A document you need for one purpose in Korea (say, a bank or visa application) and a document another country’s authority will actually accept aren’t automatically the same piece of paper. Getting from one to the other usually means one of three separate procedures, and they’re not interchangeable.

Which one you need depends on where the document is going and what it’s for — not on how official the document already looks.

Notarized Translation (번역공증)

A notarized translation doesn’t certify that the document’s contents are true — it certifies that the translator has formally sworn the translation matches the original, and confirms who that translator is. In practice this means visiting a notary office in person with your ID, seal (or signature, depending on the notary), proof of your translation qualification, the original document, and the translation itself. One detail that trips people up: any personal name in the translation must match the spelling on your passport exactly, not a phonetic variant you might otherwise prefer. Except in specific exempted cases, the original document is required in person — a photocopy generally isn’t accepted.

Apostille (아포스티유)

An Apostille is a simplified authentication that Hague Apostille Convention member countries accept in place of full consular legalization — one certificate from the issuing country’s own designated authority is enough, without a further embassy visit in that country. For documents issued in Korea, the current authority is the Overseas Koreans Agency (재외동포청), which took over this role from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on June 5, 2023. The fee is 1,000 won per copy, and for a limited set of eligible document types, an e-Apostille can be issued online rather than in person. An Apostille only works if the destination country is actually a Hague Convention member — if it isn’t, this isn’t the right procedure.

Consular Confirmation (영사확인)

If your destination country is not a Hague Apostille Convention member, the equivalent step is consular confirmation instead of an Apostille — a different process, but at the same stated fee (1,000 won per copy) for documents handled through the same official channel. The practical difference from an Apostille is procedural, not financial: check the destination country’s Convention membership first, since that single fact determines which of these two routes actually applies to you.

What People Get Wrong

The most common mistake is assuming these three procedures are interchangeable, or that finishing one means the others aren’t needed. A notarized translation confirms the translation is faithful to the original — it says nothing about whether the destination country will accept the underlying document without further authentication. An Apostille or consular confirmation, in turn, authenticates the original document (or a certified copy) — it doesn’t translate anything. Depending on what you’re submitting and to whom, you may genuinely need more than one of these, in a specific order (commonly: notarize the translation first, then authenticate). Confirm the exact requirement and order directly with the receiving institution before starting, rather than assuming based on what worked for someone else’s paperwork.