Calling for immediate help
도와주세요!
Dowajuseyo!
Please help me!
You may hear
무슨 일이에요?
What happened?
Say the immediate problem next, not a long history.
All situations
Emergency
Emergency Korean: Police, Ambulance, Lost Passport, and Interpretation
In an emergency, say the danger first, then your location. Korea uses 112 for police and 119 for fire and ambulance. The 1330 Korea Travel Hotline can help with non-life-threatening travel support and interpretation.
These phrases use polite Korean suitable for most adult travel interactions. Service details can change, so confirm schedules, eligibility, fees, and emergency availability with the linked official source.
Use in order
Phrases for this situation
9 practical phrases
Requesting police
경찰을 불러 주세요.
Gyeongchareul bulleo juseyo.
Please call the police.
You may hear
112에 신고할게요.
I will report it to 112.
112 is the official police emergency number in Korea.
Requesting an ambulance
119에 전화해 주세요. 구급차가 필요해요.
Il-il-gue jeonhwahae juseyo. Gugeupchaga piryohaeyo.
Please call 119. I need an ambulance.
You may hear
현재 위치가 어디예요?
What is your current location?
119 handles fire and ambulance emergencies.
Breathing difficulty
숨쉬기 힘들어요.
Sumswigi himdeureoyo.
I am having difficulty breathing.
You may hear
구급차를 부를게요.
I will call an ambulance.
Treat severe breathing difficulty as an emergency.
Reporting an injury
넘어져서 다리를 다쳤어요.
Neomeojyeoseo darireul dachyeosseoyo.
I fell and injured my leg.
You may hear
움직일 수 있어요?
Can you move?
Replace 다리 with 팔 for arm or 머리 for head.
Losing a passport
여권을 잃어버렸어요.
Yeogwoneul ireobeoryeosseoyo.
I lost my passport.
You may hear
가까운 경찰서에 신고하세요.
Report it at the nearest police station.
Contact your embassy or consulate and follow its current replacement procedure.
Losing a phone
휴대폰을 잃어버렸어요. 분실물 센터가 어디예요?
Hyudaeponeul ireobeoryeosseoyo. Bunsilmul senteoga eodiyeyo?
I lost my phone. Where is the lost-and-found center?
You may hear
어디에서 잃어버렸어요?
Where did you lose it?
Prepare the device model, color, case, and last known location.
Sharing your location
제 위치는 여기예요.
Je wichineun yeogiyeyo.
My location is here.
You may hear
주소를 읽어 주세요.
Please read the address.
Show a map pin and the Korean road address if you cannot read it.
Requesting interpretation
영어 통역이 필요해요.
Yeongeo tongyeogi piryohaeyo.
I need English interpretation.
You may hear
통역 서비스를 연결해 드릴게요.
I will connect an interpretation service.
For non-life-threatening travel help, check the current 1330 Korea Travel Hotline options.
Field notes
Say problem, location, people
Give the immediate problem, your exact location, and how many people need help. Keep the sentence short enough to repeat.
Know the numbers
112 is police. 119 is fire and ambulance. 1330 is the Korea Travel Hotline for travel information and non-life-threatening interpretation support. Confirm current availability on the official page.
Before you go
Quick checklist
- 112 and 119 saved
- Insurance and embassy details available offline
- Passport copy stored securely
- Korean hotel address and current map pin ready
Official sources and current details
Language checked 2026-07-10. Follow the source for time-sensitive operating information.