Someone suddenly collapses in Korea. Your friend cannot breathe. You are badly injured. You know you need an ambulance—but you do not speak Korean.
Call:
119
Korea's 119 service handles:
- Ambulances and emergency medical response
- Fire
- Rescue
Foreign visitors and residents can use 119 too.
And if you cannot communicate in Korean, official Korean tourism guidance says to tell the operator:
“English please.”
or:
“Interpreter please.”
The operator can connect professional interpretation assistance.
The most important thing is not perfect English or Korean.
Give your location first, explain what is happening, and tell the operator whether the patient is conscious and breathing.
Last checked: October 3, 2026. Emergency procedures and interpretation arrangements can change. In an immediate medical emergency, call 119 rather than delaying while searching online.
Quick answer: when should you call 119 in Korea?
Call 119 when someone needs urgent:
- Ambulance assistance
- Emergency medical treatment
- Fire response
- Rescue
Examples include:
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Severe chest pain
- Suspected stroke
- Serious allergic reaction
- Major bleeding
- Severe injury
- Serious traffic accident
- Seizure with concerning symptoms
- Fire
- A person trapped or requiring rescue
If you are unsure whether the situation is serious but the person's condition appears dangerous or rapidly worsening, do not spend valuable time trying to find the perfect hospital yourself.
Call 119.
119 or 112?
These two numbers are easy to confuse.
119
Ambulance / Fire / Rescue
Use 119 for medical emergencies, fires, and rescue situations.
112
Police
Use 112 for:
- Crime
- Violence
- Threats
- Robbery
- Stalking
- Immediate police assistance
A traffic accident with injuries may involve both.
119 for medical response.
112 when police response is also needed.
If you do not speak Korean, say this immediately
“English please.”
or:
“Interpreter please.”
Korea Tourism Organization's current safety guidance specifically tells foreign visitors to use these phrases when calling 112 or 119.
The operator can arrange professional interpretation support.
You do not need to apologize for not speaking Korean.
Use short, simple sentences.
The first thing 119 needs: your location
The ambulance cannot help you if responders cannot find you.
Korea's National Fire Agency tells callers to provide the patient's location as accurately as possible.
The best information is:
- Street address
- Building name
- Apartment complex name
- Building number — 동
- Unit number — 호
- Hotel name
- Restaurant name
- Subway station and exit
- Nearby major landmark
If you do not know your address
This happens often to travelers.
You may be walking in Hongdae, hiking, or standing outside a restaurant whose Korean address you do not know.
The National Fire Agency recommends using identifiable nearby information such as:
- Large building name
- Building telephone number
- Elevator identification number
- Road-name address
- Utility-pole number
- Highway location marker
- National point number in remote areas
Also:
Turn on your smartphone GPS.
Your map app can help you read the address or nearby business name to the operator.
A simple emergency call script
If your English is limited or you are panicking, use this order:
“English please.
Ambulance please.
I am at [location].
One person is [unconscious / having trouble breathing / bleeding / having chest pain].
The patient is [age] years old.
The patient is [conscious / unconscious].
The patient is [breathing / not breathing].”
That already gives 119 a large amount of useful information.
The five things to tell 119
The National Fire Agency's current emergency-reporting guidance focuses on these points.
1. Tell them there is a patient
“There is a patient. We need an ambulance.”
2. Give the location
Address, building, floor, apartment number, landmark, or GPS information.
3. Explain what happened
For example:
- Chest pain
- Fall
- Traffic accident
- Allergic reaction
- Difficulty breathing
- Unconsciousness
4. Tell them consciousness and breathing status
This is extremely important.
Say clearly:
“He is conscious.”
or:
“She is unconscious.”
and:
“He is breathing.”
or:
“She is not breathing.”
5. Give age, medical history, and important medication
If you know it, tell the operator:
- Approximate age
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Severe allergy
- Pregnancy
- Other major medical condition
- Important medication
Do not hang up just because the ambulance has been dispatched
The National Fire Agency advises callers to remain on the line when medical guidance is needed.
The operator may tell you how to provide first aid before the ambulance arrives.
For example, if someone is not breathing, the operator can guide you through CPR.
Follow the operator's instructions.
Do not delay emergency care because you are afraid of doing something imperfectly.
If the patient is not breathing
Tell 119 immediately:
“Not breathing.”
The dispatcher may guide you through CPR.
If an AED is available, another person can bring it while you follow the emergency instructions.
Korea’s E-GEN emergency medical system also provides a searchable AED database, but during an actual cardiac arrest you should not stop helping the patient to spend several minutes browsing websites.
Call 119 first.
Serious allergic reaction
Symptoms such as:
- Difficulty breathing
- Throat swelling
- Facial swelling
- Loss of consciousness
- Rapidly worsening systemic reaction
can require emergency treatment.
Call:
119
If the patient has a prescribed emergency medication such as an epinephrine auto-injector, follow the emergency plan given by their medical professional while waiting for 119.
Related AllThingsK8282 guide:
Food Allergies in Korea: How to Ask About Ingredients and Avoid Common Problems
Is the 119 ambulance free?
The public 119 ambulance service itself is free of charge.
Seoul’s official emergency guidance states that public 119 ambulance transport is free. Hospital treatment and privately arranged ambulance services can involve separate charges.
Source: Seoul Jung-gu emergency services guidance; checked October 9, 2026.This is different from a privately operated ambulance.
So if you are a tourist and someone has a genuine medical emergency, do not avoid calling 119 because you are afraid of receiving a large ambulance bill.
But the hospital is not automatically free
This distinction is extremely important.
119 ambulance transport being free does not mean emergency-room treatment is free.
Once you arrive at a hospital, medical charges depend on factors such as:
- Treatment provided
- Tests
- Hospital type
- Whether you are covered by Korean National Health Insurance
- Travel/private insurance
Korean National Health Insurance patients normally pay the applicable patient copayment rather than receiving all hospital care free.
Short-term foreign visitors who are not covered by Korean National Health Insurance should check their travel or private health insurance.
Do you need Korean National Health Insurance to call 119?
No.
119 is an emergency service.
You do not need to prove Korean health-insurance coverage before an ambulance is dispatched.
Do not waste time searching for an insurance card before calling in a serious emergency.
Insurance matters can be handled later.
Which hospital will the ambulance take you to?
Do not assume 119 is simply a free taxi to whichever hospital you choose.
Emergency responders consider factors such as:
- The patient's condition
- Severity
- The treatment needed
- Whether the receiving hospital can treat the problem
Korea’s 119 enforcement decree (Article 12) states that emergency crews select an appropriate hospital based on the patient's illness, severity, and treatment needs.
This matters because the nearest small hospital may not be able to handle:
- Severe trauma
- Stroke
- Heart attack
- Major surgery
- Other specialized emergencies
Tell the paramedics if you have important medical information or a hospital where you are already receiving treatment, but understand that emergency suitability matters.
What should you prepare while waiting?
If helping the patient does not require your full attention, the National Fire Agency recommends preparing useful items such as:
- Passport or other ID
- Residence Card
- Health-insurance information if available
- Hospital patient card if relevant
- Credit card or money for hospital-related expenses
- Current medications
If another person is available, ask them to prepare these while someone stays with the patient.
Have someone meet the ambulance outside
This can save valuable time in a large apartment complex, hotel, university, or office building.
If there are at least two people helping:
one person can stay with the patient
while another:
- Goes to the building entrance
- Opens security doors
- Calls the elevator
- Guides paramedics to the patient
The National Fire Agency specifically recommends having someone guide the ambulance when possible.
Apartment emergency: tell 119 the 동 and 호
A Korean apartment address can cover dozens of buildings and thousands of homes.
Do not say only:
“I'm at Samsung Apartment.”
Give:
Apartment name + building number + unit number.
For example:
“Haeundae Samsung Apartment.
Building 105.
Unit 1602.”
In Korean:
105동 1602호예요.
Building 105, unit 1602.
Hotel emergency
Tell the operator:
- Hotel name
- Address if available
- Room number
Then contact reception and tell them:
119 구급차를 불렀어요.
I called a 119 ambulance.
Hotel staff can help guide responders to the room.
Subway or public-place emergency
Use:
- Station name
- Line number
- Exit number
- Platform or landmark
For example:
“Hongdae Station, Line 2, Exit 9.”
or:
“Inside Seoul Station, near Gate 3.”
This is much more useful than:
“I am somewhere near Hongdae.”
Useful emergency English phrases
I need an ambulance
“I need an ambulance.”
English please
“English please.”
I need an interpreter
“Interpreter please.”
The patient is unconscious
“The patient is unconscious.”
The patient is not breathing
“The patient is not breathing.”
The patient cannot breathe
“The patient cannot breathe.”
There is severe bleeding
“There is severe bleeding.”
Severe chest pain
“Severe chest pain.”
Possible stroke
“Possible stroke.”
Severe allergic reaction
“Severe allergic reaction.”
Useful Korean phrases
Please send an ambulance
구급차 보내 주세요.
Please send an ambulance.
The patient is unconscious
환자가 의식이 없어요.
The patient is unconscious.
The patient is not breathing
숨을 쉬지 않아요.
The patient is not breathing.
It is difficult to breathe
숨쉬기가 힘들어요.
It is difficult to breathe.
There is heavy bleeding
피가 많이 나요.
There is heavy bleeding.
The patient has chest pain
가슴이 아파요.
The patient has chest pain.
Severe allergic reaction
심한 알레르기 반응이에요.
It is a severe allergic reaction.
What if you cannot comfortably make a voice call?
Korea also has digital emergency-reporting options.
Korea Tourism Organization currently recommends the:
Baro Emergency Reporting App
for international visitors.
The app supports multiple languages including:
- English
- Chinese
- Japanese
- Vietnamese
- Filipino
It allows text and image-based emergency reporting and can use location information.
For an immediate life-threatening emergency where you can make a normal call:
calling 119 directly remains the simplest option.
Emergency Ready app
Korea's Emergency Ready app provides multilingual safety guidance for:
- Natural disasters
- Accidents
- Other emergency situations
The app supports 22 languages: the Ministry of the Interior and Safety’s statement dated 23 July 2026 says the expansion took effect on 15 June 2026 (language support checked 17 October 2026; Seoul’s current English guide).
It is useful to install before an emergency rather than trying to learn a new app while someone is seriously ill.
Foreign resident? Consider registering for 119 안심콜
This is one of the most useful services for long-term residents and is not widely known among foreigners.
The National Fire Agency operates:
119 안심콜서비스 — 119 U-Safety Call
The service allows information to be registered in advance, including:
- Medical conditions
- Previous surgery
- Medication
- Guardian/contact information
When the registered person calls 119 from the registered phone number, responders can retrieve the pre-registered information. Keep the registered health and contact details current.
Source: Public notice on 119 Ansim Call registration; checked October 9, 2026.Foreign residents are explicitly eligible to register.
Registration is free.
Who may particularly benefit from 119 안심콜?
Consider it if you:
- Have a serious heart condition
- Have epilepsy
- Have a severe allergy
- Have diabetes
- Take important medication
- Have a disability
- Are pregnant with a high-risk condition
- Live alone with a medical condition
It can also be useful when language makes it difficult to explain complex medical history during an emergency.
119 versus 1330
119 is for emergencies.
1330 is for travel support and non-emergency tourist assistance.
Call 1330 when you need help with:
- Travel interpretation
- Transportation
- Tourist information
- Finding help during a non-emergency situation
Do not call 1330 instead of 119 when someone is unconscious or cannot breathe.
119 versus 1339
This is another common source of outdated internet information.
For an ambulance or emergency medical response in Korea:
119
is the number you should use.
The current Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency:
1339
Call Center focuses on:
- Infectious-disease information
- Reporting suspected infectious diseases
- Travel vaccinations
- Disease prevention guidance
Do not call 1339 instead of 119 for someone who needs an ambulance now.
Do not use 119 as a normal taxi to the hospital
119 exists primarily for emergency response.
Article 20 of Korea’s 119 enforcement decree allows crews to decline certain non-emergency ambulance requests after assessing the person's medical history, symptoms and surrounding circumstances.
Examples of non-emergency use can include:
- Simple cold symptoms, excluding cases with a fever of 38°C or higher or breathing difficulty
- Routine hospital visits
- Normal inter-hospital transportation requests without emergency need
If your condition is stable and you simply need an English-speaking clinic or normal medical appointment, use a clinic, taxi, or other appropriate transport.
Related AllThingsK8282 guides:
English-Speaking Clinics in Korea: Fees and Booking
Korean Pharmacies for Tourists: What You Can Buy Without a Prescription
Example: severe allergic reaction in a restaurant
Your friend suddenly develops facial swelling and has difficulty breathing.
Do this:
- Call 119.
- Say “English please.”
- Give the restaurant name and address.
- Say “Severe allergic reaction. Difficulty breathing.”
- Give the patient's age.
- Tell them whether the patient is conscious and breathing.
- Follow dispatcher instructions.
- Ask restaurant staff to guide the ambulance inside.
Example: someone collapses in an apartment
Your partner collapses at home.
Say:
“English please.
Ambulance.
Haeundae Samsung Apartment.
Building 105, Unit 1602.
Male, 30 years old.
Unconscious.
He is breathing.”
Stay on the line.
If another person is present, send them to the apartment entrance to guide paramedics.
Example: someone is not breathing
Say:
“Ambulance.
Patient unconscious.
Not breathing.”
Put your phone on speaker if necessary and follow the CPR instructions given by 119.
Do not spend time searching:
“How to do CPR Korea.”
while the emergency operator is available to guide you.
Example: tourist is injured but conscious
You fall badly near Gyeongbokgung and cannot stand.
You do not know the address.
Call 119 and say:
“English please.
I need an ambulance.
I am near Gyeongbokgung Palace, main entrance.
I fell and injured my leg.
I am conscious and breathing.”
Use your map app to provide more exact location information if requested.
Emergency information to keep on your phone
If you live in or travel around Korea, save a note containing:
- Full Korean address
- Building and unit number
- Hotel name and address
- Emergency contact
- Major allergies
- Major medical conditions
- Important medication
- Health-insurance information
You may never need it.
But if you do, having it ready is much easier than trying to remember the Korean address during an emergency.
A simple 119 checklist
- ☐ Call 119
- ☐ Say “English please” or “Interpreter please”
- ☐ Give exact location
- ☐ Explain what happened
- ☐ Give patient age
- ☐ Say whether patient is conscious
- ☐ Say whether patient is breathing
- ☐ Mention major disease/allergy/medication
- ☐ Stay on the line
- ☐ Follow first-aid instructions
- ☐ Have someone guide responders when possible
- ☐ Prepare ID and medication if it does not delay care
The biggest mistake: trying to explain everything before giving your location
In a panic, people often begin with:
“We were having dinner and my friend said she didn't feel well, and she has had allergies before...”
Start with:
Location.
Emergency.
Consciousness.
Breathing.
Then give the details.
A better call sounds like:
“English please.
Seoul Station, Exit 3.
Woman, about 30.
Unconscious.
Breathing.”
That gives 119 the information needed to start responding immediately.
Bottom line
If you remember only five things:
119 = ambulance, fire, and rescue.
Foreigners can call it.
Say “English please” or “Interpreter please.”
Give your location before a long explanation.
Tell them whether the patient is conscious and breathing.
The public 119 ambulance itself is free.
Hospital treatment is a separate cost.
And if you are a foreign resident with an important medical condition, consider registering your medical and emergency-contact information in advance through Korea's 119 U-Safety Call service.
During a real emergency, you do not need perfect Korean.
You need 119, a location, and a clear description of what is happening.
Related guide: Finding suitable hospital care in Korea.
Related AllThingsK8282 guides
- Tourist Complaints in Korea: When to Use 1330, 1372, 112, and 119
- Food Allergies in Korea: How to Ask About Ingredients and Avoid Common Problems
- Korean Pharmacies for Tourists: What You Can Buy Without a Prescription
- English-Speaking Clinics in Korea: Fees and Booking
- Lost Your Passport in Korea? Police Reports, Embassy Help, and Emergency Travel Documents
Official sources checked
-
National Fire Agency — How to Report a Medical Emergency to 119
Checked current official instructions on location, consciousness, breathing, age, medical history, medication, callback information, and dispatcher-guided first aid. -
National Fire Agency — What to Prepare Before the Ambulance Arrives
Checked guidance on preparing ID, passport, insurance information, medication, and having someone guide responders. -
National Fire Agency — 119 U-Safety Call
Checked advance registration of medical history, medication and guardian information and eligibility for foreign residents. -
Korea Tourism Organization — Disaster Safety Services for International Visitors
Checked current interpretation guidance telling foreign visitors to say “English please” or “Interpreter please,” and current multilingual emergency-app information. -
Seoul Metropolitan Government / Busan Fire & Disaster Headquarters
Checked official guidance stating that public 119 ambulance service is free and that foreign-language assistance is available. -
Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency
Checked the current role of 1339 as the infectious-disease information and reporting call center rather than the primary ambulance-dispatch number.
Editorial note: This guide was checked against Korean National Fire Agency, Korea Tourism Organization, local fire-service, National Health Insurance Service, and Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency information on October 3, 2026. During an immediate medical emergency, call 119 first rather than delaying to verify information online.
Editorial update: 17 October 2026. Updated only the Emergency Ready language count from 14 to 22 and linked the official expansion date. This targeted check does not revalidate every emergency procedure or app function in this article.
Updated October 28, 2026: Added the current decree beside the crew-assessment and hospital-selection statements, and preserved the cold-symptom exceptions for fever of 38°C or higher and breathing difficulty. Linked the official AED directory without changing the instruction to call 119 and follow the dispatcher first; no emergency call or treatment was tested.
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