Emergency Medical Care in Korea: What Foreigners Should Know About 119, Hospitals and ERs
Getting sick or injured while traveling abroad can be stressful—especially when you do not speak the local language or know how the healthcare system works.
Fortunately, South Korea has a well-developed emergency medical system, and travelers can access ambulances, hospital emergency rooms and medical assistance throughout the country.
If you are visiting Korea, there is one number you should remember:
119
In Korea, 119 is the emergency number for fire, rescue and ambulance services.
If you or someone around you experiences a serious medical emergency, calling 119 is usually the fastest way to request emergency assistance.
Here is what foreign visitors should know before an emergency happens.
When Should You Call 119 in Korea?
Call 119 when someone appears to need urgent medical attention.
Examples may include:
- severe difficulty breathing
- loss of consciousness
- serious chest pain
- signs of stroke
- severe bleeding
- major injuries
- serious burns
- seizures
- severe allergic reactions
- serious traffic accidents
- sudden confusion or collapse
- other potentially life-threatening conditions
If you are unsure whether the situation is serious, explain the symptoms and circumstances as clearly as possible to the emergency operator.
According to Korea's National Fire Agency, the 119 emergency medical system can dispatch first responders and ambulances to patients requiring emergency assistance.
How to Call 119
From a phone in Korea, simply dial:
119
You do not need to enter an area code when calling from a mobile phone.
When the operator answers, try to remain calm and provide the most important information first.
Useful information includes:
Your location
Give the name of your hotel, building, subway station, restaurant or nearby landmark if you know it.
What happened
For example:
“Someone collapsed.”
“I have severe chest pain.”
“My friend cannot breathe properly.”
“There has been a traffic accident.”
The patient's condition
Tell the operator whether the person is conscious, breathing or bleeding.
Korea Tourism Organization guidance recommends using nearby buildings or your smartphone's GPS to help identify your location quickly.
What If I Don't Speak Korean?
This is one of the biggest concerns for international travelers.
If you cannot communicate comfortably in Korean, say:
“English please.”
or
“Interpreter please.”
Korea Tourism Organization states that foreign callers can request interpretation when contacting emergency services.
Even if communication is difficult, do not delay calling 119 during a serious emergency.
Start with simple information:
“Ambulance.”
“Emergency.”
“English please.”
Then provide your location as clearly as possible.
Having the name and address of your hotel saved on your phone can be extremely useful.
Is the 119 Ambulance Free in Korea?
For emergency transport provided through Korea's 119 rescue service, the ambulance service itself is free, according to Seoul Metropolitan Government's guidance for international residents.
However, this should not be confused with every type of ambulance operating in Korea.
Ambulances operated by hospitals or private medical transport providers may charge fees.
And importantly:
Free ambulance transportation does not mean hospital treatment is free.
Emergency examinations, tests, procedures, medications and hospitalization may all result in medical charges.
For international travelers, travel insurance can therefore be very useful.
What Happens After the Ambulance Arrives?
Paramedics will assess the patient's condition and determine what emergency care is required.
Be prepared to explain, if possible:
- what happened
- when the symptoms started
- existing medical conditions
- medications currently being taken
- allergies
- treatment already given
The National Fire Agency also recommends preparing useful items such as identification, insurance information and regularly used medications when circumstances allow.
Do not delay emergency care while searching for documents, however.
In a life-threatening situation, getting medical help comes first.
Going to an Emergency Room in Korea
Large Korean hospitals generally operate an emergency department, commonly referred to as an ER or Emergency Medical Center.
In Korean, an emergency room is called:
응급실 — Eung-geup-sil
If you need help finding one, you can say:
“Eung-geup-sil eodi-yeyo?”
Meaning:
“Where is the emergency room?”
Emergency departments prioritize patients according to medical urgency rather than simply treating everyone in arrival order.
This means a patient who arrives later but has a life-threatening condition may be treated before someone with a less urgent problem.
Should Every Illness Go to the ER?
No.
An emergency room is most appropriate for serious or potentially dangerous conditions.
For relatively minor problems such as:
- mild cold symptoms
- minor stomach problems
- mild skin irritation
- uncomplicated headaches
- minor injuries
- routine prescription questions
a local clinic or pharmacy may be more appropriate.
Korea has a large network of neighborhood clinics and pharmacies, particularly in major cities.
Pharmacies are easily recognizable by the Korean word:
약국 — Yak-guk
However, if symptoms are severe, rapidly worsening or potentially life-threatening, seek emergency medical care instead.
What Should You Bring to the Hospital?
If circumstances allow, take:
- your passport or identification
- travel insurance information
- a list of medications
- information about allergies
- relevant medical records
- a credit card or other payment method
- your hotel address and contact information
If you have an important medical condition, keeping a short English summary of your diagnosis and medications on your smartphone can make communication considerably easier.
International Medical Services at Korean Hospitals
Many large hospitals in Korea operate international healthcare centers or services for foreign patients.
Depending on the hospital, assistance may be available in languages such as English, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, Mongolian or Arabic.
The Korea Tourism Organization notes that many major Korean hospitals operate international healthcare centers and provide assistance for international visitors.
These services can be especially useful for scheduled treatment, follow-up care and communication with medical staff.
However, during a genuine emergency, do not spend valuable time searching for a particular international clinic.
Call 119 first when immediate medical assistance is required.
Useful Emergency Numbers for Travelers in Korea
The most important numbers to remember are:
119 — Ambulance, Fire and Rescue
Use this for medical emergencies, accidents, rescue situations and fires.
112 — Police
Use this for crimes, threats, violence, theft or situations requiring immediate police assistance.
1330 — Korea Travel Hotline
The Korea Tourism Organization operates the 1330 Travel Hotline for tourist information and assistance, including interpretation-related support.
A simple way to remember them is:
Medical emergency → 119
Police emergency → 112
Travel assistance → 1330
Useful Korean Phrases in a Medical Emergency
Knowing just a few expressions can help.
도와주세요 — Dowajuseyo
Please help me.
응급실 어디예요? — Eung-geup-sil eodi-yeyo?
Where is the emergency room?
병원에 가야 해요 — Byeongwon-e gaya haeyo
I need to go to a hospital.
많이 아파요 — Mani apayo
I am in a lot of pain.
숨쉬기가 어려워요 — Sum swigiga eoryeowoyo
I am having difficulty breathing.
영어 가능한 분 계세요? — Yeongeo ganeunghan bun gyeseyo?
Is there someone who speaks English?
You do not need perfect Korean. In an emergency, short and clear communication is usually better.
A Simple Emergency Plan Before Traveling to Korea
Before arriving in Korea, take a few minutes to prepare.
Save 119, 112 and 1330 on your phone.
Keep a photograph or digital copy of your passport and travel insurance details.
Save your accommodation's Korean address.
If you take prescription medications, keep a list containing both the brand name and generic drug name.
Travelers with serious medical conditions may also want to keep a short medical summary accessible on their phone.
These small preparations can save valuable time during an emergency.
Final Thoughts
Most visitors to Korea will never need emergency medical care.
But knowing what to do before something happens can make an unfamiliar situation much easier to manage.
The most important thing to remember is simple:
If you are experiencing a serious medical emergency in Korea, call 119.
Explain your location and the patient's condition as clearly as possible. If you do not speak Korean, request English or interpretation assistance.
Korea has an extensive emergency response and hospital system, and knowing how to access it can give travelers additional peace of mind while exploring the country.
Travel safely—and save 119 in your phone before you need it.
Official Resources
For current emergency and travel-safety information, readers can consult the Korean government's official resources:
VISITKOREA - Disaster Safety Services for International Visitors