Korean Dictionary
How to say "Emergency Room" in Korean
“Emergency Room” in Korean is 응급실 (pronounced "eunggeupsil").
응급실
eunggeupsil
Usage & Context
응급실 is the emergency department of a Korean hospital that operates 24 hours a day. Korea has a tiered system where major trauma centers with fully equipped 응급실 are designated by the government. Patients in serious condition are directed to the nearest 응급실 by 119 dispatchers.
Example Sentence
갑자기 쓰러져서 응급실로 이송됐어요.
He suddenly collapsed and was transported to the emergency room.
How to use 응급실 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Emergency Room” is 응급실, romanized as eunggeupsil.
Usage tip
When describing symptoms, combine the word with where it hurts, when it started, and how severe it is.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 응급실.
Pronunciation Guide
응급실 (eunggeupsil) is pronounced 'oong-goop-shil'. '응' (eung) sounds like 'oong' in 'oong-gah'. '급' (geup) sounds like 'goop' but with a soft, unreleased 'p' sound at the end, like 'goop-p'. '실' (sil) sounds like 'shil' in 'shill'.
More Example Sentences
A parent explaining a sudden medical emergency with their child.
아이가 갑자기 열이 나서 응급실에 갔어요.
My child suddenly had a fever, so we went to the ER.
Relaying news about someone involved in an accident.
교통사고로 다쳐서 응급실로 실려갔대요.
They said he was injured in a car accident and was taken to the ER.
Explaining why someone had to go to the ER for a non-life-threatening issue.
주말이라 일반 병원은 문 닫아서 응급실밖에 없었어요.
It was the weekend, so regular clinics were closed, only the ER was open.
Cultural Context
Korean 응급실 (emergency rooms) operate 24/7 and are often the first point of contact for serious medical issues. Due to the tiered hospital system, major trauma centers with fully equipped ERs are government-designated. It's common for 119 dispatchers to direct patients to the nearest appropriate 응급실. Be aware that on weekends or holidays, non-critical cases might experience long wait times due to overcrowding.
Editorial note
We review entries like 응급실 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
응급실 가다
To go to the ER
응급실에 실려가다
To be rushed/taken to the ER
응급실 진료
ER treatment/consultation
Related Expressions
병원
byeongwon
Hospital
환자
hwanja
Patient
구급차
gugeupcha
Ambulance
위급 상황
wigeup sanghwang
Emergency situation
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