Emergency numbers
Numbers to call in an emergency — crime, fire, accidents, medical help — and the lines that help with interpreting, visas and lost property while you travel.
In an emergency
- 112Police
Crime, theft or any danger on the street. Answered 24 hours; dial 112 from any phone with no area code. If Korean is difficult, ask for an interpreter and the call becomes a three-way call with the officer and an interpreter. If you can’t speak, you can text 112. On a public payphone, press the red emergency button to call 112 without coins.
- 119Fire and ambulance
Fire, a medical emergency or anyone who needs rescuing. Answered 24 hours; dial 119 with no area code. You can also text 119, with photos or video.
If you don’t know where you are, read out the number on a nearby street-name sign, building number plate, traffic light or utility pole.
The government’s Emergency Report app (긴급신고 바로앱) reaches both 112 and 119. You can report with pictures, voice or text, and it has a multilingual mode for foreign visitors.
When you need help on the road
- 1330Korea Travel Helpline — travel help in your language
For when you can’t make yourself understood, or need directions, transport or sightseeing information. English, Japanese and Chinese are answered daily from 07:00 to 24:00. Russian, Vietnamese, Thai and Malay-Indonesian are available 08:00–19:00, by phone only. Dial 1330 from a mobile too, and three-way interpreting is available during a call. Text chat via TTalk, KakaoTalk, Facebook Messenger or LINE is available in Korean, English, Japanese and Chinese.
- 02-120Seoul 120 Dasan Call Center — city information in your language
Information on Seoul and its 25 districts, such as transport and reporting a public issue. Weekdays 09:00–18:00. Call 02-120, press 9, then 1 for English, 2 Chinese, 3 Japanese, 4 Vietnamese or 5 Mongolian. From outside Korea, call +82-2-731-2120. Only standard call charges apply, and three-way interpreting is available when needed.
- 1345Immigration Contact Center — visas, stay and entry/exit
Weekdays 09:00–22:00; after 18:00 in Korean, English and Chinese only. From outside Korea, call +82-2-1345.
- 182Police enquiries and lost property
Non-emergency police enquiries and lost property. Weekdays 09:00–18:00; calls are charged. If Korean is difficult, ask for an interpreter for a three-way call.
Source
- Korean National Police Agency — 112
- National Fire Agency — reporting to 119
- Ministry of the Interior and Safety — Emergency Report app
- Korea Tourism Organization — 1330 service standard
- Ministry of the Interior and Safety press release (29 July 2026) — 1330 open daily 07:00–24:00
- Ministry of Justice — Immigration Contact Center
- Police Minwon 24
- Korean National Police Agency — 182 call centre
- Seoul 120 Dasan Call Center — foreign-language service
- Korean National Police Agency — Crime Prevention Guide for Foreign Residents
