Knowing the right emergency numbers in Korea before you need them could save your life or the life of someone around you. South Korea has a well-organized emergency response system, but the numbers differ from what most Western travelers expect — there is no single universal number like 911 in the US or 999 in the UK. This guide gives you every number you need, explains exactly how each service works, and walks you through what to do when you call.
The Core Emergency Numbers Every Visitor Must Know
South Korea operates three separate emergency lines, each handled by a different agency. Save all three in your phone before you leave the airport.
- 119 — Fire and ambulance (Korea Fire Service). Dial this for any medical emergency, fire, or rescue situation. This is the number you call if someone collapses, has a traffic accident injury, or needs urgent hospital transport.
- 112 — Police (Korea National Police Agency). Call 112 for crimes in progress, theft, assault, traffic accidents involving injuries, or any situation requiring law enforcement. Dispatchers are available 24 hours a day.
- 110 — Government helpline. This is a non-emergency government information line useful for general queries about Korean laws, immigration questions, or consumer complaints. It also connects to interpretation services.
Both 119 and 112 have English-speaking operators available around the clock. When the call connects, say “English please” immediately — dispatchers are trained to transfer you or use a three-way interpretation service within seconds. Do not hang up if the first voice seems to be Korean only; stay on the line.
Medical Emergencies: Hospitals, Ambulances, and Costs
Dialing 119 connects you to the Korea Fire Service emergency dispatch, which coordinates ambulance deployment across all 17 metropolitan and provincial regions. Ambulance service in South Korea is free of charge — you will not receive a bill for the ambulance ride itself. The 119 dispatcher will ask for your location and the nature of the emergency, then route the nearest unit to you.
If you are in Seoul, major hospitals with 24-hour English-capable emergency departments include Severance Hospital in Sinchon (Yonsei University Health System), Samsung Medical Center in Gangnam-gu, and Seoul National University Hospital in Jongno-gu. In Busan, Pusan National University Hospital in Seo-gu and Inje University Haeundae Paik Hospital near Haeundae Beach both handle foreign patients regularly.
Emergency room treatment costs vary. A basic ER visit without insurance typically runs ₩50,000–₩150,000 (approximately USD 37–110) for consultation and basic treatment. Imaging such as CT scans can add ₩100,000–₩300,000. For a fuller breakdown of what to expect at the ER and how to navigate the system as a foreigner, see our guide to urgent medical care for visitors in Korea. If you have travel insurance, keep all receipts — Korean hospitals issue detailed itemized billing that insurers accept. If you do not have insurance, payment is expected at discharge; most major hospitals accept Visa and Mastercard.
For non-life-threatening issues outside business hours, look for a 24-hour pharmacy (24시 약국) first. In every major tourist district — Myeongdong, Hongdae, Haeundae — at least one pharmacy operates overnight. A pharmacist can handle minor wounds, stomach problems, and fever without a hospital visit and will typically cost ₩5,000–₩30,000 for medication. Our Korean pharmacy basics guide covers how to describe symptoms, common over-the-counter medications, and how pharmacy hours work.
Police, Crime, and Reporting Incidents as a Foreigner
Calling 112 puts you through to the Korea National Police Agency dispatch. As with 119, English interpretation is available — state your language need at the start of the call. Police in South Korea are generally responsive to tourist incidents; response times in central Seoul, Busan, and Jeju average under 10 minutes.
If your passport is stolen, call 112 to file a report (사건사고 확인원, a crime confirmation certificate), then contact your country’s embassy — see our step-by-step guide to making a police report in Korea for what to bring and what to expect. The Korean National Police Agency runs a dedicated foreigner helpline at 1345, operated by the Ministry of Justice. This line provides immigration guidance, legal consultation referrals, and help navigating the police report process in English, Chinese, Japanese, and several other languages — free of charge, available 24 hours.
Seoul also operates a Tourist Complaint Center reachable through the Korea Tourism Organization hotline at 1330. If a taxi overcharges you, a restaurant refuses to serve you, or a tour operator violates an agreement, 1330 can mediate and escalate complaints. The line operates 24 hours and offers English, Japanese, and Chinese support.
Practical Tips: What to Do Before You Need These Numbers
Preparation makes a real difference in an emergency. Follow these steps as soon as you arrive in Korea.
- Save all five numbers now: 119, 112, 110, 1345, and 1330. Label them clearly in your phone contacts (e.g., “Korea Ambulance 119”, “Korea Police 112”).
- Know your address in Korean. When you check into your hotel or guesthouse, photograph the Korean address from the front desk card. In an emergency, you can read it aloud or show the screen to the dispatcher.
- Register with your embassy. Many countries offer traveler registration programs (the US has STEP, the UK has FCDO travel registration) that allow your embassy to contact you in a national emergency or natural disaster.
- Carry a photocopy of your passport. If your original is lost or stolen, a photocopy speeds up both the police report and the emergency passport process at your embassy.
- Download the Korea Disaster and Safety Portal app (안전디딤돌). This free government app sends real-time alerts about typhoons, earthquakes, and civil emergencies with English language support.
Korea is one of the safest travel destinations in Asia, with a violent crime rate that is among the lowest globally. The emergency infrastructure is modern, well-funded, and accustomed to international visitors. That said, accidents happen — a sprained ankle on the stairs at Gamcheon Culture Village, heat exhaustion on the walk up to Busan’s Igidae Park, or a stolen wallet on the Busan Metro Line 1. Having the right numbers and knowing what to say when you call turns a potential crisis into a manageable situation.