What Is Korea's Emergency Phone Number? A 2026 Guide

Korea's emergency number is 119. It covers both ambulance requests and fire/rescue reports, and even if you don't speak Korean, foreign-language interpretation will be connected once your call goes through.

Key Points

• Korea's emergency reporting number is 119, which handles both ambulance requests and fire/rescue reports.
• 119 supports connection to foreign-language interpretation — once your call connects, simply state the language you speak (English, Russian, etc.) and an interpreter will join the line.
• During chemotherapy, a fever of 38°C or higher, bleeding that won't stop, or difficulty breathing are signs that mean you should call 119 or go to the nearest emergency room immediately, without waiting (National Cancer Center Korea, NCCN Guidelines for Patients).
• In an emergency, getting to the nearest emergency room quickly takes priority over whether it's the hospital where you've been receiving treatment.
• Contacting your concierge coordinator comes after calling 119 or heading to the emergency room — and coordinators remain reachable for emergencies even outside business hours.

Is It OK to Call 119 If I Don't Speak Korean?

• Yes, it's fine. Once the call connects, state the language you speak (for example, English, Русский, 中文) and an interpreter will be connected to the line. If you're having trouble speaking, even just stating the name of your current location is important.
• There are three key pieces of information to convey when you call: where you currently are (the name of your accommodation or building), what has happened, and the fact that you are undergoing cancer treatment. Even just these three details allow paramedics to quickly understand the situation.

What Order Should You Follow in an Emergency?

• Step 1 — If you cannot breathe, your consciousness is fading, or bleeding won't stop, call 119 immediately or go to the nearest emergency room.
• Step 2 — Once connected, state your language to bring in an interpreter, and convey your location, the situation, and the fact that you are undergoing cancer treatment.
• Step 3 — Show paramedics or the taxi driver a card with your accommodation address written in Korean, or a treatment-related card. This card should also list your coordinator's contact information and the name of the hospital where you're being treated.
• Step 4 — Contact your coordinator after you've arrived at the emergency room or called an ambulance. From this point, they will help arrange interpretation, share information with the hospital where you're being treated, contact your family, and assist with admission procedures and payment.
• Step 5 — If you're undergoing chemotherapy, present the emergency room with a card or handover note listing your last chemotherapy date and the names of your medications. This information becomes the single most important reference for the examining physicians.

FAQ — Do I Need to Go to the Emergency Room of the Hospital Treating Me?

No. In an emergency, reaching the nearest emergency room quickly takes priority. Whether it happens to be the hospital treating you is a secondary concern. Once you arrive at the emergency room, your coordinator will share information with the hospital where you're being treated and discuss a transfer if necessary. Paramedics will transport you to a hospital that can accept you based on your condition and distance, so you may end up at a different hospital than the one treating you.

FAQ — If My Fever Goes Above 38°C at Night, Can I Wait Until Morning?

Do not wait. A fever of 38°C or higher during chemotherapy may indicate febrile neutropenia, and it is treated as a time-critical situation (National Cancer Center Korea, NCCN Guidelines for Patients). Taking a fever reducer and waiting it out is not recommended — even if the fever goes down, the underlying infection can still progress, and in this situation, a matter of hours can determine the outcome. Severe chills, or a sudden loss of energy and dizziness without fever, are treated as the same warning sign.

Sources and Notes

• This article was written based on materials from the National Cancer Center Korea (cancer.go.kr), the Ministry of Health and Welfare (mohw.go.kr), and NCCN Guidelines for Patients.
• This content is intended to provide general medical information, and diagnosis, treatment methods, and outcomes may vary depending on individual conditions. Accurate diagnosis and treatment must always be determined through consultation with a medical professional.