The numbers to know
Save these before you need them. Calls to emergency services are free, and operators can often arrange interpretation.
- 119: Fire, ambulance and rescue. Call this for any medical emergency; it dispatches ambulances and can guide first aid.
- 112: Police. For crime, accidents and safety emergencies.
- 1330: Korea Travel Hotline. A 24-hour, multilingual service run for travelers that can help interpret and point you to the right care.
If you need an ambulance
Call 119. If you do not speak Korean, say your language clearly ("English", "中文", "日本語") and the operator can connect an interpreter. Give your location: a nearby subway station, large building or intersection helps. Public 119 ambulances are a public service.
If you can move safely and it is not life-threatening, going directly to an emergency room is sometimes faster than waiting for an ambulance in heavy traffic.
How emergency rooms work
Emergency rooms (응급실) are attached to hospitals and open around the clock. Larger regional and university hospitals have the most capacity. You will be triaged by severity, so non-urgent cases can wait a while behind serious ones.
Bring your passport. Without Korean national health insurance you pay the full cost up front, which is why travel insurance matters. Keep receipts to claim later.
Getting help in your language
- Call 1330 (Korea Travel Hotline) for 24-hour interpretation and guidance on where to go.
- Large hospitals in Seoul and other cities often have international clinics with English-speaking staff.
- Ask your embassy for a list of recommended clinics if you need ongoing care.
Useful phrases
- 도와주세요 (do-wa-ju-se-yo): Please help me
- 아파요 (a-pa-yo): It hurts / I am in pain
- 응급실 어디예요? (eung-geup-sil eo-di-ye-yo?): Where is the emergency room?
- 구급차 불러주세요 (gu-geup-cha bul-leo-ju-se-yo): Please call an ambulance