Getting Help in South Korea: 112, 119, 1330 and What to Do

Travelling to South Korea as a couple is, according to official sources, a low-risk trip. Even so, language is a real barrier and it pays to know whom to call before you need to. This guide collects the numbers that appear on the official tourism websites and in the British FCDO travel advice, all checked on 7 November 2026. Numbers and hours can change: confirm them on the official websites before you leave. This is general information, not medical or legal advice.

Emergencies nationwide

The FCDO advice says to call 119 to ask for an ambulance; 112 is the police and 119 also covers the fire service, as our South Korea safety guide records. For weather in English the British advice mentions 131. Save all three numbers on both phones.

Tourist lines and language help

The Korea Tourism Organization's tourist helpline is 1330: the official Visit Seoul, Visit Busan and Visit Korea websites present it as the line for traveller enquiries, with online chat. Visit Seoul lists general enquiries Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Korea time). In addition:

• Seoul: the official tourism website links to a tourist information and complaint centre.
• Busan: the local number 051-120, on weekdays from 08:30 to 18:30 according to Visit Busan, as well as 1330.
• Jeju: the Tourist Information Center answers on 064-740-6000; tourism complaints go to 120. The official site offers chat counselling in English, Chinese, Japanese, Spanish, French, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian.
• Incheon: the Incheon Call Center is 032-120; the Danuri Call Center, 1577-1366, and the Foreigner General Information Center, 1345, according to the municipal website.

One useful detail: the tourist line does not replace the emergency services. If there is immediate danger, call 112 or 119 first.

If you need a hospital

The FCDO describes medical and dental care as usually of a good standard but sometimes expensive, and recommends insurance covering local treatment and medical evacuation. It warns that staff may not speak English, that some hospitals may ask you to bring a guardian ("bohoja") and that agencies hire caregivers ("ganbyungin") who generally do not speak English either. The health ministry's database of emergency medical centres is in Korean, so the FCDO publishes a list of providers where some staff speak English. If you are referred to a facility, tell your insurer quickly.

Medicines and pharmacy

Carry small amounts for personal use in hand luggage, with an English-language prescription, and check the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety website. More detail in our guide to medicines, insurance and health. On sexual health and testing, see the guide to sexually transmitted infections in South Korea.

Theft, nights out and assaults

The FCDO says crime against foreigners is rare, with occasional theft in busy areas such as Itaewon, and that there have been assaults, including sexual assault, near bars and nightlife areas. If something happens, call 112, note the time and place, and contact your country's embassy or consulate. On consent and image recording, read the relevant guide.

Natural disasters and alerts

The British advice mentions typhoons, heavy rain with a risk of flooding and landslides, uncommon earthquakes and possible forest fires. Alerts reach your phone in Korean, with English translations on the National Disaster and Safety Portal and the Emergency Ready app. There are also civil emergency exercises with sirens: vehicles must stop and people may be asked to go down to designated metro stations. Following officials' instructions is the rule. See our guide on when to travel to South Korea.

Your paperwork plan B

The FCDO recommends keeping your passport, civil documents such as birth and marriage certificates and essential medication easy to reach, and saving the embassy's contact details. As a couple, do this:

• A photo of both passports stored securely and separate from the originals.
• Your insurance policy and assistance number on paper and on your phone.
• Your accommodation address written in Korean; taxi drivers tend to speak little English.
• Your embassy or consulate's contact details.
• An agreed meeting point if you get separated.

Before you land

Download your offline maps and save your accommodation's phone number. The official Visit Seoul website offers an app for iOS and Android, and the 1330 line has an online chat as well as phone service, so you have more than one way to ask for help. Agree with your partner on a single "if we lose each other" plan, with a place and a time, because mobile data can fail exactly when you need it. If you rent a car, remember that police consider drivers at fault in accidents involving cyclists or pedestrians, and that the alcohol limit is far lower than in many countries.

Frequently asked questions

Is there help in Spanish? Jeju's official site offers chat counselling in Spanish; 1330 serves several languages, according to Visit Korea.

Whom do I call first? In immediate danger, 112 or 119; for travel questions, 1330.

Do I need insurance? The FCDO recommends it with medical cover and evacuation.

Sources consulted on 7 November 2026: FCDO (gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/south-korea), Visit Seoul, Visit Busan, Visit Jeju and the City of Incheon.