legal counsel is requested but improperly excluded, the admissibility of the resulting statement may later become an issue.

---

What Should You Check Before Signing the Interview Record?

Before signing a police interview record, you should take time to review it carefully.

This is especially important when interpretation is involved.

You should check whether:

• Your answers are accurately reflected
• Important explanations were omitted
• Any part of the record sounds different from what you intended
• The interpreter accurately translated the record back to you
• You need to request a correction or addition
• You fully understand the contents before signing

Once signed, the interview record may become important evidence. Therefore, accuracy at the time of the interview is very important.

---

Practical Considerations

Language barriers often create unnecessary legal risks.

Even a small misunderstanding may affect how your statement is recorded or later interpreted by the prosecution or the court.

Foreign nationals should avoid:

• Guessing the meaning of questions
• Answering before fully understanding the question
• Signing documents they cannot read or understand
• Assuming that the interpreter will explain legal strategy
• Relying on friends or acquaintances as if they were legal counsel

If the case is serious, it is generally advisable to attend the interview with both a lawyer and a properly arranged interpreter.

---

Conclusion

Foreign nationals who do not speak Korean fluently may generally receive the assistance of an interpreter during a police interview in Korea.

However, interpretation issues should be handled carefully. A private interpreter may not always be accepted as the official interpreter, and any interpretation error should be raised before the interview record is signed.

Because your statements may become important evidence, accurate interpretation and appropriate legal advice can play a significant role in protecting your rights throughout the criminal investigation.

---