Embracing Gwangju’s Deaf Community through Interpretation Support

In this issue’s People section, the Chonnam Tribune introduces a member of our community who has dedicated herself to assisting those whose needs benefit from a uniquely tailored approach. – Ed.

In Gwangju, a vibrant city with residents of around 1,000 who are proficient in sign language, Lee Eun-il conveys messages between the city’s deaf and hearing populations. As an experienced sign language interpreter, she bridges communication gaps with empathy and expertise. The Chonnam Tribune visited the Gwangju Sign Language Interpretation Support Center to hear her story—from the solemn halls of the high court to the everyday lives of those in need.

A Journey with Sign Language
Lee is devoted to Korean Sign Language (KSL), officially recognized as equal to its spoken counterpart since 2016. “It all started when I joined a sign language study group at church,” she recalled. “At university, one of my acquaintances founded a sign language club, and I continued learning the language through volunteer work there.” This motivated her to pursue a career in sign language interpretation.

“Majoring in social welfare, I had a field practice at a sign language interpretation center. I wanted to use what I learned, so I communicated with people.” That experience led to a new opportunity. Officials whom she met recommended her for her current position at the sign language interpretation support center. She applied, soon thereafter starting her career as a professional interpreter.

Supporting the Deaf Community
Lee and her fellow interpreters are actively organizing diverse activities to support the Deaf community in Gwangju. “Our work mainly consists of providing face-to-face interpretation. Remote services are also available but less preferred, as communication in person is far more effective,” she shared. Yet accessible systems continue to evolve with technology. The “Gwangju Sign Language World” service is a mobile app through which people can apply for sign language interpretation services, both face-to-face and remotely.

Sign language was once mostly grouped with social welfare disciplines, but it is now increasingly recognized from a linguistic perspective. Lee recalled, “In the past, the center provided both interpretation and sign language education. When urgent interpretation was needed during a class, the session had to be suspended.” The center has now shifted its focus solely to interpretation, something about which Lee has mixed feelings. “Both linguistic and welfare concepts are needed to adequately prepare sign language interpreters for the challenges they will face in the field. The current social status of deaf people still leaves many requiring public assistance.”

Experiences and Memories
The center hosts Gwangju’s only official KSL interpretation team, comprising just 15 interpreters. Due to high demand, Lee travels to every corner of the city. Hospitals, courts, funerals, prisons, construction sites, and homes are all her workplaces. She strives to convey specialized vocabularies effectively across various contexts. “Words are adapted to changes in detail. For example, while interpreting fire news, I asked for a picture to understand the appearance of an involved railing. Realizing it was smaller than a typical balcony, I adjusted the sign I used to reflect its size.”

Lee prioritizes three key areas: medical emergencies, police incidents, and traffic accidents. While requests are generally handled in chronological order, these critical situations take precedence. “In emergency rooms, every patient ought to know what is happening. I assist during surgeries and help doctors and patients communicate. In traffic accidents, deaf individuals are often overlooked during the resolution process, so I interpret to make their perspectives involved.”

Lee has experienced many meaningful moments. “I met a married couple struggling to have a child despite their continued efforts. For several months, I accompanied them to hospital visits nearly every week.” They did not give up and eventually succeeded in conceiving, and she had the privilege of witnessing the moment they were told the good news. “I was the one who shared the news of their pregnancy. I was thrilled from head to toe—it was gratifying.”

Hopes for the Future
Since COVID-19, more people have become aware of sign language and the Deaf community, but there is still much progress to be made. “We should be present wherever language is used. For deaf people, simple tasks like ordering drinks from a café or visiting a community service center get complex. Therefore, everyone needs education to understand basic sign language. There would be no more need for interpreters in the future if everyone could communicate with sign language.”

Meeting with deaf people day by day, Lee has seen their lives, moments of pleasure, and times of sorrow. “They have trusted me to share their personal lives, and it has led me to want to know more about them. I have started to think about what more I could do to contribute to broad social welfare responsibly. It was through this job that I became an adult,” she stated. At the end of her Tribune interview, she encouraged university students to take an interest in the difficulties deaf people face, as well as the sign language they use. She added the advantages of becoming a sign language interpreter, “You can gain many skills by working as a sign language interpreter, like how to face people and navigate new situations. There are numerous moments in which you find this work rewarding.”

By Yun Hyun-ji, Editor