November 11, 2026

If something urgent happens while you are travelling alone in Seoul, call 112 for crime or threats and 119 if you are injured or ill. When it is not an emergency but you are stuck because of the language barrier, call 1330, and for counselling after violence or sexual crime, call 1366. Save these four numbers before you arrive and you will not have to wonder who to call first in most situations.

In an unfamiliar country, the harder question is often not the phone number but which number is right for what is happening. This article brings together the first contact for each situation and Korean sentences you can simply show to someone.

Numbers to save first

If danger is right in front of you, 112 or 119 comes first. 1330 is not an emergency number; it is a line for travel information and interpretation.

If you call 1330 from abroad, dial +82-2-1330. This information is based on public agency guidance and Korean National Police Agency explanations as of November 2, 2026.

Who to ask for help, and how, in each situation

Whatever happens, the order is the same: first move somewhere safe, then make the call, and tell them where you are.

When someone is following you or you feel threatened

• First: Rather than confronting the person, move to a bright place with plenty of people. You can also go into a shop or convenience store and ask the staff for help.
• Who to contact: Call 112. If it is hard to speak, you can send a text message to 112.
• What to tell them: Write down where you are, what is happening, and what the person is wearing and looks like.

When something unpleasant happens on the subway

• First: Move to another carriage or get off at the next station and go where there are people. You can also tell station staff straight away.
• Who to contact: Report it to 112 or to Seoul Metro on 1577-1234 by phone or text. The official Ttota Subway app also has a function for reporting suspected sexual harassment and hidden-camera filming.
• What to tell them: Give the line, the station name, the direction the train is heading, where you boarded and what the person is wearing.

When you are injured or suddenly feel ill

• First: If it is hard to move on your own, show the people around you a Korean sentence on your phone screen.
• Who to contact: Call 119. If speaking is difficult, you can also report by text or video call.
• What to tell them: Say where you are and your symptoms first. If you do not know your location, tell them the names of nearby signs or shops.

When you have experienced sexual violence or stalking

• First: Check first that you are somewhere safe now. If you are in immediate danger, 112 comes first. Whatever happened, you do not have to deal with it alone.
• Who to contact: 1366 offers 24-hour counselling and referrals to other agencies. The Seoul Sunflower Center (02-3672-0365) provides counselling, medical, investigative and legal support in one place and is open 24 hours.
• Good to know: Sunflower Centers say they can be used by Koreans and foreigners alike, and that you can receive help without reporting to the police. Evidence is generally said to matter most within 72 hours, so get in touch early even if you have not decided whether to report.

When you suspect hidden-camera filming

• First: Do not confront the person directly. Move somewhere safe and report it to 112.
• Who to contact: If photos or videos have spread online, you can get counselling from the Digital Sex Crime Victim Support Center (02-735-8994) or its Seoul center (02-815-0382). You can also call the main counselling number, 1366.

When you cannot make yourself understood

• First: If it is not an emergency, call 1330 and ask for interpretation.
• Who to contact: 1330 handles travel information, interpretation and connection to the tourist police. English, Japanese and Chinese are available 24 hours.
• What to tell them: You can also hand your phone to the staff member or driver you are with and ask them to speak through the interpreter.

When you lose your passport, wallet or phone

• First: Write down where you last were. Report lost cards straight away.
• Who to contact: The police lost-and-found service has been merged into Police Civil Service 24. If you lost something on the subway, you can ask on 1577-1234. For your passport, check the reissue procedure with your country’s embassy or consulate.
• What to tell them: Have ready the time you lost it, the line you took or your taxi payment record, and a description of the item.

What to prepare before you arrive in Seoul

In an emergency it is hard to start looking for apps. Spend just 10 minutes before you leave to finish the items below.

• Check that your line can make calls and send texts. If you use a data-only eSIM, ask your provider how to reach 112 and 119
• Save 112, 119, 1330 and 1366 in your contacts
• Take a screenshot of your accommodation’s name and address in Korean
• Save the contact details of your country’s embassy or consulate
• Share your location with someone you trust and send them your accommodation and flight details

Public apps worth installing

These apps do not replace 112 and 119; they are a back-up for when calling is difficult. So that you are not signing up for the first time in an emergency, finish installing and registering before you come to Seoul.

Ways to get around alone at night

Late at night, decide how you will get back to your accommodation before you set out. Last train times differ by station and line, so checking a map app and the station notices is the most accurate way.

• Walking back: Turn on homecoming monitoring in the Ansimi app and the district control center will watch your route home through CCTV. In an emergency you can use the app’s emergency report, and foreign-language users may be connected through a three-way call that includes an interpreter.
• Taking a taxi: Using a ride-hailing app keeps a record of the driver and vehicle. k.ride and Uber, which you can sign up for with an overseas number, are convenient for travellers. Check the car’s number plate before you get in and send the vehicle details to someone you know.
• Taking the subway: If you need help, look for station staff or call 1577-1234. Seoul Metro’s subway security officers also patrol stations and trains.
• At major sights: The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s tourist police work around Myeongdong, Itaewon, Dongdaemun, Insadong, Hongik University Station, Cheonggyecheon and City Hall. You can find the nearest tourist police officer or center through 1330.

Korean sentences you can show as they are

When the words will not come, simply showing your screen is enough. Take a screenshot of the sentences below.

Example text to 112: “OO역 O번 출구 앞. 검은 옷 남성이 따라와요. 저는 외국인 여행자예요.” (In front of Exit O, OO Station. A man in black is following me. I am a foreign traveller.) Replace OO with your actual location and adjust the message to fit your situation before sending.

Frequently asked questions

Can I call 112 or 119 if I do not speak Korean?

Yes. 112 provides its own interpretation in English and Chinese and connects other languages through an external interpretation service. Once connected, try saying the language you want first, such as “English, please.”

Can I call 112 if it is not an emergency?

If you feel threatened or suspect a crime, contact 112. For things that involve no danger, such as directions or travel problems, 1330 is the right number.

Can I call the police or an ambulance through 1330?

1330 is an information and interpretation line, so in an emergency contact 112 or 119 first.

Can tourists call 1366?

1366 is an emergency counselling line for women in crisis, and the Seoul Metropolitan Government says it connects foreign women who have been harmed to a counselling line in their own language. Try saying the language you want to use first.

Just saving the numbers in advance and taking a screenshot of your accommodation’s address makes travelling alone much lighter. Asking for help in an unfamiliar city is nothing to feel awkward about.

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