A practical quick-reference guide to emergency and assistance numbers for international travelers in South Korea, including police, fire and ambulance, medical help, tourism interpretation, immigration support, lost property, and violence-support services.
Saving a few important phone numbers before arriving in South Korea can make an unexpected problem much easier to handle.
The two numbers every traveler should remember are 112 for police and 119 for fire, rescue, and ambulance emergencies. International visitors can also use 1330 for tourism information and interpretation, 1345 for immigration questions, and several other specialist services.
If there is an immediate threat to life or safety, call the emergency service first rather than searching for a more specialized helpline.
ㅤ
112: Police
Call 112 when you need police assistance for a crime, threat, assault, theft in progress, serious harassment, or another situation requiring an immediate police response.
The Korean National Police Agency lists 112 as the national crime-report number.
If you do not speak Korean, state that you need English or language assistance. If the situation is urgent, give your location as clearly as possible. Showing or reading the Korean address from NAVER Map or KakaoMap can help.
ㅤ
119: Fire, Rescue and Ambulance
Call 119 for fire, rescue, and emergency ambulance services.
Use 119 for situations such as a serious injury, severe illness, breathing difficulty, loss of consciousness, fire, or another emergency requiring rescue or immediate medical transport.
Korea Tourism Organization and the Korean National Police Agency both identify 119 as the main fire and emergency-rescue number.
If possible, prepare your current location, building name, hotel name, subway station, or nearby landmark before calling.
ㅤ
1339: Medical Information and Hospital Guidance
Korea Tourism Organization also lists 1339 for medical emergencies and assistance in locating the nearest hospital.
For a life-threatening condition or when you need an ambulance immediately, call 119 first.
1339 can be useful when the main question is where to obtain medical care rather than requesting police or rescue assistance.
ㅤ
1330: Korea Travel Helpline
1330 is the Korea Travel Helpline operated by the Korea Tourism Organization.
It is useful for non-life-threatening travel problems, tourism information, interpretation, transportation questions, and tourist complaints.
The service can be reached by dialing 1330 inside Korea or +82-2-1330 from overseas. VISITKOREA also provides online voice-call and chat options.
Current Korea Tourism Organization information lists multilingual support including Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, and Indonesian, with language availability varying by service.
ㅤ
1345: Immigration Contact Center
Call 1345 for questions related to Korean immigration, visas, entry and stay procedures, residence matters, and other immigration-related issues.
The Korea Immigration Service operates the Immigration Contact Center in multiple languages.
Current official guidance states that telephone counseling is available on weekdays from 09:00 to 22:00. After 18:00, Korean, English, and Chinese services are available.
Dial 1345 within Korea. From overseas, official Korea Immigration Service guidance lists +82-2-1345 and +82-2-6908-1345~6.
ㅤ
182: Police Help and Lost Property
182 is the Korean National Police Agency civil-service contact number and is also listed for lost-and-found information.
If you lose a wallet, phone, bag, passport, or other item and there is no immediate danger or active crime, 182 can be more appropriate than the emergency number 112.
Korea also operates the LOST112 lost-property system, which lets users search for found items and report lost property.
If you believe the item was stolen or a crime is occurring, use 112 instead.
ㅤ
1366: Emergency Support for Violence Against Women
1366 is Korea's Women's Emergency Hotline for people needing urgent counseling, protection, or support related to domestic violence, sexual violence, stalking, dating violence, sexual exploitation, and other forms of violence.
The Ministry responsible for the service states that 1366 operates 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and can connect victims with police, medical, legal, counseling, and shelter services.
If there is immediate physical danger, call 112 or 119 first as appropriate.
ㅤ
118: Cybersecurity and Online Incidents
The Korean National Police Agency lists 118 as a contact for cyber-related incidents.
Travelers may encounter phishing messages, suspicious links, account compromises, or other digital problems while abroad.
For immediate financial fraud, also contact your bank or card issuer quickly. If a crime is actively occurring or there is an immediate threat, contact 112.
ㅤ
Other Useful Numbers
A few additional national services may be useful in specific circumstances.
1331: National Human Rights Commission of Korea.
1577-1366: Danuri Call Center, a multilingual support service primarily for marriage migrants and multicultural families.
110: Government Call Center for general public-service and government information.
Most short-term tourists will rarely need these numbers, but they can be useful when a problem falls outside ordinary police, medical, tourism, or immigration assistance.
ㅤ
What to Say During an Emergency Call
You do not need perfect Korean to ask for help.
Start with the type of emergency and your location. If possible, provide the hotel name, street address, subway station, business name, or nearby landmark.
Useful information includes what happened, whether anyone is injured, how many people need help, and whether the danger is continuing.
Keep your map app open so you can read or show the Korean address if necessary.
ㅤ
Save Your Hotel Address in Korean
Before your trip, save the name, phone number, and Korean-language address of your accommodation.
This can be useful when speaking with police, ambulance staff, taxi drivers, hospital employees, or a tourism interpreter.
Take a screenshot so the information remains available even if your mobile data stops working.
ㅤ
Install the Emergency Ready App
The Korean government provides the Emergency Ready app for foreign residents and visitors.
Korea Tourism Organization describes it as a multilingual emergency guide providing disaster alerts and information about shelters, emergency medical centers, police stations, fire stations, embassies, and safety procedures.
It can be particularly useful during severe weather, natural disasters, or longer stays in Korea.
ㅤ
If Your Phone Cannot Make a Call
If you cannot place a normal phone call, move to a staffed public location such as a hotel front desk, convenience store, subway station office, tourist information center, police station, or major transportation terminal and ask someone to contact the appropriate service.
For non-emergency tourism assistance, VISITKOREA also offers 1330 online voice calls and chat, which can be useful when you have Wi-Fi or mobile data but cannot make a standard voice call.
ㅤ
Emergency Number Quick Reference
112 — Police and crime emergencies
119 — Fire, rescue, and ambulance
1339 — Medical information and hospital guidance
1330 — Korea Travel Helpline and interpretation
1345 — Immigration Contact Center
182 — Police civil service and lost property
1366 — Women's Emergency Hotline
118 — Cyber-related incidents
The most important rule is simple: for immediate danger, crime, fire, rescue, or a medical emergency, use 112 or 119 first.
ㅤ
Final Emergency Preparation Checklist
Before arriving in Korea, save 112, 119, 1330, and 1345 in your phone.
Save your hotel address in Korean and English.
Keep a copy of your passport information page and travel-insurance details accessible offline.
Know how to contact your embassy or consulate.
Enable phone location and device-tracking features if you use them.
Install Emergency Ready if you want multilingual alerts and emergency information.
Most travelers will never need these services, but having the information ready can save valuable time when something unexpected happens.
ㅤ
FAQ
What is the police emergency number in Korea?
Call 112 for police and crime emergencies.
What is the ambulance number in Korea?
Call 119 for ambulance, fire, and rescue emergencies.
What number should tourists call for travel help?
Call 1330 for the Korea Travel Helpline. It provides tourism information, interpretation, and travel-related assistance.
What is 1345 in Korea?
1345 is the Korea Immigration Service contact center for immigration, visa, entry, residence, and stay-related questions.
What number should I call if I lose something in Korea?
For non-emergency lost-property assistance, 182 is the Korean National Police Agency civil-service and lost-and-found contact number. If you believe a theft is occurring, call 112.
What is 1366 in Korea?
1366 is the Women's Emergency Hotline for urgent counseling, protection, and support related to violence, including sexual violence, domestic violence, stalking, and dating violence.
Can I get help in English during an emergency?
English and other language assistance is available through several services, including 1330 and 1345. During an urgent 112 or 119 call, state that you need English or interpretation support.
Should I call 1330 instead of 112 or 119?
No. Use 112 or 119 for immediate emergencies. Use 1330 for non-life-threatening travel information, interpretation, transportation questions, and tourism-related assistance.
