Safety & emergencies

You're very unlikely to need any of this — but knowing it turns a stressful moment into a manageable one. Here are the numbers, the apps, and what to do.

The two numbers to memorize

112 — Police	119 — Fire & Medical
Crime, theft, assault, feeling threatened, traffic accidents, lost valuables. Also takes text-message reports.	Fire, ambulance, medical emergencies, rescue. This is your 911-equivalent for health.

• Both are free, work 24/7, and connect to interpreters — say "English, please" and stay on the line for a 3-way translation call.
• They work even with no SIM / locked phone via the "Emergency Call" button.
• Give your location by nearby landmark or subway station + exit number — the system can also GPS-locate you, but landmarks speed it up.
• 112 doesn't handle medical — call 119 for ambulances. Don't hang up while waiting for the interpreter. Prank calls are punished.

Other useful numbers

• 1330 — Korea Travel Hotline: 24/7, multilingual. The "my life is a bit difficult right now" line — lost, language stuck at a pharmacy, need directions, general help. There's a 1330 app for free data calls.
• 1339 — medical/health information hotline (symptoms, which hospital, disease control).
• 120 — Dasan call center (city services / civil complaints, English available in Seoul).
• 182 — non-emergency police line (e.g. lost property, minor issues).
• Your embassy — for passport loss, arrest, or serious incidents.

Apps to install now

• Emergency Ready (긴급재난문자): the Ministry of the Interior & Safety app — disaster alerts in English, nearest shelter finder, and quick 119 calling.
• 1330 Korea Travel Hotline app — free data-based help calls.
• You'll also get government emergency broadcast texts (재난문자) automatically — loud alerts for weather, disasters, and local advisories. They're in Korean; use a translator.

How safe is it, really?

Very. Violent crime and mugging are extremely rare, and pickpocketing is almost unheard of — people routinely leave phones/bags to hold cafe seats. Still, use normal common sense: avoid dark alleys in nightlife districts late at night, don't flash cash, and keep an eye out in crowded nightlife areas.

• Illegal filming (몰카): a known issue in the past — authorities crack down hard, and it's rare, but be aware in public restrooms/changing rooms and report anything suspicious to 112.
• Scams: rare but exist — be cautious with too-good-to-be-true housing deals or online marketplace transactions. See housing.
• Protests: political rallies (e.g. around City Hall/Gwanghwamun) are common and generally peaceful — it's fine to observe, but easy to just walk around.
• Solo & night safety: Korea is comfortable to walk at night, but share your live location (Kakao T ride-sharing, KakaoTalk) when heading home late.

Natural events to know

• Typhoons & monsoon (장마): July–September brings heavy rain, occasional typhoons, and flooding/landslide risk (worse on the coast and when hiking). Watch the KMA (기상청) forecasts and heed 재난문자 alerts; avoid flooded underpasses and riversides.
• Earthquakes: rare (Korea is off the main fault zones) but not unheard of, especially in the southeast. If one hits: drop, cover, hold; then move to open space or a designated shelter (대피소) — the Emergency Ready app maps the nearest one.
• Fine dust (미세먼지): more a health than safety issue — check air-quality apps on bad days and wear a KF94 mask when levels are high.
• Heat & cold: summers are hot/humid, winters cold — see the weather section for live conditions.

Be prepared (5 minutes now)

1. Save 112, 119, 1330 and your embassy in your phone.
2. Install Emergency Ready and the 1330 app.
3. Learn to say your home address in Korean (or keep it saved as text to show/read).
4. Keep digital copies of your passport, ARC, and insurance somewhere you can reach them.
5. Note your nearest hospital ER and designated shelter.

Common questions