๐ฎ Police & Safety
What to do if you need police help, feel unsafe, or become the victim of a crime in Korea.
South Korea is generally easy to travel around, but accidents, theft, harassment, scams, violence or other unexpected situations can happen anywhere. If you feel unsafe or believe a crime is happening, move to a safe place first and call 112.
๐จ Need police right now?
You can call 112 from a mobile phone without an area code.
Call 112 ifโฆ
- โข Someone is threatening, following or attacking you
- โข You have been robbed or assaulted
- โข You witness a crime
- โข Someone is trying to enter your accommodation
- โข You are being harassed or stalked
- โข You are in immediate danger
- โข You see a serious disturbance or suspicious situation
What happened?
Choose what happened to see what to do now.
๐ How to report
- 1. Where you are
Say your location first: hotel name, street address, subway station and exit, shop name, building, bus stop or landmark, or show your map app.
โI am at Myeongdong Station, Exit 6.โ - 2. What is happening
Keep it short and clear.
โSomeone is following me.โ - 3. Whether anyone is injured
Say it at once if someone needs medical help. Police can coordinate with emergency services.
โSomeone is injured. We need an ambulance.โ - 4. What the person looks like
Only if it is safe to look: sex, approximate age, clothing, height, hair, vehicle type, color and plate, and which way they went. Do not follow or confront a suspect to find out.
โA man, black jacket, about 30 years old.โ
The police accept text-message reports when a voice call is hard or unsafe. Include three things, and keep it short and specific:
- LOCATION โ Where are you?Example: Seoul, XX Hotel, Room 503
- SITUATION โ What is happening?Example: Someone is trying to enter my room.
- DESCRIPTION โ Who is involved?Example: Man, black jacket, approximately 30 years old.
A message that is not in Korean may take longer to read, so call whenever it is safe to do so.
The Korean National Police also offer a 112 emergency reporting app. Depending on the method and the permissions you allow, it can help send information such as your location, photos, video and the type of emergency. Consider installing the official app before your trip.
If you are in danger and cannot speak freely, keep the call connected and press number buttons on your phone. Follow any instructions or text messages the police send. If you can safely use text, send a 112 message with your location and situation.
๐ I donโt speak Korean
Do not avoid calling 112 just because you cannot speak Korean. Start with โEnglish, please.โ or โI need an interpreter.โ The police run interpretation support for emergency reports. Speak slowly, use short sentences, and give your location and the type of emergency first.
For non-emergency travel help and interpretation: talking with a hotel, taxi driver or restaurant, not knowing which organization to contact, or a tourism-related complaint. For immediate danger or a crime in progress, call 112 first.
๐ข Visiting a police station
If it is not an immediate emergency you can visit a nearby police station to report a crime. Do not worry if you do not have every piece of evidence; you can still ask for help.
- โข Passport or other identification
- โข Hotel information
- โข Photos or videos
- โข Screenshots
- โข Receipts
- โข Transaction records
- โข Phone numbers
- โข Vehicle plate number
- โข Witness contact information
- โข Medical documents, if relevant
Depending on the situation, the police may ask you to:
- โข Explain what happened
- โข Say where and when it happened
- โข Provide evidence
- โข Give contact information
- โข Visit a police station
- โข Give an additional statement later
Keep copies or photos of any documents you receive. If the incident may affect travel insurance, a stolen passport, a card refund or an airline or hotel claim, ask what documents you will need before you leave Korea.
It may help if your passport was stolen, you were arrested or detained, you were the victim of a serious crime, you need help contacting family, you were hospitalized after a serious incident, or you need emergency travel documents. An embassy normally cannot replace the Korean police or cancel Korean legal procedures, but it may give consular assistance.
Embassy & Consulates โ๐ฑ Protect your evidence
After a serious incident, avoid deleting information even if it is upsetting or inconvenient. Save copies somewhere other than the original device if you can.
- โข Text messages
- โข Messenger chats
- โข Social-media messages
- โข Call history
- โข Photos and videos
- โข Location history
- โข Ride-app history
- โข Card receipts
- โข Bank-transfer records
- โข ATM records
- โข Booking confirmations
- โข Damaged property
- โข Photographs
- โข Medical records
- โข Medical receipts
๐ Staying safe while traveling
Use busy, well-lit streets and established transportation options.
Keep your phone, wallet, passport and bag secure.
Use licensed taxis or established taxi-booking apps.
Do not give your room number or door code to strangers.
For a first meeting, choose a public place and avoid isolated spots.
Do not leave drinks unattended and do not accept open drinks from strangers.
Check the weather and transport before you leave, and tell someone where you are going.
Travel insurance and weather or seasonal hazards have their own pages: Travel insurance ยท Weather & Packing
โ 112, 119 or 1330?
๐ฃ๏ธ Emergency Korean phrases
Show someone nearby or the police your phoneโs map screen, your hotel booking, a shop receipt, the subway station name, a nearby building sign, or your taxi or ride-app history. Your location is one of the most important things you can give.
Get more help
Official Sources
- OFFICIALKorean National Police Agency112 police and how to report
- OFFICIALCybercrime Report System (ECRM)Online cybercrime reports (Korean)
- OFFICIALKorea Tourism Organization: 1330 Travel HelplineTravel information, interpretation and tourist complaints
ToKorea.org is an independent travel guide and is not affiliated with the Korean National Police Agency or the Korean government. Procedures and services can change, so check the official source. This page does not promise response times, outcomes or interpretation in every language.
Information last verified: 2026-10-07 ยท Updated: 2026-10-07