Moving to Korea > Health and Medical Services
Medical Emergencies
EMERGENCY NUMBERS: The emergency telephone number for an ambulance is 119 (no, this is not a typo – some emergency/information numbers here are the opposite of the North American ones) – translators are available in over a dozen languages, including English. However, if no one is available when you call, you can also dial 1339 and they will interpret for you. At a pinch, 1330 (Korea Tourism Helpline) can also help.
Medical Emergencies
EMERGENCIES can happen anytime and consequently, a little advanced planning won’t go amiss.
When you move into your home and even when going around with your realtor, check on the location of the nearest hospital with an emergency department.
When you move into your home and even when going around with your realtor, check on the location of the nearest hospital with an emergency department.
EMERGENCY NUMBERS: The emergency telephone number for an ambulance is 119 (no, this is not a typo – some emergency/information numbers here are the opposite of the North American ones) – translators are available in over a dozen languages, including English. However, if no one is available when you call, you can also dial 1339 and they will interpret for you. At a pinch, 1330 (Korea Tourism Helpline) can also help.
Emergency Medical Information Center (1339) has bilingual staff that speak Korean plus English, Japanese, or Chinese so they can interpret for you if you need help communicating with Korean medical staff while you are at a clinic or hospital. The staff at 1339 can also give medical advice over the phone and directly connect you with emergency services when necessary. So if you call and describe your symptoms, 1339 can let you know what kind of treatment you need, and, if it is deemed serious, immediately connect you with emergency services. Like the MRS, 1339 can also help you find clinics and hospitals in your area that can provide the kind of treatment you are looking for. Note: no need to put an area code when dialing 1339 even from a cell phone - just press 1339 and you will get through.
AMBULANCES: Since cars do not always move over for ambulances in Korea, it is often just as quick to drive or take a taxi to your nearest emergency department. Note that if you call 119 from a landline and cannot communicate, the emergency services will trace your location. This is not the case, however, if you are calling from a cell phone. Alternatively, if you have a security system installed in your home, you can press the panic button and the security company will help you.
POISON CONTROL information can be best obtained from the 121-Hospital Emergency Room on Yongsan Army Base at 7917-5545/6001. This is the best source of English-speaking information about poisoning in Korea. The Seoul Poison Center can be contacted by dialing 129, but you’re not guaranteed to reach an English speaker.
K4E Editor: Korea4Expats.com tries to ensure that the information we provide is accurate and complete, so should you notice any errors or omissions in the content above please contact us at info@korea4expats.com.
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