Save four numbers before you travel in Korea: 112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance/medical emergencies, 1330 for the 24-hour tourist hotline (free, multilingual, your best first call for non-life-threatening help and translation), and 1345 for immigration questions. Both 112 and 119 have interpreter support, so you can be connected to an English speaker. 119 is the number to call for an ambulance — there's no separate ambulance line. Calls to emergency services work even without a SIM, and the Emergency Ready App lets you call and share your location. For a medical issue that isn't an emergency, 1339 is a health/medical advice line.
You hopefully won't need them, but knowing Korea's emergency numbers — and which one to call for what — turns a scary moment into a manageable one. The good news for visitors: Korea's emergency lines offer interpreter support, and there's a dedicated free tourist hotline staffed in multiple languages that can help with everything from a medical translation to a lost passport.
Save these now; they work even if your phone has no SIM or no credit.
The numbers to save
Number | For | Notes |
|---|---|---|
112 | Police | Crime, theft, accidents, danger. Interpreter support available. |
119 | Fire & ambulance / medical emergency | Also the ambulance number. Interpreter support available. |
1330 | Korea Travel Hotline | 24/7, free, multilingual. Tourist help + translation. |
1345 | Immigration Contact Center | Visa, ARC, stay questions. Multilingual. |
1339 | Medical/health advice | Non-emergency health questions, finding care. |
120 | Seoul city info (Dasan) | General city help; some language support. |
112 vs 119: which do you call?
112 = police. Theft, assault, harassment, a traffic accident, feeling unsafe, a crime in progress, or a lost/stolen passport situation that needs a police report.
119 = fire and medical. Fires, but also medical emergencies and ambulances — chest pain, serious injury, someone unconscious, a bad allergic reaction. There is no separate ambulance number; 119 dispatches the ambulance.
Both lines can connect you to an interpreter if you don't speak Korean — say "English" and wait to be connected.
1330: the tourist hotline you'll actually use most
For anything that isn't life-or-death, 1330 (the Korea Travel Hotline) is the single best number for foreigners. It's run for tourists, available 24/7, free, and staffed in English, Japanese, Chinese, and more. Use it for:
Real-time translation (they can interpret a three-way call, e.g., with a taxi driver, shopkeeper, or clinic)
Travel info — transport, directions, what's open
Help when something goes wrong — lost items, complaints, scams, what to do next
Guidance to the right service if you're not sure who to call
You can dial 1330 from any phone; add the area code first if you want region-specific help (e.g., 02-1330 for Seoul).
The Emergency Ready App
Korea's official Emergency Ready App (free, iOS/Android) is worth installing before or on arrival. It can:
place emergency calls and share your GPS location
show nearby hospitals and emergency rooms
provide disaster alerts (typhoons, fine dust, etc.) in English
Sharing your location matters if you can't explain where you are in Korean.
Practical tips
Emergency calls work without a SIM or credit — 112 and 119 still connect.
Say "English" at the start of an emergency call to trigger interpreter support.
Keep your accommodation address saved in Korean (screenshot it) to show or read out.
For non-emergencies, start with 1330 — it routes you correctly and translates.
Sort a working phone on arrival so data and calls are reliable — see our phone plan guide.
Get connected on arrival
Phone Plan Finder — A working SIM or eSIM means reliable calls, maps and translation if something goes wrong. Compare eSIM, prepaid and postpaid options for your trip length in a couple of taps.
Frequently asked questions
What's the emergency number in Korea?
112 for police and 119 for fire and medical emergencies (including ambulance). Both offer interpreter support for non-Korean speakers. For non-emergency tourist help and translation, call the free 24-hour hotline 1330.
What number do I call for an ambulance in Korea?
119. It covers fire and all medical emergencies and dispatches ambulances — there's no separate ambulance line. Say "English" to be connected to an interpreter if needed.
Is there an English helpline for tourists in Korea?
Yes — 1330, the Korea Travel Hotline, is free, available 24/7, and staffed in English and other languages. It handles travel info, translation, and help when things go wrong, and is the best first call for anything non-emergency.
Do emergency calls work without a Korean SIM?
Yes. Calls to 112 and 119 connect even without a SIM card or phone credit. Installing the Emergency Ready App also lets you call and share your GPS location, which helps responders find you.
Who do I call about visa or immigration problems?
1345, the Immigration Contact Center, handles visa, ARC and stay-related questions with multilingual support. For administrative steps like registering your ARC, see our ARC application guide.
What if I lose my passport in Korea?
File a police report (call/visit via 112) and contact your embassy for a replacement; 1330 can help you with translation and pointing you to the right steps. Keep a photo/copy of your passport separately to speed things up.