Staying Safe in Korea: Emergency Numbers and Practical Help
The numbers to call for police, ambulance and tourist help in Korea (112, 119, 1330), how to handle a lost phone, illness or a typhoon alert, and what to expect from a very safe country.
Korea is generally very safe, but know the numbers
Korea has low rates of violent crime, and visitors walk in cities late at night with few worries. People leave phones on cafe tables to save a seat. Even so, the usual travel rules apply: watch your belongings in crowded places, keep your passport secure, and use common sense after drinking. Petty theft happens in busy markets and at tourist spots, as it does everywhere.
Save three numbers in your phone before you land. 112 is the police. 119 is for fire and ambulance, and it covers medical emergencies. 1330 is the Korea Travel Helpline, run with the national tourism organization, which answers around the clock in several languages, including English, and can help with directions, interpretation, complaints and general questions. The immigration contact center can be reached on 1345 for visa and stay questions. Numbers can be dialed from a mobile phone without any prefix, and emergency calls are free.
If you call 112 or 119 and cannot speak Korean, say your language clearly, and say your location. Emergency services have interpretation support available in several languages. Stay on the line, and if you can, ask someone nearby to help you. Landmarks, building names and the nearest subway station are the best way to describe where you are, because street addresses can be hard to give.
Health, pharmacies and hospitals
Buy travel insurance that includes medical cover and emergency transport. Foreign visitors normally pay their own medical bills in Korea, and costs for serious treatment can be high. Keep a copy of the policy number on your phone.
For minor problems, pharmacies (look for a sign with a green cross or the word pharmacy) are on every main street and can sell cold, stomach and pain medication. Pharmacists often understand a little English, and a translation app helps. Bring a supply of any prescription medication you take, in its original packaging, and a note from your doctor. Some medicines that are common elsewhere are controlled in Korea, so check the rules before you travel with strong painkillers, stimulants or sleep medication.
Clinics and hospitals in larger cities have international clinics or interpreters, and the 1330 helpline can help you find one. Hospitals in the capital area have more English support than those in small towns. In an emergency, do not wait; call 119.
Tap water is treated, and many Koreans use filtered water or drink bottled water. Water dispensers in restaurants are normally filtered. If you have a sensitive stomach, bottled water is easy to find everywhere. In hot, humid summers, drink often and rest in the shade, since heat illness is a real risk when you walk long days.
Weather, alerts and natural events
Typhoons usually affect Korea in late summer and early autumn, with Jeju and the southern coast most exposed. If a typhoon is forecast, flights and ferries can be canceled and some parks and attractions close. Keep your schedule flexible during those months, and follow the news and your airline's messages.
Your phone may sound a loud emergency alert with a message in Korean. These are used for severe weather, heat, air-quality warnings, missing person alerts and other public safety messages. Use a translation app on the text to see what it says. In winter, roads and steps can be icy, and in spring there are days of heavy yellow dust and fine dust, when sensitive people may want to wear a mask and limit outdoor activity.
Hiking is popular, and mountain weather changes quickly. Stay on marked trails, tell someone your plan, carry water and a light jacket, and avoid hiking late in the day. Swim only on beaches and in areas where lifeguards are on duty, and obey flags and signs.
Scams, taxis and lost items
Korea is less scam-prone than many destinations, but a few things are worth knowing. Use official taxis, ask the driver to use the meter, and avoid unmarked cars. A taxi app avoids the language problem altogether. Agree on a price first for tourist services, and read the final bill in restaurants. Be cautious about people who approach you to join a tea ceremony or a religious group or invite you to a bar.
If you lose something, do not give up. Items left on trains, in taxis and in shops are often returned. Ask your hotel or a tourist information center to help report the loss to the police, and ask about the national Lost112 lost-property service, which police stations use to log and search for items. For a lost passport, contact your embassy in Seoul and the police.
For a lost or stolen card, call your bank's overseas number straight away, and keep the numbers on paper or in a secure note. If your phone is stolen, lock or locate it with your device account on another device, and tell your carrier.
Respect, law and everyday details
Some things that are casual elsewhere are serious in Korea. Drug laws are strict, and even small amounts or use of certain substances that are legal in your home country can lead to prosecution. Do not photograph military sites or people without permission, and follow the rules near the border area. Smoking is banned in many public places, including restaurants and cafes, and in designated non-smoking zones on some streets and parks, so look for signs and smoking areas.
Check entry requirements, including any electronic travel authorization or visa rules for your nationality, using official government sources before you book, because these rules have been updated several times. Register with your own country's travel advice service if it offers one.
Finally, be polite and patient. People are often happy to help a visitor, even when the language is a barrier. Hotels, tourist information centers and the 1330 helpline are all good places to ask for help. Details of services, numbers and regulations can change, so double-check the key ones on official sites before your trip.