'Volunteering for Thai people is my passion in life'

By Lee Kyung-min

Truck driver Kim Kwang-hyung, 63, who has worked as a volunteer interpreter to help Thai nationals here for the past 16 years, said giving help to foreigners is his biggest pride and joy of the social work.

Kim had to learn the language in 1991 at the age of 40 when the company, for which he worked, moved to Thailand to save production costs.

There, he held a managerial position in charge of 50 Thai workers for two years.

“First, I had to speak the language out of necessity. And spending some time speaking it every day for some years, I became good at it,” he said.

After returning to Korea, he did not give up on the language. He bought books to study further and started volunteer work at his church in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, where a large number of Thai workers live.

“They had problems including receiving hospital treatment or other issues regarding employment, and sometimes faced deportation,” he said.

For many foreigners with such problems, seeking help is not their first choice, as they worry more about being deported or being mistreated than not being able to go to hospital for a headache or small cuts sustained at work.

Kim believes his help was crucial for those who are in constant fear that Koreans may take advantage of or mistreat them due to their poor understanding of Korean.

“In the case of workers who had injuries, some of them were eligible for government support or insurance. I helped them find pro bono lawyers and file the necessary documents.

“And soon after that, word spread fast about how I can help Thai people, and more and more asked me for help including Buddhist monks at a temple in Hwaseong near my home.”

His years of experience have made him the country’s most sought-after interpreter by prosecutors, police officers, hospitals, immigration officers and religious institutions.

He was given the Presidential Award on the 43rd Tourism Day on Sept. 27 for his years of volunteer work.

“Many people who have been overseas will know that not being understood by others is the most difficult aspect, especially if you are there for work,” he said.

“Once they understand each other through interpreters like me, then most situations get easier, which I take as the biggest reward for my volunteer work.”

Currently, he works with the Before Babel Brigade (BBB), a non-governmental organization comprised of volunteer interpreters.