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Help and safety in Seoul: the numbers to know

도움·안전: 알아 둘 번호

Reviewed · Written from the public sources listed below

Platform screen doors at a Seoul subway station, with a red emergency equipment cabinet beside them
Photo: Theodore Nguyen · Pexels

Korea has public lines for most things that can go wrong on a trip, and several of them work in English. Here is which one to call.

Emergencies

For the police call 112, and for a fire or an ambulance call 119. If you don't speak Korean, the Korea Tourism Organization says to say "English please" or "Interpreter please" when the call connects, and the operator will connect you to a professional interpreter.

Travel help and interpretation

The 1330 Korea Travel Helpline is run by the Korea Tourism Organization. It gives travel information, offers interpretation for travelers and takes complaints, by phone or by chat. Dial 1330 inside Korea or +82 2 1330 from abroad. The service is free, with normal call charges. Official pages list different hours, so check the hours for your language when you call.

City questions

Seoul's 120 Dasan Call Center answers questions about the city. For a foreign language, call 02 120 and press 9, then the code for your language. The foreign language line runs on weekdays during office hours, not on holidays.

Complaints

If a shop, taxi or other business treated you badly, the Korea Tourism Organization's Tourist Complaint Center takes complaints online in several languages, by email or through 1330. The complaint is translated into Korean and the reply comes back in your language.

Pharmacies at night, and 1339

Seoul runs public late night pharmacies in every district, open from late evening until after midnight. Each one opens on its own days, so the city asks you to call before you go, and its Smart Seoul Map shows where they are. Note that 1339 is now the line for infectious diseases, not a general medical line; for a medical emergency, call 119.

Lost passport or belongings

You can report a lost item and search found items on LOST112, the police lost and found portal, in English. The 1330 helpline also helps with lost items and tells you which office to contact. For a lost passport, contact your country's embassy or consulate; the Korea Tourism Organization's emergency page links to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs list of embassies in Korea.

Sources

  1. Korea Tourism Organization, Disaster Safety Services for International Visitors in Korea (2025-10-02): call 112 (police) or 119 (fire department and ambulance); if you don't speak Korean, say 'English please' or 'Interpreter please' and the operator connects you to a professional interpreter
  2. Korea Tourism Organization, 1330 Korea Travel Helpline: tourist information, tourist interpretation and tourist complaints; 1330 in Korea, +82-2-1330 from overseas; online voice call and chat
  3. 대한민국 정부 K-공감(2026-02-19), 한국관광공사가 운영하는 1330: 7개 외국어 상담과 관광통역 서비스, 분실물 접수 도움·관련 기관 안내, 이용 시간 오전 7시~자정 365일(서울시 사이트 꼬리말은 24/7이라 적어 출처끼리 다르다 → 본문은 '전화할 때 확인')
  4. 외교부 워킹홀리데이인포센터, 1330: '1330 is a free service. Callers are charged standard rates for a regular phone call'
  5. Seoul Metropolitan Government, taxi page: 120 Dasan Call Center 02-120 + 9 + language code (English 1, Chinese 2, Japanese 3, Vietnamese 4, Mongolian 5), hours 9 AM to 6 PM (KST)
  6. 120 다산콜재단, foreign language service: 02) 120 + ARS 9, Monday to Friday 09:00 to 18:00 (except holidays)
  7. Korea Tourism Organization, Tourist Complaint Center: file online (register and verify your email), by email or by phone 1330; the complaint is translated into Korean and the reply comes back in your language
  8. 서울특별시 공공심야약국(수정 2026-09-23): 25개 자치구 40개소, 밤 10시~새벽 1시, 약국마다 운영 요일이 다르고 '전화확인 후에 방문', 서울 스마트맵 위치 안내
  9. 서울 스마트맵, 공공심야약국 위치(서울시 공공심야약국 안내 페이지가 거는 지도 링크)
  10. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, 1339 call center: information and guidelines on major infectious diseases, 24/7
  11. Korea Tourism Organization, emergency page (updated 2026-09-11): Infectious Disease Emergencies 1339, Medical Emergencies 119, LOST 112 lost and found center (www.lost112.go.kr, Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese), Diplomatic Missions in Korea at www.mofa.go.kr
  12. Seoul Metropolitan Government, Visit Seoul lost and found: report a lost item and search found items on the National Police Agency's LOST112 portal