Korea Emergency Numbers and 24-Hour Pharmacies Guide
A number that stopped working over a decade ago
If you've read an older guide telling you to call 1339 for medical advice in Korea, skip it — that line was folded into 119 back in 2013, so dialing it today gets you nothing. It's a small example of how quickly "helpful" numbers go stale, and it's why it's worth knowing what actually works right now: 112 for police, 119 for fire and ambulance, and 1330 for pretty much everything else a traveler runs into. Most first-timers only know the first two, which means they either don't call anyone when they should, or they call 112 for something 1330 would have handled faster.
What 112 and 119 are actually for
112 connects you to police and runs an interpretation service so you're not stuck explaining a theft or an accident in Korean. 119 covers fire, ambulance, and any medical emergency where you need someone dispatched — not just advice. If the 119 operator can't immediately tell what language you're speaking, they bring in an interpreter through a three-way call, often routed through the 1330 hotline's translators, covering English, Japanese, and Chinese. Both numbers work from any phone, no area code needed. Reserve these two for situations where someone actually needs to come to you or take a report — not general confusion, which is what 1330 is built for.
1330: the number that covers everything else
The Korea Travel Hotline runs 24/7, 365 days a year, in Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, and Indonesian — though after 6 p.m. on weekdays, only Korean, English, and Chinese are staffed. Its most useful feature isn't trip-planning advice, it's the three-way interpretation call: you dial in, an interpreter joins, and they relay your conversation in real time with whoever you're dealing with — a pharmacist, a hotel desk, a taxi driver. Download the 1330 app so you're not burning international minutes, and check Korea's most useful travel apps while you're at it, since Naver Map and Papago solve half the problems 1330 would otherwise have to interpret through.
A lost passport isn't a 112 or 119 problem
A stolen wallet is a police matter, but a lost or stolen passport gets replaced through your own country's embassy or consulate, not through Korean police or 1330 directly. Where 1330 does help is bridging the language gap if you need to explain your situation to a hotel, a lost-and-found office, or transit staff while you sort out the embassy side. Keep a photo of your passport's information page saved somewhere other than your phone's camera roll — a cloud note or email to yourself — so you have the numbers on hand even if the physical document and your phone go missing together.
If it's serious enough for a hospital
For anything beyond what a pharmacist can advise on, Seoul has major hospitals with dedicated international clinics staffed by English-speaking coordinators — Severance and Samsung Medical Center are two well-known examples. They can handle everything from a translated diagnosis to coordinating with your insurer, which matters more than it sounds like, since a hospital visit here runs on Korean paperwork by default. Before any trip, it's worth skimming current travel advisories and safety notices for your specific region, since regional health or safety alerts occasionally affect what's accessible.
Finding a pharmacy after the convenience stores are your only other option
24-hour convenience stores are everywhere in Korea; 24-hour pharmacies are not, and most travelers only discover this at 2 a.m. Look for the green cross sign — that's the pharmacy marker nationwide. To actually locate one that's open, search "심야약국" (late-night pharmacy) or "24시간 약국" (24-hour pharmacy) on Naver Map or Kakao Map, which will surface nearby options with current hours. The government-run E-Gen emergency medical portal (e-gen.or.kr) also has a search tool for pharmacies and hospitals currently open, built specifically for exactly this situation. A hotel front desk can usually point you to the nearest one faster than searching cold.
Getting your point across at the counter
Common over-the-counter medicine names in Korea don't match Western brands, so asking for "Tylenol" or "Advil" by name often draws a blank stare. Describing symptoms works better than brand names — a translated symptom list on Papago gets you there fast, and most pharmacists are used to foreigners doing exactly this. If you're on a prescription from home, bring the box or a photo of the label rather than just the pill itself; ingredient names translate more reliably than shapes and colors.
Travel insurance: what to keep, and when to pay
Korean hospitals and clinics generally expect payment upfront, with reimbursement handled afterward through your insurer rather than direct billing — budget for that rather than assuming a claim will cover it on the spot. Before you leave any hospital or clinic, get the itemized receipt (영수증) and, if available, the detailed statement (진료비 세부내역서); for a clinic visit, ask for a stamped medical certificate (진단서) too, since an informal receipt alone often isn't enough for a claim. English-language versions aren't guaranteed everywhere, but major hospitals' international clinics can usually provide them.
The short version
- 1339 doesn't exist anymore — it merged into 119 in 2013
- 112 is police, 119 is fire/ambulance; both offer interpretation
- 1330 is the real workhorse: 24/7, multiple languages, live three-way interpretation calls
- A lost passport goes through your embassy, not 112 or 1330 directly
- Severance and Samsung Medical Center have English-speaking international clinics
- 24-hour pharmacies are rare — search "심야약국" on Naver/Kakao Map or check e-gen.or.kr
- Describe symptoms rather than Western brand names at the pharmacy counter
- Korean hospitals usually require upfront payment; keep every receipt for your insurer
Official sources
This guide is checked against National Emergency Medical Center. Prices, hours, and procedures change — confirm time-sensitive details there before you rely on them.
Frequently Asked Questions
What number do I call for a lost passport in Korea?
Neither 112 nor 119 — passport replacement goes through your own country's embassy or consulate. 1330 can help interpret if you need to explain the situation to hotel staff or transit offices in the meantime.
Is 1339 still a working number in Korea?
No. It was merged into 119 in 2013, so any guide still listing it as a separate medical consultation line is outdated.
What languages does the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline support?
Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, Malay, and Indonesian, 24/7 — though after 6 p.m. on weekdays only Korean, English, and Chinese are staffed.
How do I find a pharmacy open late at night in Korea?
Search "심야약국" or "24시간 약국" on Naver Map or Kakao Map, or use the government's E-Gen portal (e-gen.or.kr), which lists currently open pharmacies and hospitals.
Do foreigners have to pay upfront at Korean hospitals?
Generally yes — Korean hospitals typically require payment at the time of treatment, with insurance reimbursement handled afterward. Keep the itemized receipt and, for clinic visits, request a stamped medical certificate for your claim.
Which Seoul hospitals have English-speaking international clinics?
Severance and Samsung Medical Center both run dedicated international clinics with English-speaking staff who can help coordinate with your insurer.