If someone faces a threat to life or property in Korea, call 119 for fire and ambulance response or 112 for police. The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) says callers who do not speak Korean can say “English please” or “Interpreter please” after the call connects. Give your location and explain what happened as clearly as possible. Do not delay an emergency call to install an app or contact a tourism helpline.

When urgent help may be needed

Call 119 when an urgent fire, rescue or ambulance response may be needed. This guide cannot assess a person’s symptoms or tell you whether a particular situation is an emergency. Explain what you know honestly and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. An old version of this article incorrectly suggested that an ordinary call made in good faith could automatically lead to a fixed fine; that claim has been removed.

If it is safe to stay with the person, tell responders where to find you. KTO suggests using a nearby building name or your phone’s location information to help describe your location. Do not assume your phone will communicate an accurate location without your help.

What 1330 can do

The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline provides tourist information, interpretation and complaint assistance. It is not an ambulance dispatcher, a diagnosis service or a guarantee that a hospital can accept a patient. If immediate help may be needed, call 119 directly rather than waiting for a tourism operator or searching for a clinic.

Finding care when it is not urgent

This guide cannot recommend a clinic, confirm current opening hours or assess emergency-room capacity. Contact a healthcare provider or check a current official medical-information service for a non-urgent question. 1330 can help with travel information or interpretation within its published service; do not assume it can diagnose or confirm a particular facility’s capacity. Costs, coverage, hours and availability vary.

Prepare useful information

  • Save your accommodation’s Korean address and a nearby landmark so you can describe where you are.
  • Keep your travel-insurance contact and any relevant medical information accessible, but do not delay an emergency call while looking for them.
  • For a non-emergency pharmacy need, use our Seoul pharmacy guide and confirm the pharmacy is open. For official safety information, see the Emergency Ready App guide.

For other travel problems and contacts, read our Korea travel problem-solving guide.