Foreign entrepreneur appointed adviser to Seoul’s 120 Dasan Call Center
Nitish Kumar, right, is presented with a certificate from Lee Lee-jae, chairman of the 120 Dasan Call Foundation, appointing him to the management advisory committee, Aug. 28. Courtesy of Nitish Kumar
Seoul’s 120 Dasan Call Center had once been a lifeline for residents seeking help with everything from utility bills to emergency procedures. But the multilingual hotline has struggled to gain traction, hindered by low awareness among foreign residents and persistent language barriers. Now, Seoul is turning to artificial intelligence (AI) — and the expertise of Indian entrepreneur Nitish Kumar — to make the service more inclusive.
Kumar, founder and CEO of the Seoul-based startup Mednaath, was recently appointed as a management adviser to the Dasan Call Center. His company specializes in voice AI technology capable of real-time translation across 125 languages through a simple phone call — no internet, app or extra equipment required.
“The appointment followed our expansion to Korea in 2024 through the K-Startup Grand Challenge program,” Kumar explained in an interview. “The Seoul government recognized that our solution addresses two critical challenges: malicious calls affecting service quality and communication barriers that impact both foreign residents and Korean citizens.”
Breaking barriers with AI
Mednaath’s AI offers two groundbreaking features: instant multilingual interpretation and real-time content monitoring. Together, these can help call center operators filter out disruptive calls while ensuring that foreign callers can receive support in their native language.
“Many foreign residents mistakenly believe they must speak Korean to use city services,” Kumar said. “This misconception discourages people from calling, even if they have basic Korean. Our goal is to ensure language proficiency never becomes an obstacle.”
His own experiences underscore the need for better services. “I remember booking taxis through Kakao, only to get calls from drivers asking for directions in Korean — leaving both of us frustrated,” he recalled. “Even calls with tax office officials became stressful because of complicated technical terms. These moments showed me how language barriers affect not just foreigners but also Koreans trying to help.”
Strengthening Seoul’s global ecosystem
City officials have tried various ways to boost foreign usage of Dasan, from recruiting influencers to spread awareness on social media to improving operator training. Kumar’s appointment reflects a growing recognition that technology must complement outreach efforts.
“This represents Seoul’s commitment to becoming the world’s most linguistically inclusive digital government,” Kumar said. “We’re not just solving individual problems — we’re strengthening Seoul’s multicultural community.”
Beyond Dasan, he envisions the technology transforming health care, government offices, emergency services and business operations, helping Korean institutions serve both foreigners and citizens with language needs. “Korea’s digital government initiative, combined with our universal translation capability, positions the country as the world’s most inclusive administration,” he said.
Building a multicultural startup ecosystem
Kumar’s trajectory also highlights Seoul’s evolving startup ecosystem. Since arriving in 2019, he has emerged as a prominent figure in discussions about how Korea can attract and retain foreign professionals. At the “Hearing the Voices of Global Talent” forum held at City Hall recently, he joined experts from around the world in calling for more accessible services for foreign workers.
For him, the mission is both professional and personal. “Public services should be a source of reassurance, not stress,” Kumar said. “Technology can make sure every foreign resident feels supported — and every Korean provider feels empowered to help.”
Alice Hong is a freelance writer and comedian based in Seoul. Follow her at @hippohong on Instagram.