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 outage, mobile networks, internet, card payments, elevators, subway systems, traffic lights, gas stations, cooling, heating, and parts of the water supply may still be disrupted.

Additional risks include typhoons, heavy rain, flooding, heat waves, 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 travelers
• 110: government information and complaints center, 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 defense 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 outages.
• Local authorities: instructions from the city, district or municipality take priority.

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

• Before traveling 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 neighborhood.
• During evacuation or shelter instructions, follow official signs and announcements.
• Do not use elevators during power outages, earthquakes, fires or evacuations.
• In subway stations, shopping centers and high-rise buildings, always check emergency exits and assembly areas.

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

• Plan drinking water and simple shelf-stable food for everyone in the household.
• Keep ready meals, rice, canned food, baby food, pet food and personal medicines available.
• Prepare flashlights, spare batteries, power banks, charging cables and a battery or crank radio.
• Keep cash in small bills, 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 traveling.