Daewoo Engineering develops real-time AI translator for foreign construction workers

Daewoo Engineering announced Sunday it has developed a real-time AI translator designed to improve communication with foreign workers at its construction sites.

The tool was created to address language barriers as the share of foreign workers in South Korea's construction industry continues to grow. According to the Construction Workers Mutual Aid Association, foreign workers accounted for 229,541 — or 14.7 percent — of the industry's 1.56 million workers in 2024.

Rather than purchasing an off-the-shelf solution, Daewoo Engineering led the development itself in partnership with technology partner Lotte Innovate, building a system tailored to construction site conditions.

The translator uses Lotte Innovate's AI-powered real-time translation technology to reliably recognize and render spoken language on site. It incorporates a construction-specific glossary reflecting the slang and technical jargon commonly used in the field, improving translation accuracy. Site managers can also add or edit new expressions and frequently used terms on the spot, keeping the vocabulary current.

The system supports up to 180 languages and applies real-time voice processing to minimize translation lag, reducing the risk of mistranslation or omitted content. It also moves away from the previous practice of relying on a handful of crew leaders to interpret, improving communication efficiency between managers and workers. Daewoo Engineering is currently testing the system at two smart-safety pilot sites: the Sewoon 633 Office project and the G-TOWN development new construction site.

The system is designed with ease of use in mind. Once a site manager opens a translation channel, workers can follow along in real time on their personal smartphones during morning briefings and Tool Box Meetings. The company expects the tool to improve workers' understanding of instructions and help prevent accidents during safety training and other key on-site communications. Managers can also monitor usage and maintain the construction glossary through a dedicated dashboard.

Daewoo Engineering serves as chair of the Smart Construction Alliance, a program led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and is pursuing a company-wide push to expand AI and data-driven smart construction technology. The company is advancing the digital transformation of the construction industry through a range of in-house AI tools, including Barodap AI, a contract document analysis system, Baroletter AI, a communication solution, and an AI-powered intelligent landscaping design platform.

"This real-time AI translator goes beyond simple language conversion — it is a communication infrastructure for ensuring worker safety and improving construction quality," a Daewoo Engineering official said. "As chair of the Smart Construction Alliance, we will continue to actively deploy a wide range of smart safety technologies on site and lead the way in building a digitally grounded, safe construction ecosystem."