๐ก๏ธ Emergency Numbers, Healthcare and Safety in Korea
South Korea generally has low rates of violent crime and well-developed emergency services. Still, it helps to know who to call and how to get care before you need it.
Safety ยท Updated 2026-09-29 ยท 5 min read
Key phone numbers
112 is the police emergency number and 119 covers fire and ambulance. Both have interpretation support for major foreign languages. The Korea Travel Helpline, 1330, is a 24-hour tourist information and assistance helpline with English, Japanese and Chinese support, and other languages during set hours.
The Korea Immigration Service Contact Center, 1345, answers questions about visas, stays and immigration procedures in several languages. Save these numbers in your phone as soon as you land.
Seeing a doctor or pharmacist
Korean pharmacies (yakguk) are common and pharmacists can advise on minor problems such as colds, upset stomachs and allergies. Many prescription medicines are still dispensed only on a doctorโs prescription, so bring any regular medication in its original packaging with a letter from your doctor.
Clinics and hospitals in big cities often have international clinics with English-speaking staff. Short-term visitors should normally be ready to pay at the time of treatment, so keep receipts and medical documents for your insurance claim. Emergency rooms are open around the clock, but non-urgent patients may wait a long time.
Insurance and everyday safety
Take out travel insurance that covers medical treatment and evacuation, because medical costs can be significant for visitors without local coverage. Read the exclusions for adventure sports such as hiking in remote mountains or skiing.
Common-sense precautions apply: keep an eye on bags in busy tourist areas, use licensed taxis or the official taxi app, and avoid unlicensed drivers at the airport. Hiking trails in national parks are well marked but weather changes quickly, so check the forecast, carry water and turn back early.
Seasonal hazards include summer monsoon rains, typhoons in late summer and autumn, heavy cold and snow in winter, and fine-dust days in spring. The Korea Meteorological Administration and apps such as Naver Weather show current air quality.
Prices, schedules and entry rules change. The figures below are approximate and reflect information available when this guide was last reviewed; always confirm with the official source before you travel.