Everything foreigners need to know when going to the emergency room
You suddenly feel sick in the middle of the night. You need to call Emergency number, but you cannot speak Korean. You also do not have an insurance card. How much will it cost? Do not panic. If you know this in advance, it will be okay.
The Emergency number ambulance is free, and emergency patients have the right to receive treatment even without insurance. If you call 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center, interpretation in 20 languages is also available.
Call Emergency number. The ambulance is free.
In Korea, if it is an emergency, call Emergency number.
Worried about ambulance cost? Government Emergency number ambulances are free. Even foreigners, people without insurance, and people without ID can use them for free. Anywhere, you can just press Emergency number on your phone. No area code needed.
What should I do if I can't speak Korean?
If you call Emergency number and they notice you do not speak Korean, they will connect you to an interpretation service. English, Chinese, and Japanese can be connected right away, and other languages are connected through the Korea Tourism Organization (KNTO) tourist complaint hotline 1330 (multilingual support such as English, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian). For full information about the interpretation service, please check EP.10.
Prepare this information when you call:
Please remember one important thing. A hospital's own ambulance (private ambulance) is paid. The cost changes depending on the distance, and if medical staff ride along, there is an extra cost. Only Emergency number ambulances are free.
Always keep your Alien Registration Card (ARC) in your wallet. In the emergency room, if you only have your ARC, your insurance can be checked.
If it’s a real emergency, 20%. If it’s mild, 90%.
If you go to the emergency room, they classify how serious your condition is using a standard called KTAS (Korean Triage and Acuity Scale). Depending on this classification, your out-of-pocket rate changes completely.
This rule has been in effect since September 13, 2024.
| Category | Out-of-pocket cost | Average cost |
|---|---|---|
| Real emergency (KTAS 1~3) | About 20% | 50K~300K KRW |
| Mild condition (KTAS 4~5) | About 90% | 150K~250K KRW |
| Night/weekend surcharge | +30~50% | — |
Search for 'night clinic' on Naver Map.
The key point is this. If you are really sick and in danger, go to the emergency room. Insurance applies properly. But if you go to the emergency room for a cold or mild pain, you have to pay 90%. In that case, going to a nearby Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) is much cheaper.
You can get treatment even without an ARC.
This is really important information.
Under Korean law (Emergency Medical Service Act), emergency patients must be treated no matter whether they have insurance or not. Hospitals cannot refuse. It does not matter if you are a foreigner, have no insurance, or have no ID.
"I don't have my insurance card. What should I do?"
If you suddenly feel sick at night, first check whether it is a real emergency. For mild cases (cold, light pain), it is much cheaper to go to a Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) the next morning.
If you go to the emergency room, they treat you first.
If you have an Alien Registration Card (ARC), please show it.
You can check whether you are enrolled in insurance with your ARC number.
No ARC and no insurance card?
The full amount will be charged. But you can still get treatment.
If you bring your ID later, they will adjust it to the NHIS-covered amount.
If you paid the full amount, you can apply for a refund from NHIS with the receipt and medical records.
In an emergency, don't say, "I can't go because I don't have insurance." By law, you have the right to get treatment.
Interpretation service: It’s okay even if you can’t communicate.
It’s really scary if you can’t speak Korean in an emergency. But there are many ways to get help.
When calling Emergency number:
The Emergency number operator will connect you to an interpreter right away. English, Chinese, and Japanese are available immediately.
1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center:
Phone interpretation is available in 20 languages. Even after you arrive at the hospital, you can hand the phone to the doctor and say, "Please talk to the interpreter".
Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) Medical Korea Information Center (medicalkorea.or.kr):
It provides medical consultation and interpretation in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
Large hospital International Medical Center:
Large hospitals like Samsung Seoul, Asan, Severance, and Seoul National University have multilingual interpreters at the International Medical Center. During the day, you can get help in person, and at night, they can connect you to phone interpretation.
MeSic (Seoul City Medical Interpretation Support Team):
This is a free medical interpretation service run by the Seoul city government. Interpreters for 10 languages, 43 interpreters, go with you directly to the hospital. But you must make a reservation with a QR code 3 days in advance. It is hard to use in an emergency, but after emergency treatment, it is very useful for follow-up care.
👉 Check the full guide to the interpretation service and the MeSic reservation in EP.10.
Save these numbers now.
Emergencies happen suddenly. If you save this in advance, you won’t panic.
Emergencies come suddenly. If you save this in advance, you won’t panic.
| Number | Service | Language |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency number | Fire, emergency medical services, rescue | Korean + interpreter connection |
| 112 | Police | Korean + interpreter connection |
| 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center | 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center | 20 languages |
| National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) | National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) | 15 languages |
| Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) | Medical Korea Information Center | English / Chinese / Japanese / Russian |
Save these numbers on your phone right now. In an emergency, you may not have time to search.
Please especially remember 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center. You can get help in 20 languages not only for medical care, but also for visas, daily life information, and legal counseling. It is an all-purpose helpline for foreigners.
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Call Emergency number
Ambulances are free. If English is detected, they will connect you to an interpreter right away. Just briefly say your location and symptoms.
Arrive at the emergency room → KTAS triage
Effective 2024.09.13The emergency room checks how serious it is. If it is a real emergency (KTAS 1-3), your copay is 20%. If it is mild (KTAS 4-5), it is 90%.
ID check (ARC)
If you have your Alien Registration Card (ARC), please show it. We can check right away whether you are enrolled in insurance with your ARC number.
Treatment first, paperwork later
Even without an insurance card, you can definitely get treatment. By law, the hospital cannot refuse you.
Post-settlement / NHIS refund
If you paid the full amount, apply for a refund to NHIS with your receipt and medical records. It will be adjusted to the insurance-covered amount.
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Emergency number ambulance free
Government Emergency number ambulances are free even for foreigners, even without insurance, and even without ID.
Guaranteed right to receive treatment
Under the Emergency Medical Service Act, you must receive treatment regardless of whether you have insurance. The hospital cannot refuse you.
Multilingual interpretation support
There are several interpretation options, like Emergency number interpretation connection, 1345 Foreign Resident Support Center Foreign Resident Support Center (20 languages), and the International Medical Center at large hospitals.
Post-refund available
Even if you paid the full amount without an insurance card, you can get reimbursed by NHIS if you keep the receipt.
Children’s copayment 10%
If a child is a real emergency case (KTAS 1-3), the out-of-pocket cost is 10%, which is lower than for adults (20%).
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Private ambulances are paid.
A hospital’s own ambulance (private) costs different depending on the distance and whether medical staff ride along. Only the Emergency number ambulance is free.
If it is mild, you pay 90% of the emergency room cost.
If you go to the emergency room for a cold or mild pain, your out-of-pocket cost is 90%. A nearby Clinic / local doctor's office (1st tier) or a clinic with night service is much cheaper.
Be sure to keep your receipt and medical records.
After emergency treatment, be sure to keep the receipt and medical records. You need them to apply for an NHIS refund.
MeSic interpretation must be booked 3 days in advance
Seoul City free companion interpretation service (MeSic) needs a reservation by QR 3 days in advance. It is hard to use in emergencies, but it is useful for follow-up care.
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If the Emergency number operator notices that you are speaking a foreign language, they will connect you to an interpretation service. English, Chinese, and Japanese are connected right away. Until the interpreter is connected, repeat your location and symptoms in simple English.
If you don’t have insurance, you have to pay the full cost yourself. Simple emergency treatment is 100,000~300,000 KRW, and if a CT scan or blood test is included, it can be 500,000~1,000,000 KRW or more. But please make sure to get treatment.
Yes. If a child is a real emergency (KTAS 1-3), the out-of-pocket cost is 10%. It is lower than for adults (20%).
If you are enrolled in NHIS but paid the full amount without an insurance card, you can apply for a refund from NHIS. Please call National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) with your receipt and medical records.
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This guide is for information only, not legal advice. In emergencies, call 119 immediately.