Last fact-checked: August 24, 2026. Services, prices and eligibility can change; verify live provider information before acting.
Call 112 for police and 119 for fire or medical emergency. Use 1330 for tourism information, interpretation and tourism complaints, and 1345 for immigration questions. If there is immediate danger, call 112 or 119 first rather than waiting for a translator or messaging service.
Tell the operator what happened, whether anyone is injured, and exactly where you are. A Korean road address, subway exit number, building name or nearby shop can be more useful than a vague neighborhood name.
| Number | Use it for |
|---|---|
| 112 | Police, crime, threats and immediate safety |
| 119 | Fire, rescue and urgent medical help |
| 1330 | Tourist information, interpretation and tourism complaints |
| 1345 | Immigration and visa information |
| 120 | Seoul city information; international dialing options are listed by Seoul |
What to say first
- Emergency type: police, fire or ambulance.
- Location: road address, station exit, building and floor.
- Condition: conscious, breathing, bleeding, trapped or missing.
- Your callback number and language.
- Do not hang up until the operator says you can.
Prepare before anything happens
- Save your accommodation’s Korean address.
- Add emergency contacts to your lock screen.
- Keep travel insurance and medication information accessible.
- Enable location sharing with a trusted person.
- Install Korea’s Emergency Ready App and select your region and language.
Hospital or pharmacy, but not an emergency
For a non-life-threatening issue, ask your insurer, hotel or 1330 for nearby care and language support. A pharmacy can help with minor problems, but pharmacists do not replace emergency evaluation. If symptoms become severe, call 119.
Lost property or documents
- Freeze lost payment cards immediately.
- Report a stolen passport to police and contact your embassy or consulate.
- For taxi property, use the app trip record, plate number or receipt.
- For subway property, note the line, train direction, car number and time.
Official help
Save this checklist
- Save 112, 119, 1330 and 1345.
- Store your Korean address offline.
- Add insurance and embassy contacts.
- Enable emergency location sharing.
Quick questions
Will the operator speak English?
Language support can be available, but do not delay an emergency while searching for the perfect language channel. State Police or Ambulance, give the address, and use short words. Ask a nearby person to help only when safe.
Does an ambulance cost money?
Emergency response and later medical charges are separate issues and depend on the service and treatment. In urgent danger, call 119 first and deal with insurance or billing after safety is addressed.
What if I cannot describe my location?
Share a map pin if the channel allows it, read a road address, or name the subway exit, building, floor and nearby business. A photo of a street sign can help someone nearby relay the location.