Incomplete Korean Translation in MetaMask Extension

What is this about?

The Korean translation in MetaMask extension is incomplete and contains several issues that affect the user experience for Korean-speaking users. Many UI elements remain in English, and some translations are inaccurate or inconsistent.

Scenario

User Story
As a Korean MetaMask user
I want complete and consistent Korean localization
So that I can safely and confidently manage my crypto assets without language barriers
Current User Journey:

User sets language to Korean (한국어)
User sees mixed Korean/English interface
User encounters untranslated error messages during critical operations
User struggles to understand security warnings
User loses confidence in the application

Expected User Journey:

User sets language to Korean (한국어)
User experiences fully localized interface with consistent terminology
All error messages and warnings display in clear Korean
User can confidently navigate all features in their native language

Design

Localization Requirements:

Complete UI Coverage: All text elements translated
Consistent Terminology: Standardized crypto/blockchain terms in Korean
Cultural Adaptation: Natural Korean expressions, not literal translations
Accessibility: Screen reader compatible Korean text
Contextual Help: Korean tooltips and educational content

Style Guide Needs:

Standardized translation of technical terms (gas, seed phrase, wallet, etc.)
Formal vs informal tone guidelines
Number and currency formatting for Korean locale
Date/time format preferences

Technical Details

Areas Requiring Translation:

Main Navigation: Settings, Activity, Assets tabs
Transaction Flow: Send, Swap, Bridge interfaces
Security Features: Seed phrase backup, password creation
Network Management: Add network, custom RPC settings
Error Handling: All error messages and warnings
Educational Content: Tooltips, help text, onboarding

Implementation Approach:

Audit existing app/_locales/ko/messages.json
Identify missing translation keys
Review and improve existing translations
Establish Korean terminology standards
Test translations in context

Files to Update:
app/_locales/ko/messages.json

Threat Modeling Framework

No response

Acceptance Criteria

All user-facing text elements have Korean translations
Translation consistency verified across entire application
Error messages and security warnings fully localized
Korean terminology standards documented
Native Korean speaker validation completed
UI testing in Korean locale passed
No English text visible when Korean is selected (except proper nouns)
Cultural appropriateness of translations verified
Help documentation references updated for Korean users

Stakeholder review needed before the work gets merged

• Engineering (needed in most cases)
• Design
• Product
• QA (automation tests are required to pass before merging PRs but not all changes are covered by automation tests - please review if QA is needed beyond automation tests)
• Security
• Legal
• Marketing
• Management (please specify)
• Other (please specify)

References

Related Resources:

MetaMask Localization Guidelines
Korean Cryptocurrency Terminology Standards
Korean Government Digital Services Style Guide
Similar issues in other locales: #[issue numbers if available]

Community Resources:

Korean MetaMask user community feedback
Korean blockchain developer terminology preferences
Korean financial services language standards

Start by auditing app/_locales/ko/messages.json for missing keys and inconsistent existing translations, then review the referenced MetaMask localization guidelines and Korean terminology resources. Done means the locale covers the listed UI areas, terminology and formatting are consistent, Korean text is validated by a native speaker, and the Korean locale passes UI testing without unintended English text.