Emergency Numbers and Help for Travelers in Korea

Save these numbers

Number	For	Languages
112	Police: crime, theft, accidents	Interpreter available 24/7 (English, Chinese)
119	Fire, ambulance, medical emergency	Interpreter can be connected
1330 (+82-2-1330)	Korea Travel Helpline: advice, interpretation, complaints	English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, Korean
1339	Infectious disease (KDCA)	Via a three-way call with an interpreter
1345	Immigration (visa questions)	20 languages on weekdays 9:00–18:00

From a foreign phone, 112 and 119 work as normal. For 1330, dial +82-2-1330.

Police: 112

• Since March 2024 the police offer English and Chinese interpretation 24 hours a day. Say “English” and an interpreter joins the call.
• Call 112 for crimes, theft and road accidents.
• There are no tourist police anymore. Seoul’s tourist police unit was disbanded in 2023, and local police stations now handle visitor cases.

Fire and ambulance: 119

• The 119 ambulance is free. You pay the hospital for treatment.
• Interpreters can be connected for foreign callers.
• The 119 app sends your location automatically. It also has text and video call options.

Korea Travel Helpline: 1330

Your first call for anything that isn’t an emergency:

• A taxi driver who doesn’t understand you
• A shop dispute
• Directions
• Explaining symptoms to a pharmacist

Ways to reach 1330:

• Call: 1330 in Korea, +82-2-1330 from abroad.
• Online: a free call over Wi-Fi, or chat through the 1330 messenger, KakaoTalk, Line, WhatsApp or Facebook.

Hours: official sources differ. The health authority lists 7:00 to midnight. Check before you rely on it late at night.

Getting medical help

Hospitals with international clinics (Seoul)

These clinics help foreign patients with appointments and interpretation. They’re open on weekdays only. Emergency rooms are open 24 hours.

Hospital	International clinic	Hours
Seoul National University Hospital	+82-2-2072-0505	Mon–Fri 9:00–17:30
Severance Hospital	+82-2-2228-5800	Mon–Fri 8:30–17:30
Samsung Medical Center	+82-2-3410-0200	Mon–Fri 8:00–17:00
Asan Medical Center	+82-2-3010-5001	Mon–Fri 8:30–17:30

Medical Korea helpline (+82-2-1577-7129) is for foreign patients’ questions, including insurance and complaints.

Treatment isn’t free for visitors. Short-term visitors aren’t covered by Korea’s national health insurance. See travel insurance for Korea.

Pharmacies and convenience stores

• Pharmacies (약국, yakguk) are common. If you can’t explain your symptoms, call 1330 for interpretation.
• 24-hour convenience stores can sell a small range of basic medicines, such as fever reducers, cold medicine, digestive aids and patches, when pharmacies are closed.
• Apps listed by VisitKorea, such as Gohanpass, help you find nearby pharmacies and hospitals.

Lost your passport?

1. Contact your embassy or consulate in Seoul. They can issue an emergency travel document so you can fly home. This usually takes at least one working day.
2. Report it to the police (112 or a local station) if it was stolen. Some embassies and insurers ask for the police report.
3. Tell your insurer, and keep all receipts.

A reported lost passport is usually cancelled, even if you find it later.

Lost something else?

• On the subway or a bus in Seoul: call 120, or contact the lost and found center for your line. See how to use the Seoul subway.
• In a taxi: if you paid by card, the payment record helps trace the car. See taking taxis in Korea.
• On a train: call +82-1599-7777.
• Anywhere: found items reported to the police can be searched on lost112.go.kr.

Before you need it

• Save 112, 119 and +82-2-1330 in your phone.
• Note your embassy’s address and phone number.
• Keep a photo of your passport and insurance details somewhere you can reach offline.

More pre-trip tips: Korea travel checklist.