Recognizing this need, former engineer and US attorney Lee Jai-wook launched AILingGo in 2020, an AI-driven legal translation platform aimed at transforming how legal documents are translated.
Lee, who also serves as counsel for Yulchon, one of Korea’s top law firms, identified a key challenge in generative AI applications: hallucinations, where models generate incorrect or fabricated information.
“This happens because generative AI lacks sufficient data in specialized fields,” Lee told The Korea Times.
To address this, AILingGo developed OTran, its flagship platform tailored for legal and business translations. Powered by SYSTRAN’s translation engine, OTran employs domain-specific language models to ensure accuracy and contextual relevance.
Unlike general AI translators, OTran focuses on specialized terminology. For instance, Lee noted how the term “facility” in tax and accounting contexts refers to a loan, a meaning that differs significantly in general usage. “If a translator for the general public interprets ‘facility’ as ‘loan,’ it would be inappropriate for non-specialist audiences,” Lee said, emphasizing the importance of domain-specific approaches.
OTran allows users to upload documents, select translation models suited to specific document types, and generate translated drafts within seconds. An intuitive editing interface enables adjustments to tone and format, ensuring the final output aligns with the original document’s layout. Security is a priority, with client data stored separately and encrypted to prevent unauthorized access.
Since its inception, OTran has attracted high-profile clients, including three of Korea’s top six law firms and government agencies like the Korea Legislation Research Institute. The platform’s performance has thrust it to become a trusted tool for corporate clients seeking reliable legal translations.
AILingGo is now preparing to expand its language offerings beyond English and Korean, targeting the global legal market, which Lee estimates at US$900 billion. “The global market offers immense opportunities for domain-specific AI translation,” Lee said, noting the lack of competitors in this niche.
While AI can dramatically reduce translation time, Lee stressed the importance of human oversight. “AI translation can turn a two-hour task into ten minutes, but human review is essential to ensure accuracy,” he said. By integrating AI and human expertise, Lee believes tools like OTran will redefine the efficiency of legal translation, paving the way for broader adoption in the global market.
