Information on planning for an emergency
It is important that you and your family make your own decisions regarding your safety based on your individual personal circumstances. As with anyone living overseas, you should have emergency plans in place relevant to your own situation, including ensuring that travel documentation is up-to-date and readily accessible. Your decisions should not be made on an assumption that the Australian Government will evacuate citizens if the situation deteriorates.
You should also see our advice on <preparing for emergencies> for further more detailed information.
Emergency Services in Korea
In the event you need to contact the local emergency services, dial (no area code needed):
POLICE 112
FIRE 119
AMBULANCE 119
The Korean emergency services have simple English-language guidelines or interpreters available to help make communication with non-Korean speakers possible. Response times to calls can sometimes be slow owing mostly to traffic congestion. Do not hang up if communications is not established: calls can be traced if the line is held open for at least 30 seconds
A list of General Hospitals with International Clinics in Seoul is also available on the Seoul Metropolitan Government Website.
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Interpreter Services
24-hour interpretation services are available by dialling:
BBB Korea (volunteer service) 1588-5644 (no area code needed)
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Subscribe to the travel advice
You should visit the Smartraveller website and subscribe to the travel advice for the ROK. That way, you will automatically receive notification by email of any change to the travel advice. Australians in the ROK should also see the information on ‘Preparing for an emergency’ available on the Embassy’s website.
Embassy and Consulate
If you need help in a consular emergency, you should contact the Embassy in Seoul or the 24 hour Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra. Contact details are as follows:
Australian Embassy, Seoul
19th Floor, Kyobo Building
1 Jongro, Jongno-gu
Seoul 03154 Republic of Korea
Telephone: (+82-2) 2003-0100
Facsimile: (+82-2) 2003-0196
E-mail:
General Enquiries: [email protected]
Services for Australian Citizen: [email protected]
Australian Immigration: Australian Immigration Enquiry Form
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24 Hour Consular Emergency Centre (CEC)
In a consular emergency, if you are unable to contact the Embassy you may contact the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s 24-hour Consular Emergency Centre in Canberra:
From Korea: (+61-2) 6261-3305 (normal call rates apply)
Within Australia: 1300 555 135 (for the cost of a local call)