Newsnomics AJAY ANGELINA reporter |

Seoul has started Real-time translation services to facilitate the foreign tourists on a pilot basis at Myeong-dong Station located on Seoul metropolitan Subway Line no-4.

The Real-time translation service reinforce 13 languages, including Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, Indonesian, Spanish, French, German, Arabic and Russian that aims to enhance the foreigner’s convenience and improve on-site responses from station staff.

The service incorporates touch screens and both wired and wireless microphones that enable users to receive information about the subway quickly and accurately.

“The Real-time translation service, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), facilitates seamless communication between international tourists and metro station staff, allowing them to converse in their respective languages while facing each other through a transparent OLED display”, said the Seoul metro.

The transparent OLED display also provides a route search function and details fare prices according to the passenger's desired destination, also provide information about T-Locker, Seoul Metro's goods storage service, and T-Luggage, an in-person luggage storage facility can be found at subway stations.

Seoul Metro has reported high user satisfaction by following on-site tests with foreigners conducted through out November.

During the testing period, the service underwent improvements, including the application of directional microphones and noise removal technologies to enhance voice recognition, particularly for proper nouns like station names. 

“By introducing this system for the first time, we expect foreigners of various nationalities visiting Korea will be able to receive subway usage information more easily and conveniently.” 

"We will increase the satisfaction of foreign tourists by further enhancing convenience and usability by providing services in conjunction with mobile devices such as mobile phones,” said Baaek Ho, CEO of Seoul Metro.

Meanwhile, the pilot period of the real-time translation service will last four months, initially installed at the entrance of the customer safety office at Myeong-dong Station, will be expanded to other five stations that are frequented by many foreigners, including the stations of Seoul, Itaewon, Gimpo Airport, Gwanghwamun and Hongik University Station until next year.