112 and 119, Plus the Numbers That Don't Answer at Night — Korea's Emergency Phone Map

If someone hurt you or took your belongings, call 112. If there's a fire, you're injured, or you're trapped, call 119. Both are three digits with no area code.

You don't need to find the jurisdiction police station. Article 7(1) of the Act on the Operation and Processing of 112 Reports (Act No. 19870, effective July 3, 2024) requires police to promptly receive and process 112 calls regardless of the division of police duties or the jurisdiction where on-site response is needed.

A foreigner registration card isn't required either. Both Article 4(1) of the Act on 112 Reports and Article 4(1) of the Act on 119 Rescue and Emergency Services (Act No. 20543, effective June 4, 2025) begin with "anyone," and neither provision conditions the right on nationality or visa status.

112 or 119 — Choosing in 30 Seconds

If you're unsure, don't hesitate—press either one. Both laws include provisions for joint response and cooperation among relevant agencies (Article 9 of the Act on 112 Reports, Article 14 of the Act on 119 Rescue). I haven't confirmed in primary sources whether you'll need to call again, so follow the instructions you receive on the call.

Many people think "112 is only for violent crimes, 119 only for the ER" and don't call at all. The statutes are broader. Article 2(2) of the Act on 112 Reports defines coverage as "crimes and various incidents, accidents, and other urgent situations," and Article 2(3) of the Act on 119 Rescue includes consultation within "emergency services."

What 112 Guarantees by Law — 'No Disadvantage Due to Language'

Article 3(3) of the Act on 112 Reports states: "The State shall guarantee accessibility so that no one is disadvantaged in using 112 reports due to disability, language, or other reasons" (as of 2026). Requesting interpretation isn't a courtesy—it's accessibility the law assigns as a state duty. Don't hang up because your Korean isn't fluent.

Article 4(1) also states, "Anyone has the right to request a prompt response from the State by using 112 reports when a crime or various incidents, accidents, or other urgent situations occur or are expected to occur."

Many people fear their information will reach an employer or perpetrator. Article 10(2) prohibits in principle the collection, use, and provision of information that can identify or infer the reporter—phone number, name, address, gender, age, voice—and limits exceptions to only three: report processing, consent, or special provisions of law. Misuse carries up to 5 years imprisonment or a criminal fine of up to 50 million KRW under Article 17.

119's Scope — Fire, Rescue, Emergency, and 'Which Hospital'

Article 2(1) of the Act on 119 Rescue defines "rescue" as all activities protecting the life, body, and property of people needing help in fire, disaster, calamity, terrorism, and other urgent situations. It's not just for fires. Article 10-2 of the same Act assigns the 119 Emergency Situation Management Center to provide guidance, consultation, direction for emergency patients, and hospital transfer information, so "which hospital should I go to" is also something 119 can guide.

For those who can't call 119 because of visa status, here's a provision I want to show you. Article 3 of the Emergency Medical Service Act (Act No. 21237, effective June 24, 2026) establishes the right to receive emergency medical care without discrimination, then adds: "The same applies to foreigners staying in Korea." Article 6(2) of the same Act prohibits emergency medical personnel from refusing or evading emergency care without just cause.

Many people ask if it's okay to get involved in someone else's accident—but it's actually the opposite. Article 4(3) of the Act on 119 Rescue and Article 19(1) of the Framework Act on Fire Services (Act No. 20727, effective February 1, 2026) impose a duty on those who discover an urgent situation or accident scene to report it without delay.

When Language Doesn't Work — You Can Report by Text or Video Too

Phone calls aren't the only form of 112 reporting. Article 2(2) of the Act on 112 Reports defines 112 reporting as "reporting by voice, text, and other means such as internet, video, smart devices, etc." The National Police Agency 112 reporting portal (112.go.kr) also guides four channels—phone, text, 10-second recording, video—plus "my report inquiry." When a perpetrator is next to you and you can't make noise, text becomes the safer channel.

Both 112 and 119 have interpretation channels, but as of 2026 I haven't confirmed supported languages and connection methods in official sources. Transcribing them would risk advertising nonexistent services, so I won't list them here. If you connect, request interpretation and follow the guidance. (Official confirmation needed)

1345 Doesn't Answer at 10 PM — Numbers That Aren't 24 Hours

The belief "1345 handles all foreigner matters" fails outright at night and on weekends. According to Ministry of Justice guidance, 1345 operates weekdays 09:00–22:00, excluding public holidays. If you dial 1345 first for an assault or fire at 2 AM, no one will answer. 1345 is an administrative consultation window, not an emergency one.

1345 requires no area code, caller pays, and from abroad it's +82-2-1345 or +82-2-6908-1345~6. 129 is toll-free, and only emergency welfare support, welfare blind spots, elder and child abuse, and mental health consultation run 24 hours—it's not an emergency medical reporting number.

24-Hour Numbers — 112, 119, 110, and 1577-1366

Foreign language and sign language consultation at 110 is noted as provided during business hours.

When Your Visa Status Is Uncertain — The Real Structure of Notification Duty Exemptions

Let me be clear up front: this is not something you can judge on your own. Neither "you'll definitely never be caught" nor "you'll definitely be deported" is true.

The structure has three tiers. Article 84(1) main text of the Immigration Act (Act No. 20992, effective January 23, 2026) establishes public officials' duty to report, and the proviso allows exceptions for reasons determined by Presidential Decree. Enforcement Decree Article 92-2(5) lists as one such exception when a public official, while performing duties defined by Ministry of Justice Ordinance such as rescuing crime victims or remedying human rights violations, "recognizes that victim relief is a priority need." "Recognizes" is a discretionary requirement, so it's not automatic or blanket exemption. The final tier, Enforcement Rule Article 70-2 (Ministry of Justice Ordinance No. 1106, effective January 23, 2026), enumerates in six items duties such as investigating murder, injury, assault, theft, robbery, and other crimes, investigating and remedying human rights violations and discriminatory acts, and inspecting and supervising wage arrears at workplaces.

Labor case petition procedures and channels are in Complete Guide to Official Consultation Channels for Foreigners; consular notification and the scope of consular assistance upon arrest or detention are in What You Can Request from Your Embassy in Korea.

What to Prepare Before Calling, What Happens After

Jurisdiction doesn't block reception, but conveying location is required for response.

• Save your home and workplace addresses in Korean in your phone notes.
• Write down building name, unit, floor, room number. Road name addresses alone sometimes can't locate the entrance.
• One line of nearby landmarks — a convenience store name or bus stop is enough.
• Passport or foreigner registration number is not a precondition for reporting. Don't waste time looking for ID first.

Accidentally dialing wrong and fabricating a false report are different. If you dialed by mistake, don't hang up—just say so. Penalties divide into three types:

Even at the same 5 million KRW, an administrative fine leaves no criminal record and is an administrative order penalty, while a criminal fine is a criminal punishment.

After the incident ends is another hurdle. You'll need to visit police stations, immigration offices, hospitals, and labor offices over several days, but without a Korean bank account or phone number, travel and payment get blocked from the start. LACHA is a super-app for foreign residents' transportation and payment usable immediately without identity verification, so you can pay for KTX, express buses, taxis, airport rail, and transit cards in one place. But what you call in an urgent moment is 119, not a taxi. LACHA is a private transportation and payment service unrelated to reporting, investigation, or rescue procedures.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1. I don't speak Korean. Can I still call 112? Yes. Article 3(3) of the Act on 112 Reports requires the State to guarantee accessibility so no one is disadvantaged in using 112 reports due to disability, language, or other reasons. Interpretation channels exist, but as of 2026 I haven't confirmed supported languages and connection methods in official sources, so if you connect, request interpretation and follow the guidance. If speaking is difficult, text reporting is also an option (Article 2(2)).

Q2. I don't have a foreigner registration card. Can I call 119? Article 4(1) of the Act on 119 Rescue states "anyone" has the right to receive prompt rescue and emergency services, and Article 3 of the Emergency Medical Service Act explicitly states "the same applies to foreigners staying in Korea." However, having a right and not incurring costs are different. Medical bills vary greatly depending on health insurance enrollment, so also see How to Use Hospitals.

Q3. I'm a victim but my visa status is uncertain. Will immigration be notified if I report? It can't be stated definitively. It's a three-tier structure: Immigration Act Article 84(1) proviso → Enforcement Decree Article 92-2(5) → Enforcement Rule Article 70-2, and the Enforcement Decree includes the discretionary requirement "recognizes that victim relief is a priority need." That list defines the scope of public officials' duties, not a reporter immunity list. Confirm your situation together with ☎1345 and ☎132.

Q4. I accidentally dialed 112 by mistake. Will I be punished? Accidental dialing and fabricated false reporting are different. Don't hang up—just say you dialed by mistake. Fabricating a false report carries an administrative fine of up to 5 million KRW under Article 18(1) of the Act on 112 Reports, which is an administrative order penalty, not a criminal fine. Criminal punishments are separate: Criminal Act Article 137 provides up to 5 years imprisonment or a criminal fine of up to 10 million KRW, and Minor Offenses Punishment Act Article 3(3)(2) provides a criminal fine, detention, or minor fine of up to 600,000 KRW.

Q5. It's an emergency at night or on the weekend. If 1345 doesn't answer, where do I call? According to Ministry of Justice guidance, 1345 operates weekdays 09:00–22:00, excluding public holidays, so it won't connect at night or on weekends. In an urgent situation, call 112 or 119. For multicultural/migrant consultation, Danuri Call Center ☎1577-1366 is advertised as operating 24 hours in multiple languages, and when you don't know where to ask, Government Civil Complaint Call Center ☎110 (toll-free, 365 days 24 hours) is available. 1366 and 1577-1366 are different numbers.