Korea Emergency Numbers for Tourists: 112, 119, 1330, and What to Say

The two Korea emergency numbers tourists must remember are 112 for police and 119 for fire, rescue, and an ambulance. For a non-life-threatening travel problem or multilingual tourism assistance, call 1330. If you cannot speak Korean during an emergency call, say “English, please” or “Interpreter, please,” then give your location before explaining anything else.

Save these numbers before your trip, along with your hotel's Korean address and your travel-insurance contact. In a real emergency, knowing where you are is often more important than describing every detail perfectly.

Korea Emergency Numbers at a Glance

• 112: Police, crime, assault, theft in progress, immediate threat
• 119: Ambulance, medical emergency, fire, rescue
• 1330: Korea Travel Helpline, interpretation, travel assistance, tourist complaints
• 1345: Immigration Contact Center for visa and immigration questions
• 02-120: Seoul city information and complaints, including Seoul taxi issues

Do not call 1330 instead of 112 or 119 when someone is in immediate danger. The travel helpline can assist and connect services, but emergency dispatch should start with the emergency number.

Call 112 for Police

Dial 112 when a crime is happening, someone is threatening you, you have been assaulted, or you need immediate police protection. It is the nationwide police emergency number and requires no area code.

Examples of when to call 112

• Physical assault or threat
• Stalking or being followed
• Burglary or robbery
• Sexual violence
• A dangerous dispute that may escalate
• A serious traffic incident requiring police
• A missing child or vulnerable person

For a lost wallet discovered hours later with no immediate threat, go to a nearby police station or ask 1330 how to make a report. Keep copies of the report for your travel insurer.

Call 119 for Ambulance, Fire, or Rescue

Dial 119 for a serious medical event, ambulance, fire, or rescue. This includes chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, loss of consciousness, suspected stroke, a major allergic reaction, a dangerous fall, or a person trapped or missing during an outdoor activity.

Some older web pages still mention 1339 for medical emergencies. Current Korean government travel-safety guidance directs visitors to 119 for fire, rescue, and emergency medical dispatch. In an urgent medical situation, use 119.

What happens when you call 119?

The operator will need your location, the type of emergency, the patient's condition, and a callback number. If you do not speak Korean, ask for English or an interpreter. Stay on the line and follow instructions.

Do not move a person with a suspected neck or spinal injury unless the location is dangerous. Do not give food or drink to an unconscious person. The operator can provide situation-specific guidance while help is dispatched.

Call 1330 for Non-Life-Threatening Tourist Help

The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline is operated for travelers and provides multilingual assistance. It is useful when you need interpretation, transportation guidance, help communicating with a business, or advice about a tourist complaint.

Good reasons to call 1330

• You are lost but physically safe.
• You need help explaining a non-emergency problem.
• You need transportation or terminal information.
• You want guidance after a tourism-service dispute.
• You need help contacting another public service.
• You need interpretation at a clinic for a non-critical issue.

Inside Korea, dial 1330 without an area code. From overseas, the published contact format is +82-2-1330. Service availability by language can differ by time, so use English, Japanese, or Chinese when your preferred language is not available.

What to Say During an Emergency Call

Use short, concrete sentences. Give the location first because the call may disconnect.

1. Say: “English, please.”
2. Give the building, hotel, station exit, road address, or visible landmark.
3. State what happened: fire, injury, assault, unconscious person, or breathing problem.
4. Give the number of people involved.
5. Give your phone number and name.
6. Follow instructions and do not hang up first.

A useful template is: “English, please. I am at [location]. One person is unconscious. We need an ambulance.”

How to Explain Your Location in Korea

Street names and hotel names may be difficult to pronounce. Open Naver Map or Kakao Map and read or show the Korean address. If you are outside, look for:

• a subway station name and exit number,
• a convenience-store branch,
• a large building name,
• a road-name address plate,
• a bus-stop name, or
• a hiking-trail location marker.

Share your live location with a companion when possible. The Korea travel apps guide covers the local map tools worth installing before arrival.

Emergency Korean Phrases for Tourists

• 도와주세요. (dowajuseyo) — Please help me.
• 경찰을 불러 주세요. (gyeongchareul bulleo juseyo) — Please call the police.
• 구급차를 불러 주세요. (gugeupchareul bulleo juseyo) — Please call an ambulance.
• 불이 났어요. (buri nasseoyo) — There is a fire.
• 숨을 못 쉬어요. (sumeul mot swieoyo) — I cannot breathe.
• 의식이 없어요. (uisigi eopseoyo) — The person is unconscious.
• 피가 많이 나요. (piga mani nayo) — There is heavy bleeding.
• 영어 통역 부탁합니다. (yeongeo tongyeok butakhamnida) — I need an English interpreter.

Save these phrases as a screenshot. Translation apps are helpful, but calling 112 or 119 should not be delayed while you type a perfect sentence.

If You Need a Hospital but It Is Not an Emergency

For a minor illness, first decide whether you need a pharmacy, local clinic, or hospital emergency room. Korean pharmacies can help with common symptoms, but pharmacists do not replace emergency treatment.

Use a Korean map app to search for 약국 (pharmacy), 내과 (internal-medicine clinic), or 응급실 (emergency room). Call the facility before traveling when you need English service, a specific specialty, or treatment late at night.

The Korean pharmacy guide for tourists explains prescriptions, symptom communication, and what to bring. Call 119 instead if symptoms are severe or rapidly worsening.

What to Bring to a Korean Hospital

• Passport or identification
• Travel-insurance policy and assistance number
• List of medications, allergies, and medical conditions
• Payment card and some backup funds
• Korean address and phone number of your accommodation
• Emergency contact details
• Any relevant prescription or medical documents

Ask for receipts, medical notes, and itemized documents before leaving. Your insurer may require specific records for reimbursement. Contact the insurer as soon as practical after urgent care.

Lost Passport, Wallet, or Phone

Lost passport

Report the loss to police and contact your country's embassy or consulate. You may need a police report, identification copies, passport photos, and proof of travel to receive an emergency document.

Lost wallet or card

Freeze cards immediately through your bank, then report theft to 112 or a police station. If the wallet was simply misplaced, check the establishment, transport operator, or local lost-and-found system.

Lost phone

Use your device's remote-location and lock tools from another device. Contact your mobile carrier and change critical passwords if recovery looks unlikely. Keep printed accommodation and emergency information so losing the phone does not remove every way to get help.

Taxi Incident or Overcharging

For immediate danger or assault, call 112. For a fare complaint after reaching safety, preserve the full plate number, receipt, app record, route, date, and time. In Seoul, 02-120 handles city taxi complaints and offers multilingual assistance during supported hours.

The detailed Korea taxi scams and overcharging guide explains what evidence to collect and how legitimate surcharges work.

Natural Disaster and Safety Apps

Korean government travel guidance recommends tools such as the Baro Emergency Reporting app and Emergency Ready app for international visitors. Baro supports text or image-based emergency reporting in multiple languages, while Emergency Ready provides multilingual safety guidance.

App features and language support can change, so install and test them before you need them. Enable location access only as required and keep 112 and 119 saved even if the app is installed.

Emergency Preparation Before Leaving Your Hotel

• Screenshot the hotel's Korean name, address, and phone number.
• Save 112, 119, 1330, and your insurer.
• Carry your passport copy separately from the original.
• Tell a companion your day's route.
• Carry essential medicine in its labeled packaging.
• Keep enough phone battery for maps and calls.
• Know the nearest subway exit or major landmark.

These five minutes of preparation are more useful than memorizing dozens of uncommon numbers. In Korea, 112, 119, and 1330 cover the situations most tourists will face.

FAQ: Korea Emergency Numbers for Tourists

What is the main emergency number in Korea?

Korea uses two primary numbers: 112 for police and 119 for fire, rescue, and ambulance. Choose the service that matches the emergency.

Can I call 112 or 119 without speaking Korean?

Yes. Say “English, please” or “Interpreter, please.” Give your location immediately and use short sentences while interpretation is arranged.

What is 1330 in Korea?

1330 is the Korea Travel Helpline for multilingual travel information, interpretation, assistance, and tourist complaints. It is not a replacement for emergency dispatch.

What number calls an ambulance in Korea?

Call 119 for an ambulance or urgent medical emergency. Older pages may mention another medical number, but current emergency guidance directs travelers to 119.

Should I call 112 for a lost passport?

If it was stolen or a crime is occurring, call 112. If you discovered a non-urgent loss later, visit a police station for a report and contact your embassy or consulate.

Does the emergency operator know my location?

Location technology may help, but never rely on it alone. State the Korean address, station exit, building, or visible landmark as clearly as possible.