'Pretty officer'? Defense ministry's glossary for multicultural soldiers plagued with translation errors

A Ministry of National Defense glossary designed to assist soldiers with limited proficiency in the Korean language has been found to contain numerous translation errors, sparking concerns about the accuracy of the military's vetting procedures. In August, the ministry announced the creation of the glossary, which aimed to define 562 common military terms such as "salute" and "roll call" for soldiers who hold overseas permanent residency or belong to multicultural backgrounds.

The glossary, compiled from observations of a soldier's daily routine, was translated into English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Spanish, and Japanese, and then disseminated on the Military Manpower Administration's website and in printed form to new recruits. However, the glossary has been marred by translation mistakes. In the English rendition, the Korean term for "petty officer" was erroneously translated as "pretty officer."

Additionally, the Korean phrase meaning "checking the chamber for rounds after firing" was inaccurately rendered as "weather conditions such as rain, snow, or strong winds that restrict activities," a completely unrelated statement about the weather.