Staying Safe in Korea: Emergency Numbers, Pharmacies and Help (2026)

This section covers what to do when something goes wrong in Korea: emergencies, getting sick, losing things, and alerts about earthquakes or heavy rain. It is written for short-term visitors and uses official sources.

The numbers to know

Say "English please" or "Interpreter please" when 112 or 119 answers. The 119 ambulance is free in emergencies. 1339 is now an infectious disease line, not an emergency number.

The three most important tasks

1. Save the numbers and your address before you arrive. Emergency numbers and help explains each number, its hours and languages, and what to say when you call.
2. Know where to go when you feel ill. Pharmacy and hospital shows how to find a 약국yakgukPharmacy at night or on holidays, what 24-hour convenience stores sell, and when to go to an 응급실eunggeupsilEmergency room.
3. Check your medicine before you pack. Some medicines need approval from the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety before you travel. The pharmacy and hospital guide and arrival, immigration and customs explain the rules.

Lost something?

• Seoul subway: found items go to a Seoul Metro lost and found center, then to the police. Phone numbers are in emergency numbers and help.
• Anywhere else: search found items on the police site, Police Minwon24 (minwon24.police.go.kr).
• Passport: contact your embassy.

Alerts and natural hazards

Korean phones receive emergency alert texts (재난문자jaenan munjaEmergency alert text) for events such as earthquakes, heavy rain and evacuation orders. Since 2024 the most urgent ones show the disaster type in English. The government's Emergency Ready App translates alerts and explains what to do. Install it if your phone may not receive Korean alerts.

Start here

1. Save 112, 119 and 1330, plus your embassy and insurer's numbers.
2. Save your accommodation address in Korean.
3. Install the Emergency Ready App and a map app. See useful apps.
4. Read pharmacy and hospital if you take regular medicine.
5. Keep emergency numbers and help open offline during your trip.