A tourist from Japan uses a real-time translation service in a subway station in Seoul. Courtesy of Seoul Metropolitan Government

Real-time translation services for foreign tourists will begin on a pilot basis at Myeong-dong Station on Seoul Subway Line 4 on Monday.

Seoul Metro said the translation service, powered by artificial intelligence (AI), facilitates seamless communication between international tourists and metro station staff, allowing them to converse in their respective languages while facing each other through a transparent OLED display.

The service supports 13 languages, including Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, Indonesian, Spanish, French, German, Arabic and Russian.

The service aims to enhance the convenience of foreigners and improve on-site responses from station staff. It incorporates touch screens and both wired and wireless microphones, enabling users to quickly and accurately receive information about the subway.

The transparent OLED display also provides a route search function and details fare prices dependent on a passenger's desired subway route.

Additionally, it offers information about T-Locker, Seoul Metro's goods storage service, and T-Luggage, an in-person luggage storage facility that can be found at subway stations.

Following on-site tests with foreigners conducted throughout November, Seoul Metro reported high user satisfaction.

During the testing period, the service underwent improvements, including the application of directional microphones and noise removal technologies to enhance voice recognition, particularly for proper nouns like station names. These enhancements aimed to address language recognition and translation issues arising from loud noise present in the station.

“By introducing this system for the first time, we expect foreigners of various nationalities visiting Korea will be able to easily and conveniently receive subway usage information. We will also increase the satisfaction of foreign tourists by further enhancing convenience and usability by providing services in conjunction with mobile devices such as mobile phones,” said Seoul Metro CEO Baek Ho.

Meanwhile, the pilot period of the real-time translation service will last four months, initially installed at the entrance of the customer safety office at Myeongdong Station, given the station's status as a top foreign tourism priority.

Following the pilot, the service will be expanded to five stations that are frequented by many foreigners, including Seoul Station, Itaewon Station, Gimpo Airport Station, Gwanghwamun Station and Hongik University Station next year.