Sweaty-palms moment for interpreter in Korea
There are many high-pressure roles in the ADF, but maybe none quite like interpreting a conversation between two senior officers during an international exercise.
CAPTION: Craftsman Hyun Kim at US Army Garrison Humphreys in the Republic of Korea during Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield 24. Story by Captain Peter Nugent. Photos by Lieutenant Commander Brendan Trembath.
Linguist Craftsman Hyun ‘Kimmy’ Kim was faced with that nerve-wracking scenario during a deployment to the Republic of Korea (ROK) for Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield.
“I had to interpret for Major General Scott Winter [former Commander of the 1st (Australian) Division] while he was in the Republic of Korea,” Craftsman Kim said.
“I couldn’t fully understand one of the sentences, so I had to get help from the ROK interpretation officer.
“That was in front of Ground Operations Command Commander, a General and Major General Winter.
“I didn’t know my hands could sweat that much.”
Despite the occasional sticky situation, Craftsman Kim said he enjoyed working as an interpreter and the various opportunities and experiences that came with it.
“My role during the past exercises and planning conferences in ROK was to provide linguist and life support to the Australian contingent,” Craftsman Kim said.
“Occasionally, I helped out US and British officers while I was in Ground Operations Command during the Freedom Shield exercises.”
‘Kimmy’, now thirty-year-old, arrived in Australia from South Korea in 1993.
He and his family settled on the Gold Coast in 2006 where he attended Merrimac State High School before obtaining a Certificate III in carpentry.
He joined Defence in 2014 as an electrical technician, but since transitioning to Service Category 5, Craftsman Kim said he mostly performed linguist duties, including several deployments to his birthplace.
“Koreans seem quite confused when they see me in an ADF uniform,” Craftsman Kim said.
“Some people think I am in the ROK military, augmented to the ADF, but I tell them that is not the case.
“They become very surprised and ask me many questions.”
CAPTION: Craftsman Hyun Kim, second from right, speaks with fellow ADF participants in Exercise Ulchi Freedom Shield at US Army Garrison Humphreys in the Republic of Korea.
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