“Bering Lab’s service is trustworthy because it is translated by someone who is well-versed in the fields of law and patents!😎“
Today, we are introducing an interview with HE Lee, a translator at Bering Lab who specializes in the patent and legal fields. HE Lee graduated from a translation and interpretation graduate school in the United States and has extensive experience as a paralegal, reporter, and patent translator. Today, we share HE’s story.
Q. What are your main responsibilities at Bering Lab currently?
A. I mainly handle patent and legal documents. Specifically, I translate patents related to electronics, chemistry, and technology, focusing on documents translated from Korean to English.
Q. What experiences did you have before joining Bering Lab?
A. Since my undergraduate studies, I aimed to attend a graduate school for translation and interpretation. After graduating, I studied Translation and Localization Management at the Middlebury Institute of International Studies in the United States. Before that, I worked as a paralegal, gaining an understanding and experience with various legal documents. I also worked as a reporter for a media company’s San Francisco branch, conducting interviews in English and writing articles in Korean. After graduating from the translation and interpretation graduate school, I have primarily worked as a professional translator, focusing on ‘patent and legal’ documents.
Q. With diverse experiences as a paralegal and reporter, what made you choose a career as a translator?
A. I initially planned to attend a graduate school for translation and interpretation during my undergraduate studies. As I studied translation and interpretation, I found that the ‘translation’ field suited me better. Since then, I have focused on gaining more expertise and recognition in translation work.
Q. How did you become a translator at Bering Lab?
A. Initially, the CEO of Bering Lab, Seong Moon, saw my profile on LinkedIn and suggested we work together. After learning more about Bering Lab, I found that the type of work was similar to what I had done before, which piqued my interest. As I mentioned earlier, I had previously worked as a specialized translator in the ‘patent and legal’ field. Many translation companies handle a wide range of documents rather than focusing on a specific field, so I appreciated that Bering Lab specialized in ‘legal’ translations, which made me eager to join.
Q. I see. Now, let’s talk more about translation! Since you mainly work with patent translations, which involve highly specialized technical documents, did you face any challenges when you started?
A. Yes, translating patents, especially technical documents related to electronics and chemistry, was challenging initially because the terminology differs greatly from everyday language. Fortunately, my early career experience with ‘patent specifications’ helped me adapt as a professional translator without much difficulty. In the patent field, accurately and clearly conveying the inventor’s intentions is crucial, so once I became familiar with the terminology, the translation process became smoother.
Q. Do you have a specific process or method for your translation work?
A. Given the large volume of patent documents I handle, I carefully review the original text before starting the translation. I read the entire document, understand the diagrams, and check for consistency. Many patent documents contain errors in the original text, so I identify and correct these errors before sending the revised document to the client. I aim to complete the translation in one day to maintain consistency in the terminology and nuances. I then spend more time on proofreading to ensure the highest quality.
Q. One of the distinguishing features of Bering Lab’s premium translation service is ‘review by professional translators.’ How does Bering Lab’s professional translation service differentiate itself in the legal field?
A. Due to the nature of legal and patent documents, translators who are not familiar with these types of documents or who work on them only occasionally often struggle to produce suitable translations. Legal documents can incur significant legal liabilities from a few incorrect translations, making it difficult to meet clients’ requirements accurately and consistently. For example, in ‘patent translations,’ specific terms and expressions are used exclusively in this field, and without the experience or knowledge, it is challenging to deliver high-quality translations.
Q. Bering Lab uses the Bering AI translator to reduce the human resources needed for translation, allowing professional translators to focus more on their expertise. How do you utilize Bering AI in your translation work?
A. I use it for every project! Given the large volume of patent translations, I believe AI translation tools are essential. The quality of the initial translation varies depending on the original text, but if the original text is well-written, using the translator for the initial translation makes subsequent editing much easier. However, if the original text is poorly written, I sometimes have to start from scratch. For example, when a Korean sentence is almost a page long, understanding the cause-and-effect relationships in English becomes difficult, and the translator may struggle. In such cases, I revise the original text to make it suitable for translation before proceeding. It is clear that having an AI translator is better than not having one.
Q. Finally, how does Bering Lab’s service differ from other translation services?
A. All translators at Bering Lab have a deep background in ‘law’ or ‘patents.’ Compared to general translators, we have a higher understanding of legal documents, which results in superior translations. Legal documents can change in legal meaning with just a few errors, so legal understanding and expertise make a significant difference. By using Bering Lab’s service, you will feel confident that the work is handled by someone knowledgeable in the ‘legal’ field, making it more reliable.
Bering Lab offers a variety of business and legal document translations through its BeringAI and BeringAI+ services, which combine high-performance AI with expert reviews to save resources and provide services that are three times faster and 40% cheaper than competitors.
Currently, over 130 law firms both domestically and internationally, along with various global corporations, actively use our services.
Experience the high-quality professional translation of Bering Lab, trusted by the nation’s top law firms, with documents directly reviewed by attorneys. Contact Bering Lab for more information.
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