Which number do you need?
Call 112 for urgent police help, including a crime, threat or assault. Call 119 for a fire, medical emergency, serious injury or rescue. If danger is ongoing, do not delay the call while looking for tourism information.
What to say first
Tell the operator where you are (road address, hotel, landmark or station exit), what happened, how many people are injured or in danger, and your callback number. If you need language help, say slowly: 'I am a visitor. I need an English interpreter.' 'I am at [location].' 'Please send an ambulance.' Follow the operator's directions from a safe place. If you do not know the address, open your phone's map and read nearby signs.
Emergency versus travel help
The 1330 tourism hotline may help with general travel questions or interpretation, but it is not a replacement for the emergency response numbers 112 and 119. Use non-emergency police or lost-property services when there is no immediate threat. Stay on the emergency call as instructed rather than hanging up unnecessarily.
A little preparation helps
Store your accommodation's Korean address, a companion's contact and relevant medical details on your phone. In a real emergency, call first; do not postpone seeking help to organize notes.
Official sources: https://english.visitkorea.or.kr/svc/contents/contentsView.do?vcontsId=140042 and https://www.119.go.kr/