It can be daunting trying to get help in a foreign country, especially if you don’t speak the language. The good news is that in South Korea, there is a great system in place for all sorts of emergencies. The country has an amazing network of medical services and advanced technology that you may need or want to take advantage of. So how can you do all of these things confidently? Keep reading for more tips and tricks about the legal and medical services available to you as a foreign worker in Korea!
General Inquiries and Travel Help
South Korea has a great English helpline for foreigners that can be reached by dialing 1330. If you’re outside of Seoul, you have to add the area code for your city first (for example, if you’re in Daegu, you should dial 053-1330). This number is not for emergencies, but the operators can help with inquiries about almost anything else. The helpline is operated by the Korean Tourism Association (KTA), and they can provide advice and can also help with translation. I have personally used this number a couple of times, and every operator I spoke to was incredibly helpful (one of them even put me on hold while she called a company to ask questions for me). To report a missing item, you can dial 112 or visit their website here.
Another useful number is 1345, which is specifically for help with immigration questions and queries. They operate in many different languages. If you’re confident in speaking Korean, you can also call the specific immigration office where you live by visiting the Hi Korea website and finding your jurisdiction, but 1345 guarantees an English speaker or a three-way call with a translator between the hours of 9am-10pm on weekdays. Another helpful translation helpline is 1588-5644 which connects you to BBB Korea, an on-the-phone translation program that’s sponsored by the Korean government. They offer translation help 24/7.
Legal and Workplace Help
The 1345 contact center also provides free legal counseling for foreigners living in Korea through the Village Lawyers for Foreigners Program. They help with many different legal issues that a foreign worker might face, including lease agreements and accidents. The service is offered in 20 different languages. If you’re ever facing unfair treatment in the workplace, you can refer to the Employment and Labor Law section on the Seoul Metropolitan Government website, which describes the legal rights of foreigners working in Korea. You’re entitled to your worker’s rights!
Safety, Emergency and Medical Help
Unlike North America, in Korea there are a couple different numbers you must dial for emergency services depending on the situation. The most important ones to remember are 112 and 119, which have different uses: 112 is for the police, while 119 is to call an ambulance or report a fire. It’s important to note that the police helpline doesn’t offer a translation service.
While the above numbers are the most important and easiest to remember in case of emergencies, there are more specific helplines if your situation is not urgent. 129 is to reach the Health and Welfare Call Center, and for female travelers, 1366 is the number to call the Women’s Helpline. If you live in Seoul, 1339 is a foreigner-specific Medical Emergency Helpline. If you need to report a missing person, you can dial 117 or visit their website here.
A HELPFUL TIP: while most of these numbers have translation services available, they are not guaranteed depending on the time of day. When I had to call for an ambulance in Daegu, it was late and I was not connected to an English-speaking translator. I speak enough Korean that I was able to communicate my problem, but if you’re having trouble understanding, the most important thing is to let them know your location. As for the websites, most of them have English website versions.
What’s it like in a Korean hospital?
While in Korea, I had to visit different medical centers and hospitals for a few different health reasons. All of the hospitals and doctor’s offices I visited were incredibly clean and efficient, and the nurses and doctors were nothing but professional and kind. It was almost identical to a North American hospital – you speak to a nurse, they perform any tests you need, and you wait to speak to a doctor. Even when the doctor didn’t speak English, communication was made possible through gestures and using the Papago translation app, and I never had any issues understanding what was happening.
Don’t be Afraid to Ask for Help
In conclusion: don’t be afraid to utilize all of the services available to you in South Korea. All you have to do is be polite, use translation apps, and speak up if you have questions. Also, remember that your coworkers and bosses should be there to help you. You shouldn’t be shy about asking peers to make a phone call for you, or to help you understand something in Korean. If you just ask, you are more than likely to find someone at your school who is willing to help! Outside the workplace, a good option is to ask employees at stores or coffee shops if you need help. Korea is a wonderful country with wonderful people who are more than willing to help if you need it!
