The short answer: Korea emergency numbers are 112 for police and 119 for fire, rescue and ambulance. Call 1330 for non-emergency tourist information or interpretation. In a real emergency, call 112 or 119 first, say “English please,” give a precise location, and do not wait for a travel app or hotel to solve it.
Checked August 12, 2026
Current Korea Tourism Organization and Seoul guidance confirms 112 for police, 119 for fire/rescue/medical emergencies and 1330 for travel help and interpretation. The 2025 international-visitor safety guide also lists Baro Emergency Reporting and Emergency Ready.
Korea emergency numbers at a glance
| Number | Use it for | Do not use it for |
|---|---|---|
| 112 | Police, violence, theft in progress, immediate threat or suspected crime | Ordinary directions, lost-property search or a routine taxi-fare question |
| 119 | Fire, rescue, ambulance and urgent medical emergency | Choosing a clinic for a non-urgent condition |
| 1330 | Tourist information, interpretation and help reaching public services | A replacement for 112 or 119 when life or property is at risk |
| 1339 | Infectious-disease information through the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency | General ambulance dispatch |
| 182 / LOST112 | Police lost-property information after the immediate situation is safe | An active crime or medical emergency |
Save the Korea emergency numbers as a screenshot and in your notes, but remember the simplest rule: 112 is police; 119 is fire, rescue and ambulance. The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline is useful when the problem is not immediately dangerous and you need multilingual tourism guidance or three-way interpretation with a public service.
Call the emergency service directly. Do not spend critical minutes searching for an English-speaking hospital, messaging 1330 or opening an app when someone is in immediate danger.
How to make the call
- Dial 112 or 119. Use the service that matches the immediate risk.
- Ask for language help. Say “English please” or “Interpreter please” slowly.
- Give the location first. Read the Korean road address, building name, subway station and exit, or a nearby landmark.
- Describe the danger briefly. Say what happened, how many people are affected and whether the danger is continuing.
- Follow the operator. Do not hang up until told, unless staying connected creates danger.
- Send someone to meet responders. In a large hotel, station or park, have another person guide them from the entrance when possible.
- Keep evidence safely. Preserve photos, receipts or trip details only after immediate safety and care come first.
A hotel’s English name may not identify the right entrance. Before the trip, save its Korean road address using the Korean-address search workflow. Keep connectivity after leaving airport Wi-Fi with the Korea eSIM, SIM and pocket WiFi guide.
Which safety apps help
The Korea Tourism Organization’s international-visitor safety guide recommends two government tools:
- Baro Emergency Reporting: a multilingual reporting app with text and image options. It can help when speaking is difficult, but a phone call remains the first choice for an immediate threat when possible.
- Emergency Ready: an offline multilingual safety guide with instructions for disasters and accidents. KTO notes that it does not provide live hospital, fire-station or other facility locations.
Install and open any safety app before the trip rather than discovering a login, permission or download problem during an emergency. An app is a preparation tool, not proof that a report was received or that responders know your location.
For severe weather, earthquakes or other public warnings, follow official alerts and the instructions of local authorities. If you are at a venue or station, use staff guidance and marked exits rather than following a crowd toward an unverified route.
Lost property and non-emergency help
If your belongings are missing but there is no active threat, retrace the last confirmed location and contact the venue, transport operator or hotel. Korea’s police LOST112 service lists found items, and the police information line is 182. If a theft may be in progress or your safety is at risk, use 112 instead.
For a lost passport, contact your embassy or consulate and your airline after making the appropriate police report. A photocopy can help identify the document, but it does not replace the original for travel. For a disputed taxi fare without an immediate threat, use the taxi fare and complaint guide; reserve 112 for coercion, violence or another suspected crime.
Call 1330 when you need non-emergency interpretation, tourism information or help identifying the correct public channel. From outside Korea, the published number is +82-2-1330. Availability and language coverage can change, so use the live VISITKOREA page when planning.
During a major public holiday, neighborhood clinics, pharmacies and public counters may close even when emergency services continue. If your trip overlaps Korea’s autumn holiday, use the Chuseok closure and transport checklist to prepare medicine, backup meals and confirmed intercity seats before normal services pause.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ambulance number in Korea?
Call 119 for an ambulance and urgent medical emergency. Give the exact location first, then describe the condition and follow the operator’s instructions.
Can I speak English when calling 112 or 119?
Current KTO guidance tells international visitors to say “English please” or “Interpreter please.” Keep your location written in Korean so the operator can identify it quickly.
Is 1330 an emergency number?
No. It is the Korea Travel Helpline for tourist information, interpretation and non-emergency assistance. Call 112 or 119 directly when life, health or property is in immediate danger.
Official sources
- VISITKOREA: disaster safety services for international visitors
- VISITKOREA: emergency calls, 1330 and LOST112
- Seoul Metropolitan Government: current emergency and interpretation contacts
- Korean National Police Agency: LOST112
Update history: first verified edition prepared August 12, 2026. Recheck helpline languages, app availability and official emergency guidance each quarter.