If you get sick or injured in Korea
Emergency help, finding a clinic or pharmacy, and preparing for a visit. Start with what you need now.
Need urgent ambulance or rescue help? Call 119
Within Korea, call 119 for an ambulance or emergency rescue. Ask for “English please” or “Interpreter please”, explain what happened and give your current location. Follow the dispatcher’s or medical professional’s instructions.
Call 119 · emergency help in KoreaGive your current location, not just your hotel address: station and exit number, building and floor, or street address. If you cannot make a call, ask nearby staff or another person to call for you.
Do not delay emergency help while searching for a hospital or waiting for your insurer. The 1330 tourism helpline and Medical Korea advice do not replace emergency dispatch.
Find a clinic or pharmacy
- Use the official E-Gen medical portal to look for hospitals and pharmacies in your current area. The interface is in Korean; show the phrases below to hotel or station staff if you need help.
- Before travelling, confirm whether the clinic can see you today, its registration cutoff and the relevant department. “Open” on a map does not guarantee patient registration or service in your language.
- For advice on medical institutions offering language assistance, use Medical Korea’s official information service. Check its hours and languages, then confirm actual interpretation and appointment availability with the hospital.
Prepare for your visit
- If available, bring your passport or identification, accommodation contact, payment method and travel insurance details. Do not delay an emergency call to collect documents.
- Write down where you feel unwell and when it started. Show staff medication names or packaging photos, allergies and important medical history. A translation app can support communication, not diagnose you.
- At a pharmacy, disclose medicines you already take and allergies, and ask how to use the medicine. Do not share another person’s prescription or assume translated product names identify the same medicine.
Payment and insurance paperwork
- Ask about expected fees and payment methods without delaying emergency treatment. Having travel insurance does not necessarily remove upfront payment; check whether you pay first or the insurer settles directly.
- Ask your insurer about coverage, any prior-contact requirement and claim documents. Do not assume every hospital or treatment is covered.
- Before leaving, request the receipts and itemized statements your insurer needs. Ask first about fees and turnaround for medical certificates or English documents. Do not post documents containing personal details on a public board.
Show these Korean phrases to staff
119에 신고해 주세요. 지금 여기 있어요.
Please call 119. I am here. Show your location too.
영어로 진료받을 수 있나요? 지금 접수 가능한가요?
Can I receive care in English? Are you accepting patients now?
이 약에 알레르기가 있어요.
I have an allergy to this medicine. Show its name or packaging.
보험 청구용 영수증과 진료비 세부 내역서를 주세요.
Please provide a receipt and itemized statement for my insurance claim.
Official information
119 and requesting interpretation · VISITKOREA ↗E-Gen: hospitals and pharmacies (Korean) ↗Medical Korea: medical information service (English) ↗Medical Korea: information service (Japanese) ↗General guidance for accessing care while travelling, not a diagnosis or treatment plan. Confirm opening hours, availability and costs with the provider.
Official sources checked: September 18, 2026