This article is Part 1 of Hansem Global’s 35th Anniversary Series, which explores our past, present, and future as a global content and localization partner.

Part 1 looks back at how we’ve grown and what sets us apart. Part 2 will examine the challenges we face today across both translation and technical documentation. Part 3 will explore where we’re headed next.

How We Built a Customer-Centered Global Content Service

For companies expanding into global markets, producing multilingual manuals and localized content isn’t just a task—it’s a business-critical function. And it’s one that’s surprisingly easy to get wrong. Poorly translated instructions, inconsistent terminology, or unclear safety information can damage brand trust—or worse, delay market entry and trigger legal risk.

At Hansem Global, these are exactly the challenges we’ve spent over 35 years solving. What began as a two-person team focused on English-language manual development has grown into a global operation with regional hubs in Asia and North America, supporting multilingual documentation and localization for some of the world’s most recognized brands.

In this article, we share how that foundation was built—not just to grow, but to help our clients scale with clarity, consistency, and confidence.

From Day One: A Focus on Usability and Quality

In the early 1990s, Korean manufacturers were rapidly expanding into global markets. At the time, it was common to create manuals in Korean and translate them as an afterthought—often resulting in errors, delays, and usability issues.

Hansem Global took a different path from the beginning.

• We developed original English-language manuals, not just translations
• We followed international documentation standards, thanks to early training with U.S.-based Tandy Electronics
• We worked closely with major clients like Samsung Electronics, ensuring product documentation met global buyer expectations from day one
• We prioritized clarity, consistency, and time-sensitive delivery, even in multilingual formats

Our foundation wasn’t just about words—it was about enabling global business with usable, accurate, and compliant content.

Scaling with Structure: From a Small Team to a Global Operation

As client needs became more complex, we built a service model designed to handle scale without sacrificing quality.

• We formed dedicated teams across content creation, translation, QA, design, and project management
• We developed a systematic workflow that supports multi-format documentation across 50+ languages
• We earned ISO 9001 (quality management), ISO 17100 (translation services),  ISO 27001 (Information security) certifications
• We relocated to a new headquarters in Suwon, South Korea in 2006, laying the foundation for international collaboration

Every step of growth was anchored by one question:
How can we better support our clients’ success in global markets?

Strategic Global Expansion to Support Clients Where It Matters

As our clients entered new markets, they needed faster, region-specific support. We responded by building regional hubs—not for expansion’s sake, but to stay close to where quality happens.

🇻🇳 Vietnam: Managing Asian Language Quality

With increasing demand for Asian languages, we established a Vietnam office as a quality assurance hub for the region.

• Built in-house teams of native translators and reviewers
• Maintained close collaboration with our Korean HQ to ensure consistency and process standardization
• Managed translation for manuals, UI text, and marketing content
• Adopted local work culture to create sustainable team operations—not top-down control

The result: faster, more accurate support for clients localizing across Asia.

🇨🇳 China: Supporting Localization in a Complex Market

China’s growing role in global manufacturing led many companies to seek localized documentation that met international standards.

• We supported Chinese companies like Lenovo, Haier, and Alibaba as they expanded globally
• We provided manual development consulting and standardization guidance
• We joined the China Association for Standardization (CAS) as a TC expert member
• We offered training and usability testing, helping clients deliver more effective product documentation

While the Chinese market presented unique challenges, it also gave us deep insights into how to operate and support clients in fast-evolving environments.

🇺🇸 United States: Real-Time, High-Compliance Localization

To better serve North American clients, we opened a U.S. office focused on real-time communication, compliance, and industry-specific expertise.

• Provided local project management in the U.S. time zone
• Focused on high-compliance sectors: IT, biotech, healthcare, manufacturing, and software
• Operated a 24-hour global workflow with production in Korea and Vietnam
• Maintained ISO 27001 certification and strict adherence to GDPR and HIPAA standards

We also launched a U.S.-optimized website, invested in SEO and digital outreach, and built partnerships with local solution providers.

This approach allows us to deliver scalable localization with local responsiveness—a key differentiator in today’s high-expectation markets.

Why Clients Choose—and Stay With—Hansem Global

Clients don’t stay with us for 10+ years because we’re the cheapest or the largest. They stay because we deliver:

✅ Consistent quality across all content types

✅ Specialized teams aligned by industry and region

✅ Certified processes and proven workflows

✅ Real-time collaboration across time zones

✅ A long-term mindset—beyond one-off projects

We’re not just a translation vendor. We’re a content and localization partner that scales with your business—because your growth is built on clarity, trust, and communication.

Looking Ahead

Over the years, we’ve learned that helping clients succeed globally requires more than technical expertise—it requires adaptability in the face of constant change.

Today, the landscape of content and localization services is evolving rapidly. Companies face mounting pressure to reduce costs through AI, yet integrating AI into existing workflows—whether for translation or manual development—is far from plug-and-play. Meanwhile, expectations for faster delivery, broader format support (from multilingual to digital and video manuals), and compliance with regional regulations are only growing.

At Hansem Global, we’re confronting these challenges head-on—from navigating complex project timelines to adjusting service models across regions, including hard-earned lessons from markets like China.

In Part 2 of this series, we’ll take a candid look at the real-world difficulties we and our clients face today—and how we’re working to respond, adapt, and continue delivering value in an increasingly demanding environment.

▶️ Stay tuned for Part 2: Today’s Challenges in Content and Localization Services