Lost in translation: Local dialects pose hurdle for 6 in 10 non-skilled foreign workers

Foreign workers harvest minari, a Korean herb also known as water dropwort, in Gijang County, Busan, Dec. 15. Yonhap

It turns out that for foreign workers here, mastering the Korean language is only half the battle — the other half is figuring out if you’re supposed to treat your boss like a deity or a drinking buddy.

A new study reveals that 60 percent of foreign workers in Korea are marooned by the local lingo, challenged by regional linguistic nuances.

According to a report released last week by the Human Resources Development Service of Korea, based on a survey of 1,067 E-9 visa holders last year, regional dialects and honorific speech emerged as the main communication barriers, cited by 63.9 percent and 60.4 percent, respectively.

Korea’s linguistic map is carved by its geography, with mountain ranges long isolating five primary regional dialects: the Gyeonggi (standard Seoul), Gangwon, Chungcheong, Gyeongsang and Jeolla groups. The dialect of Jeju Island is so distinct that some linguists consider it a language in its own right.

This regional variety is further layered by a rigid system of honorifics — a grammatical hierarchy of respect that dictates verb endings and vocabulary based on age and social standing.

The report also cited a 2021 survey showing that 99.4 percent of 502 EPS-TOPIK test-takers — the Korean-language exam for the Employment Permit System, which allows companies to hire foreign workers — rated their language skills as average or below.

The findings highlighted concerns over whether EPS-TOPIK adequately equips foreign workers with the language skills needed for workplace communication and safety.

The E-9 visa is issued to foreign workers in sectors such as manufacturing, construction and agriculture under the EPS. Applicants must pass the EPS-TOPIK Korean-language test in their home countries.

In the report, employers also flagged communication as a challenge, with 41.4 percent of the 2,104 surveyed citing inadequate language skills as a key issue.

More than 40 percent of employers said their foreign workers lacked adequate communication skills in workplace instructions, colleague interactions and overall proficiency, while more than 30 percent cited difficulties with daily services and safety guidelines.

Support for targeted Korean-language training by industry, region and safety was widespread among employers, with 92.4 percent in favor.

The report stressed that Korean-language education is not merely welfare or settlement support, but a key tool for preventing industrial accidents. With 88 percent of workplaces using Korean for core job-related communication, it said language proficiency is essential to productivity and safety, not an optional skill.

“Because the EPS-TOPIK focuses on reading and listening, it offers limited incentive for speaking practice, underscoring the need for a speaking assessment,” the report said.