Last updated: July 2026
Save these numbers today — the middle of an emergency is the worst time to search for them. Korea’s emergency lines do support foreign languages, but each number works a little differently. Here’s the complete list, plus exactly what to say.
TL;DR — save these five now
- 119 Fire & Ambulance (interpretation available)
- 112 Police (interpretation available)
- 1345 Immigration helpline (weekdays, multilingual)
- 1330 Korea Travel Hotline (24/7, multilingual — also great for general help and interpretation)
- 1339 Infectious-disease hotline (KDCA) — for urgent medical advice, call 119
The Big Two
119 — Fire, Ambulance, Rescue. Free from any phone, even without a Korean SIM (emergency calls connect regardless of your plan). Say “English, please” — operators connect interpretation. The 119 ambulance ride itself is a public service; hospital treatment costs are separate. Key script:
“I need an ambulance. My location is [address / building name]. The patient is [conscious / not conscious].”
Can’t speak safely? 119 also accepts text-message reports — set your address in your phone notes in advance (dictating an address is the hardest part of any emergency call).
112 — Police. Crime, assault, theft, immediate danger. Interpretation available on request. Unsure whether it’s 112 or 119? Call either — they transfer to each other.
The Foreigner Lifelines
1345 — Immigration Contact Center. Visa questions, ARC procedures, jurisdiction confusion, reporting requirements — in multiple languages, weekday business hours. This number appears throughout our guides for a reason (→ ARC guide).
1330 — Korea Travel Hotline. Run by the tourism organization, 24/7, in English, Japanese, Chinese and more. Officially for tourism, practically a general help desk: they’ll interpret in three-way calls, help with complaints, and point you to services. Tourists’ best friend; residents use it more than they admit.
1339 — Infectious-Disease Hotline (KDCA). This number now belongs to the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency: call it about infectious diseases — outbreaks, reportable illnesses, travel vaccinations — not for general medical advice. For urgent medical advice (or an ambulance), call 119: its dispatch centers are staffed with medical personnel around the clock, with interpretation available.
City & Life Support
- 120 Dasan Call (Seoul) — the city-services hotline with foreign-language support (trash rules, parking, “who do I even call about this?”)
- 1577-1366 Danuri — 24/7 support for marriage-migrant and multicultural families in over a dozen languages, including domestic-violence counseling. Share this number; someone around you may need it.
- 182 — police non-emergency line for lost items and missing persons
- 110 — the government call center for everything administrative
Interpretation on Demand
- BBB Korea (1588-5644) — volunteer phone interpretation in ~20 languages: call, pick the language, hand the phone to the taxi driver, pharmacist or landlord
- 1330 also does live interpretation for everyday situations
- Papago’s conversation mode covers the daily 90% (→ 12 essential apps guide)
Prepare Before You Need It
- Save all the numbers above in your phone now
- Install the Emergency Ready App (English disaster alerts + shelter maps)
- Write your Korean address (in Korean) in your phone notes
- Add your embassy’s emergency line
- Learn one sentence: “Yeogi-yo, dowa-juseyo” (여기요, 도와주세요 — “Over here, please help”)
Common Problems
“My phone has no Korean number — can I still call 119/112?” Yes. Emergency calls connect from any working handset.
“The operator spoke only Korean.” Say “English” clearly and wait — interpretation patch-in takes a moment. If panicked, call 1330 and ask them to conference in.
“Which number for a noisy neighbor / non-urgent police matter?” 112 still handles it; for administrative complaints, 120 (Seoul) or your district office.
FAQ
Is calling an ambulance expensive?
The 119 ride is a public service; hospital bills are separate — which is why sorting your health insurance early matters.
Do these work outside Seoul?
119, 112, 1345 and 1330 are nationwide — so is 1339, though it’s the KDCA infectious-disease line, not general medical advice.
Can I text instead of calling?
Emergency text reporting exists for 119 — set it up mentally before you need it.
What about mountain rescues?
119 covers mountain and water rescue — another reason hikers keep phones charged.
Lost passport?
Police report first (112/182), then your embassy — and keep a photo of your passport in your phone from day one.
Official Resources
- Emergency Ready App — Ministry of the Interior and Safety (official app stores)
- Korea Travel Hotline 1330 — Korea Tourism Organization
- New to Korea? Browse all settlement guides