South Korean law enforcement is facing significant challenges in providing adequate multilingual support as the volume of foreign-language emergency calls continues to climb. Official data submitted to lawmaker Park Ju-min reveals a sharp increase in requests for interpretation services during 112 emergency calls, arrests, and interrogations. In 2025, the number of foreign-language calls surged to 21,252, more than doubling the 10,348 recorded the previous year. This upward trend shows no signs of slowing, with 21,012 calls already processed in the first eight months of the current year. These figures underscore a growing strain on police resources and highlight systemic difficulties in ensuring effective communication with non-Korean speakers during critical incidents and legal proceedings.
Source : The Korea Herald
Photo : The Korea Herald
