BBB System

BBB is now operating by ‘Automatic Connecting to Mobile Phone' system. When a native and foreigner in need of communication help calls 1588-5644, and then presses the number assigned to each language, they are quickly connected to our volunteer's mobile phones through an automated switchboard. They can be connected to 3 volunteers in order. After being successfully connected to our volunteers, they can get help on the phone. There may be a short delay until a volunteer answers their phone, and the client may not be connected immediately on their first try. In that case, please re-try or wait for a bit.

BBB Usage

If you find difficulties in communication with anyone here in Korea, please call 1588-5644. When you press the button that is designated for each of our 17 languages (English, Japanese, Chinese, French, Spanish, Italian, Russian, German, Portuguese, Arabic, Polish, Turkish, Swedish, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian and Malay), you are connected with our volunteers who can provide you with instant translation service. If you are faced with an emergency, or find difficulties in communication, please show your BBB card to anyone around you and ask for help. Or, you could take advantage of BBB service for yourself by using a phone. For instance, if you need interpretation in English, call 1588-5644 and then press number “1”, which is assigned to English. Then you will be directly connected to one of our volunteers. Note that BBB service is available only over the telephone.

BBB Introduction

What is BBB?

BBB stands for our name, the “Before Babel Brigade”. ‘Before Babel’ means the time before the construction of the Tower of Babel and ‘Brigade’ means a group of people organized for a specific purpose. According to the Old Testament of the Christian Bible, people began to question their faith after the Great Flood. Noah's descendants started to build an immense tower named “the Tower of Babel” to reach all the way up to Heaven, in order to challenge the glory of God. But God was upset with their rebellious plans, and caused all the construction-workers to start speaking in different languages. They became confused in their work, progress halted, and the great tower collapsed. The people scattered across the face of the earth with their new languages, and this was the origin of the world’s linguistic diversity. The term “Babel” has come to mean "confusion of different languages”, and this story has become famous as a warning: when people can’t understand each other, work cannot be accomplished and disasters can easily happen.

So, "Before Babel Brigade" (BBB) refers to the ideal, mythical time before the construction of that tower, when the people of the Earth shared a common language. We are a group of volunteers who envision a society free from cultural and language barriers. BBB interpreters work to break down these obstacles.

BBB LOGO

The BBB campaign logo is like a tree, a symbol of organic connection that replaces the Babel Tower image.The branches are shaped like 'ㅅ' to symbolize network and communication. This logotype drops the existing form-oriented direction of lines to embrace their powers of connection. This is to emphasize the importance of mutual understanding in our daily lives. The BBB campaign symbol was designed by graphic designer Ahn Sang-su, a professor at the Visual Communication Department of Hongik University's College of Fine Arts and Design.

BBB

Promotion Video Clip