Call 119 for an ambulance in Korea. Give your location before a long explanation, then say “English please” or “Interpreter please” if you cannot continue in Korean. Korea’s official visitor-safety guidance assigns 119 to fire, rescue, and urgent medical emergencies; 112 is the police number.
| What is happening | Number | First information to give |
|---|---|---|
| Urgent illness, serious injury, fire, or rescue | 119 | Exact location and what happened |
| Crime, violence, or an immediate threat to safety | 112 | Exact location and whether the threat is still present |
| Not urgent and you need travel information | Use a currently available tourist-information channel | Your location and the practical problem |
Do not wait to find the “perfect” English-speaking hospital before calling about an immediate medical emergency. The dispatcher needs to locate the patient and decide the response. The Korea Tourism Organization’s international visitor safety guidance specifically tells non-Korean speakers to request English or an interpreter after the call connects.
Say the location before the story
An ambulance cannot help until the dispatcher can identify where to send it. Open your map, hotel booking, venue ticket, or store receipt and find the Korean address. If an address is unavailable, give a building name, subway station and exit, road intersection, hotel name, shop name, floor, or another visible landmark. Ask a staff member or bystander to read the Korean place name if necessary.
- Say that you need an ambulance.
- Give the address or strongest nearby landmark.
- State what happened in one sentence.
- Say how many people need help.
- Answer the dispatcher’s questions and do not hang up until instructed.
- Send someone to the building entrance when it is safe to do so.
If you are in a large station, mall, hotel, concert venue, or underground shopping area, a map pin alone may not identify the entrance. Add the floor, gate, exit number, shop name, or information desk. Keep the phone available in case the dispatcher or responding crew calls back.
Use a short language card under pressure
| English | Korean to show or read |
|---|---|
| I need an ambulance. | 구급차가 필요합니다. |
| English interpreter, please. | 영어 통역 부탁드립니다. |
| The address is here. | 주소는 여기입니다. |
| One person is injured. | 한 명이 다쳤습니다. |
| The patient is unconscious. | 환자가 의식이 없습니다. |
| The patient has difficulty breathing. | 환자가 숨쉬기 어렵습니다. |
This card is for communication, not diagnosis. Describe what you can directly observe and follow the dispatcher’s instructions. Do not guess a condition, give medication, move an injured person, or attempt a procedure solely because a travel page suggests it.
Prepare the details the crew may need
If another person is present, have them gather the patient’s passport or other identification, current medications, known allergies, relevant medical information, insurance contact, and a payment method. Do not delay an emergency call to collect documents. These details are for the handoff after help is already on the way.
- Patient’s name and approximate age
- What happened and when
- Known allergies and regular medication
- Important medical conditions the patient has already been diagnosed with
- Passport or available identification
- Travel-insurance assistance number and policy details
- Hotel address and an emergency contact
Keep essential information outside a locked phone when possible. A small paper card or a lock-screen emergency record can help if the patient cannot unlock the device. Avoid putting a full passport number or insurance login credentials on a visible card.
If you cannot make the call yourself
Point to 119 and ask hotel staff, station staff, venue security, restaurant employees, or a nearby person to call. Show them the Korean sentence “119에 전화해 주세요” (“Please call 119”). One person should stay with the patient while another meets responders at the entrance, but only when doing so is safe.
Do not route an urgent medical emergency through a hotel concierge, travel hotline, insurer, or translation app if that delays 119. Those services may help with follow-up, but they are not the emergency dispatcher. Official information about tourist assistance can also change; check current availability rather than saving an old screenshot as the only plan.
Do not rely on a flat ambulance-cost claim
Travel pages often repeat a single statement about ambulance or hospital cost without identifying the service, destination, treatment, insurance, or date. This guide does not promise a fixed charge or insurance outcome. Ask the hospital for receipts and treatment documents, then use the exact process required by your insurer. A cost question should not delay a call when there is an immediate threat to life.
Save a working emergency card before arrival
- Save 119 for fire, rescue, and urgent medical emergencies and 112 for police.
- Save your accommodation’s Korean name, road address, phone number, and nearest landmark.
- Practice finding and sharing the current location in your Korean map app.
- Store allergies, medications, insurer details, and an emergency contact offline.
- Share the Korea emergency numbers guide with travel companions.
- If food allergies are relevant, carry the preparation card described in the Before Korea food-allergy guide.
Questions visitors ask about 119
Should I call 911 in Korea?
Use Korea’s official numbers: 119 for fire, rescue, and urgent medical help, and 112 for police. Do not depend on a foreign emergency number being redirected.
Can I request English on a 119 call?
Yes. Current official visitor guidance says to say “English please” or “Interpreter please” after connection. Availability and connection time can vary, so give the location as clearly as possible and ask a nearby Korean speaker to assist when available.
Which hospital will the ambulance use?
Do not assume a particular hospital from a blog list. The destination can depend on the patient’s condition and current capacity. Follow the dispatcher and emergency crew, then contact the insurer or family when it is practical.
Last checked: August 9, 2026. Primary references: VISITKOREA disaster safety services and VISITKOREA emergency situations. Recheck official emergency guidance before travel.