Travel guides › Safety Guide for Traveling in Korea: Emergencies, Lost Items and Disasters
Safety Guide for Traveling in Korea: Emergencies, Lost Items and Disasters
Korea is known as a relatively safe country to travel in, but unexpected things can happen in any country. Here is basic information that helps you cope without panic if you know it beforehand. Contacts and procedures can change, so check the official guidance before you leave as well.
Emergency numbers to know
- 112: the number for reporting crimes and calling the police in an emergency.
- 119: the number for fire, emergency rescue and ambulance requests. Interpretation support may be available, but give your exact location as far as possible.
- 1330: the Korea Tourism Organization's tourist information line, which helps with tourist information and complaints in several languages.
- 1345: the Immigration Contact Center, which can answer questions about stay and visas.
Saving your accommodation address and the name of a nearby building in Korean and English on your phone is a big help when you report an incident.
If you get sick or hurt
For mild symptoms you can buy over-the-counter medicine at a pharmacy, but prescription drugs can only be bought with a doctor's diagnosis. To see a doctor at a hospital you may need your passport, and some hospitals have international clinic desks. In an emergency call 119 or go directly to the emergency room. In Korea foreign patients are often charged medical fees as well, so it is reassuring to have overseas travel insurance. After treatment, keep the receipt and medical certificate to make insurance claims easier.
If you lose something
If you left something on the subway or a bus, contact station staff or the transport company's lost-and-found center. If you lost it in a taxi, you can find the taxi company from the card payment record or receipt. You can also search for found items through the police lost-property portal. If you lose your passport, first report it to the nearest police station, get a loss report certificate, and then contact your country's embassy or consulate. If you lose a card, ask the card company to suspend it immediately.
Public safety and crime prevention
Korea's public safety is generally good, but in tourist areas and busy districts take care about pickpockets and overcharging. Avoid empty alleys late at night and keep your distance from people who are drunk. Check that taxis use the meter, and where possible use a hailing app or payment that leaves a receipt. Do not keep all your cash and your passport in one place, but split them.
Disasters and weather preparedness
In summer there are heavy rain, typhoons and heat waves, and in winter cold waves and heavy snow. In disasters, Korea sends emergency alert messages to phones, often in Korean, so check the content with a translation app. If a typhoon or heavy-rain forecast is issued, cancel mountain and coastal plans and stay indoors, which is safer. On days of heavy fine dust, wear a mask and cut back on outdoor activities. Make it a habit to check the Korea Meteorological Administration forecast and air-quality information before you leave.
Preparations worth making before you leave
- Take out travel insurance and save the certificate and emergency contacts.
- Take a photo of the passport photo page and key documents and keep it in the cloud or by email.
- Check the location and contact details of your country's embassy.
- For medication you take, bring prescriptions or the drug names written in English. Some medicines may be restricted, so check official guidance.
Official sources
Rules, fares and opening hours change often. Check the latest details on the official sites below.