If you’re planning a trip to South Korea, knowing who to call in an emergency can save time, stress, and even lives. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the most important emergency numbers and contacts every traveler should know before arriving in South Korea.
Key Emergency Numbers in South Korea
- Police – 112
If you’re the victim of a crime, witness suspicious activity, or need immediate law enforcement assistance, dial 112. The police is here to help you with theft, assault, harassment, lost property, and any situation where your safety or legal rights are at risk.
– Available 24/7
– English interpretation service available - Fire & Rescue / Medical Emergencies – 119
For fire emergencies, accidents, or serious medical help, call 119.
– Available 24/7
– Connects you to ambulances and emergency medical services
– English, Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Russian, and several other language support is available - Medical Assistance & Tourist Hospitals
If your condition is non-life-threatening but you still need medical support, you can visit designated International Clinics or call:
Korea Medical Information Center -1339
– 24-hour hotline for medical information
– Provides help finding nearby hospitals with English-speaking staff
– You can call for medical questions, flu symptoms, or guidance during mild illness.
Tip: If you’re staying in Seoul, look for Severance Hospital, Asan Medical Center, or Samsung Medical Center – they all have English-friendly services. - General Tourist Help – 1330
This is one of the most useful services for travelers in Korea. For anything from general travel questions to emergencies, translation help, lost items, directions, or even complaints, this is the number to call. In fact, if you can’t remember all the emergency numbers, just remember this one. It could cover almost everything. - Lost Passport or Embassy Help
If you lost your passport, or are in need of embassy help, contact your embassy or consulate immediately.
Here are a few contact numbers available in Seoul:
– USA Embassy: +82-2-397-4114
– Canadian Embassy: +82-2-3783-6000
– Australian Embassy: +82-2-2003-0100
– You can search “your country + embassy Seoul” in Naver Maps or Google Maps.
