Escort, consecutive, simultaneous and whispered interpretation split by meeting size and equipment; picking the wrong type can multiply the cost two to four times or break the meeting's accuracy.
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Author: Paul Dahoon Kim (Founder, MetaPret. Working Korean-English interpreter, ~100 engagements)
Last updated: 2026-10-08
Read time: ~7 minutes
Summary: Pick the wrong type of interpretation and you either pay two to four times more than you need to, or the meeting loses its accuracy. This guide explains how escort, consecutive, simultaneous, and whisper interpretation differ, walks through eight common request scenarios, and sets out the criteria for deciding which one fits.
Introduction
The question first-time clients ask most often: "Which type of interpretation do I need?"
The answer depends on the format of the meeting. Get it wrong and one of two things happens:
- Overpaying. A simultaneous booth goes up for a meeting where consecutive would have been enough, and the bill comes in two to four times higher.
- Accuracy breaks down. A single consecutive interpreter is assigned to a conference that needed simultaneous, and the whole session falls apart.
This guide is here to help with that decision. It sets out the four types of interpretation, then gives a direct recommendation for eight request scenarios.
The four types of interpretation: what sets them apart
1. Escort interpretation (liaison interpretation)
What it is: The interpreter travels with the client and interprets in both directions across business meetings, factory tours, dinners, and moving around the city. It suits one-on-one or small-group settings that are less formal.
Rhythm: The conversation pauses naturally for interpretation. It follows the flow of a real conversation rather than a formal meeting.
Interpreters needed: One. Up to eight hours.
Equipment: None. Just the interpreter.
Good fit for:
- Accompanying a visiting executive in Korea (airport pickup, hotel, meeting venue, dinner, travel around the city)
- Factory tours (interpreting on site between hosts and visitors)
- Informal business dinners
- Market research and store visits
2. Consecutive interpretation
What it is: The speaker talks for about 30 seconds to a minute, then the interpreter renders it. This is the format used most often in formal two-way meetings.
Rhythm: Speak, interpret, speak, interpret. Meeting time effectively doubles (a one-hour meeting takes two hours).
Interpreters needed: Usually one. For engagements of four hours or more, two are recommended to share the cognitive load.
Equipment: None. The interpreter uses a notepad and pen for note-taking.
Good fit for:
- Business negotiations (five to ten people or fewer on each side)
- M&A negotiation rounds
- IR meetings
- Media interviews
- Talks followed by Q&A
- Executive interviews
3. Simultaneous interpretation
What it is: The interpreter renders the speech in near real time while the speaker is still talking. Listeners hear the interpretation through headsets.
Rhythm: The meeting runs at its normal length. No time is lost.
Interpreters needed: Two at minimum, always. Each interpreter has to hand over every 20 to 30 minutes because of cognitive limits. Multilingual meetings need two interpreters per language pair.
Equipment: A soundproof simultaneous booth, headsets, microphones, and a sound console. Booth rental adds ₩800,000–1,500,000 per day.
Good fit for:
- Conferences (30+ attendees)
- Multilingual meetings (three or more languages)
- Executive meetings with a hard time limit (the meeting has to finish on schedule)
- Live broadcasts and events
- International academic presentations
- Government and diplomatic meetings
4. Whisper interpretation (chuchotage)
What it is: The interpreter sits next to one or two listeners and interprets simultaneously in a low voice. Simultaneous interpretation without a booth.
Rhythm: Same as simultaneous (real time).
Interpreters needed: One interpreter per listener. With two or three listeners, two interpreters (because of cognitive limits and how far a whisper carries).
Equipment: None, or a wireless whisper system (transmitter plus listener headsets, about ₩200,000–500,000 per day).
Good fit for:
- An executive seated near the presenter while the presentation runs in a foreign language
- Board meetings (one or two foreign directors who need to follow in real time)
- Legal hearings (one or two foreign parties)
- VIP accompaniment (one or two VIPs who need real-time understanding during a large event)
Eight request scenarios: which interpretation to use
Below are direct recommendations for the eight scenarios Korean clients request most often.
Scenario 1: A foreign executive's two-day visit to Korea (factory tour + dinner)
Recommendation: One escort interpreter (two days).
Why: Formal meetings and informal conversation mix throughout. When one interpreter stays with the executive from start to finish, the executive builds rapport with the same person. Relationship building and continuity of context matter more here than interpretation accuracy.
Estimated cost: ₩1,400,000 – ₩2,800,000 (two days).
Scenario 2: Korea-Japan M&A negotiation round (eight people across both sides, one four-hour session)
Recommendation: One consecutive interpreter (a Senior interpreter with M&A domain experience).
Why: Both sides speak for roughly equal time, and accuracy of meaning is non-negotiable. Simultaneous interpretation tends to compress subtle modality, which makes it a poor fit for M&A negotiation. Consecutive lets the interpreter put accuracy first.
Estimated cost: ₩1,500,000 – ₩2,500,000 (one day).
Scenario 3: International conference with 200 attendees (English-Korean, one day)
Recommendation: A team of two simultaneous interpreters, plus booth and sound.
Why: Ten or more speakers present in turn. Consecutive would double the length of the program, and doubling the time of 200 people is not cost-efficient. Simultaneous is the standard.
Estimated cost: Two interpreters ₩4,000,000 – ₩6,000,000 + booth ₩1,200,000 = ₩5,200,000 – ₩7,200,000 in total.
Scenario 4: One executive attending a conference as a listener (Korean-language conference, English-speaking executive)
Recommendation: One whisper interpreter.
Why: There is a single listener. A booth plus two simultaneous interpreters would be excessive. The interpreter sits next to the executive and interprets quietly.
Estimated cost: ₩1,000,000 – ₩1,800,000 (one day).
Scenario 5: Board meeting (two foreign directors, six hours)
Recommendation: Two whisper interpreters, OR two simultaneous interpreters with a wireless whisper system.
Why: Two listeners, six hours. A single whisper interpreter would go past cognitive limits, so two interpreters need to rotate. Alternatively, a wireless whisper system lets you run simultaneous interpretation without the cost of a booth.
Estimated cost: ₩2,500,000 – ₩4,000,000 (one day).
Scenario 6: One-hour media interview
Recommendation: One consecutive interpreter.
Why: A media interview is two-way and time-bound, but short enough that consecutive is sufficient. Simultaneous does not work well for media because two voices overlap on the interview footage.
Estimated cost: ₩500,000 – ₩900,000 (half-day basis).
Scenario 7: Medical conference (three languages: Korean, English, Japanese; two days)
Recommendation: Four simultaneous interpreters (two per language pair × two pairs), plus booths and verification in the medical domain.
Why: Multilingual simultaneous interpretation needs as many booths as there are language pairs. Medical vocabulary is beyond a generalist interpreter. Matching with interpreters verified in the medical domain is essential.
Estimated cost: Four interpreters ₩10,000,000 – ₩16,000,000 + booths ₩2,400,000 = ₩12,400,000 – ₩18,400,000 in total (two days).
Scenario 8: One-hour video call (Korean-English)
Recommendation: One consecutive interpreter (remote).
Why: For a short video call, a remote interpreter is enough, with no booth or equipment. It is the most sensible choice on an hourly basis.
Estimated cost: ₩300,000 – ₩500,000 (one-hour basis, subject to the interpreter's minimum billing policy).
Decision criteria: four questions
If your request does not match one of the scenarios above, answer these four questions and the type of interpretation will follow.
Q1. Is the meeting one-way or two-way?
One-way (one person presents, the audience listens): simultaneous or whisper.
Two-way (conversation or negotiation): consecutive or escort.
Q2. How many listeners are there?
1–3: Whisper works. Escort or consecutive also work.
5–30: Consecutive or simultaneous (depending on time constraints).
30+: Simultaneous (consecutive would double the time, which is inefficient).
Q3. Does the meeting have a hard time limit?
Yes (for example, the meeting has to end within an hour to fit an executive's schedule): simultaneous or whisper.
No (a negotiation takes as long as it takes): consecutive.
Q4. Is accuracy of meaning non-negotiable?
Yes (M&A, legal, medical diagnosis, contracts): consecutive (Senior level).
No (general business, conference presentations): simultaneous or escort are fine.
Requesting through MetaPret
You do not need to choose the interpretation type yourself when filling in a MetaPret request. Enter the details of the request (number of attendees, meeting format, duration, field), and MetaPret recommends the interpretation type that fits and matches you with verified interpreters for it.
If you are unsure, note the closest of the eight scenarios above in your request, or contact cs@metapret.net.
Interpreters are matched after passing a test built for that request: a conference simultaneous request is matched with interpreters who passed a simultaneous test built for it, and an M&A consecutive request with interpreters who passed an M&A consecutive test built for it.
Start by submitting a request.
FAQ (FAQPage schema)
Q: Can I use a single simultaneous interpreter?
A: For short simultaneous sessions of 30 minutes or less, one interpreter is possible. Beyond that, a single interpreter cannot hold accuracy because of the cognitive load. An interpreter who suggests working alone to save cost is shifting the accuracy risk onto the client.
Q: Is simultaneous interpretation possible without a booth?
A: Yes, through whisper interpretation or a wireless whisper system (transmitter plus headsets). This is recommended for up to two listeners. Five or more listeners need a booth.
Q: What type of interpretation is used for video calls?
A: Video-call interpretation can be either consecutive or simultaneous. Short two-way meetings use consecutive. Multi-party meetings with a time limit that run 30 minutes or longer use remote simultaneous interpretation (RSI).
Q: Can one interpreter handle escort, consecutive, and simultaneous?
A: Generally yes, but even among Senior interpreters, some specialize in simultaneous and others in consecutive. MetaPret matches on a test built for each request's type, so it does not rely on self-reported multi-skill claims.
Q: I need an interpreter for just one hour. What should I do?
A: Most interpreters bill in minimum four-hour blocks. A one-hour booking works out to 1.5 to 2 times the standard hourly rate. For better cost efficiency: (a) group other short meetings on the same day into a four-hour package, or (b) switch to remote video-call interpretation.
About the author
Paul Dahoon Kim (김다훈)
Founder & CEO of MetaPret. As a Korean-English interpreter across around 100 engagements, he has worked in escort, consecutive, simultaneous, and whisper interpretation.
Author page · Contact: cs@metapret.net