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9 in 10 Korean Professionals Say Real-Time AI Voice Translation Is Needed for Work

Almost 7 in 10 find it difficult to fully convey nuance in real-time cross-language communication — accuracy, conversational flow, and security emerge as top priorities

Seoul, March 18, 2026: DeepL, a global AI product and research company, today revealed new survey results underscoring a pivotal moment for AI voice translation solutions in the Korean workplace. The findings highlight strong demand for emerging technologies such as real-time AI voice translation that preserve not just meaning, but the natural flow and immediacy of live conversation. The study surveyed 500 Korean professionals to examine how language barriers affect real-time communication and expectations for AI voice translation.

Despite strong awareness, adoption remains limited. While 89.8% of professionals say AI voice translation is necessary for their work, only 35.8% currently use it, pointing to a gap between demand and real-world adoption. Notably, 88.4% of respondents said maintaining a natural flow of conversation is necessary when using AI voice translation, signaling that professionals are not simply looking for accurate word conversion, but for solutions that keep pace with the rhythm and nuance of real-time human dialogue.

Among those willing to adopt, key expected benefits include enhanced communication accuracy and comprehension (53.2%), reduced psychological burden of using foreign languages (52.0%), and improved real-time communication flow (50.2%). Looking ahead, 82.6% said they are willing to use these solutions for work purposes.

Here are some of the highlights of the survey results:

Language barriers are silencing employees in real-time communication

Korean professionals face significant challenges when communicating in foreign languages, particularly in real-time scenarios.

  • 69.8% have been unable to properly convey subtle emotions or nuances
  • 69.0% have been unable to fully deliver the message they wanted to convey
  • 64.0% have been unable to actively express opinions due to language barriers
  • 63.0% did not accurately understand the other person's words or intentions
  • 60.0% experienced conversations or meetings being interrupted due to language issues

Real-time scenarios demand voice translation solutions

Some of the findings suggest that demand for AI voice translation is concentrated in real-time business interactions. 

The top use cases where AI voice translation solutions are most needed:

  • Video conferences (48.4%)
  • Work-related phone calls (43.6%)
  • In-person meetings (34.4%)

Accuracy, flow, and context matter most

Korean professionals have clear expectations for real-time AI voice translation solutions, prioritizing quality and natural communication over speed alone.

Key requirements identified by professionals:

  • Translation accuracy (58.8%)
  • Real-time translation without delay (58.2%)
  • Translation tailored to business context and expertise (54.4%)
  • Security and safety (52.2%)

AI voice translation: a new era for global business

Rather than viewing AI voice translation as just another tool, professionals see it as transformative technology.

Predicted organizational impact:

  • 81.8% expect real-time communication will accelerate decision-making speed
  • 81.2% believe opportunities for non-English-speaking personnel to express opinions will expand
  • 80.0% predict job expertise will become far more important than foreign language skills

“Korea is increasingly positioned at the center of global exchange, where cross-border collaboration and multilingual communication are becoming everyday business realities,” said Gonçalo Gaiolas, Chief Product Officer at DeepL. “As international engagement continues to expand, the demand for seamless, real-time foreign-language communication is only growing. Notably, this survey shows that Korean professionals are ahead in both awareness and openness toward language AI technologies, signaling strong readiness to embrace the next phase of AI-powered voice translation,” he added. “With DeepL Voice, we aim to provide the speed and accuracy businesses require, the natural flow conversations deserve, and the security enterprises expect, ensuring that language is never a barrier between Korean companies and the global market,” he continued.

Methodology

This survey was conducted by Macromill Embrain on behalf of DeepL in February 2026. A total of 500 Korean professionals (men and women aged 20–59) who conduct business communication in foreign languages participated in the study, representing a range of industries including technology, manufacturing, customer services, and professional services.

About DeepL 

DeepL is a global AI product and research company focused on building secure, intelligent solutions to complex business problems. Over 200,000 business customers and millions of individuals across 228 global markets today trust DeepL's Language AI platform for human-like translation, improved writing and real-time voice translation. Building on a history of innovation, quality and security, DeepL continues to expand its offerings beyond the field of Language, including DeepL Agent - an autonomous AI assistant designed to transform the way businesses and knowledge workers get work done. Founded in 2017 by CEO Jarek Kutylowski, DeepL now has over 1,000 passionate employees and is supported by world-renowned investors including Benchmark, IVP, and Index Ventures. For more information on DeepL, visit www.deepl.com.