South Korea

Country: South Korea / Republic of Korea

• Country code: KR
• Official language: Korean
• Currency: South Korean won (KRW)
• Time zone: Korea Standard Time (KST), UTC+9, no daylight saving time
• Electricity: generally 220 V / 60 Hz, plug types C and F

South Korea has very modern infrastructure. During a prolonged power cut, mobile networks, internet, card payments, lifts, metro systems, traffic lights, petrol stations, cooling, heating and parts of the water supply may still be disrupted.

Additional risks include typhoons, heavy rain, flooding, heatwaves, cold waves, wildfires, earthquakes and security alerts on the Korean Peninsula.

The most important numbers in South Korea should be saved offline and also printed.

• 112: police
• 119: fire, rescue and ambulance
• 1339: medical and infectious disease emergency information
• 1330: Korea Travel Helpline with multilingual support for travellers
• 110: government information and complaints centre, not an immediate emergency line
• 123: KEPCO / electricity supply and outage reports

Use 112 and 119 only for real emergencies. If you do not speak Korean, say “English please” or “Interpreter please” immediately after the call connects.

South Korea uses mobile disaster alerts, official online portals, radio and television, local authority information and, depending on the situation, civil defence loudspeakers or sirens.

• Korean Public Alert Service: alerts sent directly to mobile phones in affected areas.
• Emergency Ready App: multilingual app with disaster alerts, safety guidance and shelter information.
• National Disaster and Safety Portal / Safe Korea: official information, alerts, shelters and safety maps.
• Radio and TV: keep a battery, crank or car radio available during power cuts.
• Local authorities: instructions from the city, district or municipality take priority.

South Korea has designated civil defence and disaster shelters. Locations can be checked through the Emergency Ready App, Safe Korea and local authorities.

• Before travelling or moving, note the nearest shelters for your home, hotel, workplace and school.
• Agree on one family meeting point nearby and a second one outside the neighbourhood.
• During evacuation or shelter instructions, follow official signs and announcements.
• Do not use lifts during power cuts, earthquakes, fires or evacuations.
• In metro stations, shopping centres and high-rise buildings, always check emergency exits and assembly areas.

Households, travellers and expats in South Korea should keep supplies for several days. Supplies should be usable without electricity.

• Plan drinking water and simple long-life food for everyone in the household.
• Keep ready meals, rice, canned food, baby food, pet food and personal medicines available.
• Prepare torches, spare batteries, power banks, charging cables and a battery or crank radio.
• Keep cash in small notes, as cards, ATMs and payment apps may fail.
• Keep important documents, addresses, emergency numbers and translations on paper as well.
• Never use gas stoves, charcoal grills or heaters indoors: fire and carbon monoxide risk.

Disaster management and public safety are mainly handled by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety, local governments, fire services, police and rescue services.

For power problems, contact KEPCO, the local provider or the building manager. In apartment blocks and high-rise buildings, the building management should also be informed.

Dominican citizens in South Korea can contact the Embassy of the Dominican Republic in Seoul. Important contacts should be saved offline before travelling.