How to Translate HWP and HWPX Files to English (2026)
If you've ever received a Korean document with a .hwp or .hwpx extension and had no idea how to open it — let alone translate it — you're not alone. HWP is the default file format for Hancom Office (한컴오피스), South Korea's most widely used word processor. It's the Korean equivalent of Microsoft Word, and it's everywhere: government forms, university applications, job contracts, medical records, and official correspondence.
The problem? Almost no translation tool supports it.
This guide covers every method available in 2026, from free online tools to manual workarounds.
What Are HWP and HWPX Files?
| Format | Full Name | Notes |
|---|---|---|
.hwp | Hancom Word Processor (legacy) | Binary format, used in older documents |
.hwpx | Hancom Word Processor XML | Newer XML-based format (like .docx vs .doc) |
Both are produced by Hancom Office (한컴오피스), which is pre-installed on virtually all Korean government computers and used by most Korean universities and large corporations.
You'll encounter these files if you're:
- Applying to a Korean university (GKS scholarships, TOPIK, exchange programs)
- Working with a Korean company or contractor
- Dealing with Korean immigration, visa, or residency documents
- Receiving legal or medical documents from Korea
Method 1: Xenith (Best for Translation + Format Preservation)
Xenith is currently the only online tool that translates HWP and HWPX files while preserving the original formatting — tables, headings, and layout intact.
How it works:
- Go to tryxenith.com
- Upload your
.hwpor.hwpxfile - Select your source language (Korean) and target language (English)
- Toggle "Preserve Format" on
- Download the translated file as PDF, DOCX, or plain text
Best for: Documents where layout matters — university application forms, contracts, government forms, resumes.
Supports: .hwp, .hwpx, .pdf, .docx, images (JPG, PNG), and ZIP archives for batch translation.
Method 2: Hancom Docs Online (Convert First, Then Translate)
Hancom Docs is the web version of Hancom Office. It's free and lets you open HWP/HWPX files in the browser.
Steps:
- Go to hancomdocs.com
- Sign up for a free account
- Upload your
.hwpor.hwpxfile - Export it as a
.docxfile (File → Save As → Word) - Open the
.docxin Google Translate or DeepL
Limitation: The exported DOCX sometimes loses formatting, especially for tables and complex layouts. Translation quality depends on the tool you use in step 5.
Method 3: Naver Papago or Google Translate (Text Only)
If you just need to understand what a document says — not preserve its format — you can copy-paste the text.
Steps:
- Open the file in Hancom Docs (free online, see Method 2)
- Select all text (Ctrl+A / Cmd+A)
- Copy and paste into Papago or Google Translate
Limitation: You lose all formatting, tables, and structure. Works fine for reading short documents; painful for anything longer than a page.
Method 4: HWP Viewer + Screenshot + OCR
A fallback if you can't open the file any other way.
Steps:
- Download Hancom HWP Viewer (free, Windows only)
- Open the file and take screenshots of each page
- Upload the screenshots to Xenith or Google Translate's image mode
Limitation: Windows only. Tedious for multi-page documents.
Comparison Table
| Method | Translation Quality | Format Preserved | Free | HWP/HWPX Native |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Xenith | ★★★★★ (AI) | ✅ Yes | ✅ | ✅ Yes |
| Hancom Docs → DOCX → Translate | ★★★☆☆ | ⚠️ Partial | ✅ | Requires export |
| Copy-paste to Papago/Google | ★★★★☆ | ❌ No | ✅ | Requires export |
| HWP Viewer + Screenshot + OCR | ★★★☆☆ | ❌ No | ✅ | ⚠️ Windows only |
Common Questions
Can I open HWP files on a Mac?
Not natively. Hancom Office is Windows-only. Your best options on a Mac are Hancom Docs (web browser) or Xenith for direct translation without installing anything.
Can I open HWP files on Linux?
LibreOffice has partial HWP support, but it's unreliable for complex layouts. Naver Whale browser can render some HWP files. For reliable results, use Hancom Docs or Xenith.
Is HWPX different from HWP?
HWPX is the newer XML-based format (introduced around 2014), similar to how .docx replaced .doc for Microsoft Word. Most modern Korean documents use HWPX. Both formats are supported by Xenith.
Can Google Translate handle HWP files?
No. Google Translate's document translation supports PDF, DOCX, PPTX, and XLSX — not HWP or HWPX. You need to convert to DOCX first (via Hancom Docs) or use Xenith directly.
Can DeepL translate HWP files?
No. Same limitation as Google Translate. DeepL supports PDF and Word formats only.
Bottom Line
If you're dealing with HWP or HWPX files regularly — especially for Korean university applications, immigration documents, or business contracts — the format-preserving route via Xenith saves the most time. Converting to DOCX first works but adds friction and often breaks complex layouts.
For occasional one-off documents where you just need to understand the content, the Hancom Docs → copy-paste method is free and good enough.
Try it now: Translate your HWP or HWPX file at tryxenith.com →