The numbers
- 112 — police
- 119 — fire and ambulance
- 1339 — infectious disease questions (Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency)
- 1330 — Korea Travel Helpline: tourist information, interpretation and complaints, by phone or chat (+82-2-1330 from abroad)
- 1345 — Immigration Contact Center, Ministry of Justice (+82-2-1345 from abroad)
Source: Korea Tourism Organization — emergency situations
Getting help in your language
- 112: since March 2024, the police hotline has offered round-the-clock English and Chinese interpretation through a three-way call
- 1330: the Korea Tourism Organization lists English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay and Indonesian — not German or French
- 1345: 20 languages including German and French, on weekdays 09:00–22:00 (after 18:00 only Korean, English and Chinese). Calls are charged
- 119 also accepts reports by text message, with photos or video, which helps if speaking is difficult
Source: Korean Culture and Information Service — 24-hour interpretation for 112 (2024)
Source: Korea Immigration Service — 1345 Immigration Contact Center (Korean)
Emergency Ready App and phone alerts
The Korean government's Emergency Ready App shows disaster alerts, the nearest shelters, emergency departments and police stations, and first-aid guides. The Korea Tourism Organization lists it in 22 languages, including English, Chinese, German and French. Separately, the loudest emergency text alerts sent to every phone in an area show the type of disaster and the size of an earthquake in English as well as Korean since February 2024.
Source: Korea Tourism Organization — helpful apps and resources
Source: Ministry of the Interior and Safety — English on emergency alerts, 28 February 2024 (Korean)
Civil defence drills
Korea holds occasional civil defence drills: sirens sound, traffic stops and people are directed to shelters, often in subway stations or underground car parks. Germany's Federal Foreign Office says foreigners are not required to take part but are advised to.
Lost something? The police run a lost-and-found service at lost112.go.kr, in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese.
Common questions
What is the emergency number in Korea?
112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance.
Does 112 speak English?
Yes. Since March 2024 the police hotline has had 24-hour English and Chinese interpretation through a three-way call.
More about K-ETA
After you land
K-ETA gets you on the plane. What comes after — arrival card, e-gates, cash, tax refunds, transport, healthcare, emergencies — checked with official sources.
Healthcare
Tourists are not covered by Korea's national health insurance. Where to get treatment with an interpreter, which number to call, and why insurance matters.
Phones and SIM cards
Korean mobile carriers must verify your identity, and for visitors that means a passport. Where to get a prepaid SIM or eSIM, and the 2026 changes.
What is K-ETA
K-ETA is an electronic travel authorisation for visa-free travellers to South Korea: what it is, who it applies to, and why many do not need it right now.
Do I need K-ETA?
Many nationalities are temporarily exempt from K-ETA. How to check your own passport, and what applies if you are not exempt.
How to apply
Applying for K-ETA on the official site: what you need in front of you, where people get stuck, and what happens after you submit.