Help

Emergencies & rights

Emergency and discrimination/human rights violation reporting

1. Emergency & Daily Life Assistance

1-(1)Emergency contacts at a glance

Even if your Korean is weak, you will never be left without help. That is because emergency medical care, crime reporting, and everyday life consultations all have 24-hour multilingual interpretation systems in place. For fires and emergencies, 119, and for crime reports, 112, connect a BBB interpreter through a three-way call; the Foreigner Information Center 1345 supports 20 languages, and the Danuri Call Center 1577-1366 supports 13 languages directly. Once you are connected, you do not need to give a long explanation. Simply saying your country's name in a single word — such as "Vietnam" or "Mongolia" — is enough, and the operator will arrange an interpreter for that language. Stay calm and just say that one word.

119 — Fire & Emergency Medical
24 hours · BBB multilingual interpreter 3-way connection · Free ambulance
112 — Crime Reporting
24 hours · BBB interpreter connection · Violence, missing persons, emergencies
1345 Immigration and Foreigner Information Center
Direct consultation in 20 languages · Weekdays 09:00–22:00 · Visa & daily life
1577-1366 Danuri Call Center
13 languages · 24 hours, 365 days · Foreign women, family & daily life
109 Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Crisis
24 hours · Anonymous & confidential · Integrated from 1393 in 2024

Immigration and Foreigner Information Center 1345 — Multilingual guidance on immigration, visa status, and daily life (supports Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Uzbek, and more)
Danuri Call Center 1577-1366 — Counseling for foreign women and families, multilingual 24 hours
119 — Fire & emergency medical (multilingual interpretation available for foreigners)
112 — Crime reporting

Danuri 1577-1366 24h Danuri 13 languages Suicide Prevention 109 24h

※ Danuri Call Center operates 24 hours, 365 days in 13 languages: Vietnamese, Chinese, Filipino, Mongolian, Russian, Thai, Cambodian, Japanese, Uzbek, Lao, Nepali, English, and Korean. The suicide prevention hotline has been consolidated to 109 since 2024 and operates 24 hours.

1-(2)Key Emergency & Helpline Comparison

Channel	Phone	24 Hours	Languages supported	Main Use
Danuri Call Center	1577-1366	O	13 languages	Foreign women, family & daily life crisis
Foreigner Info Center	1345	X (Weekdays 09:00–22:00)	20 languages	General visa & daily life consultation
Women's Emergency Line	1366	O	Korean only (foreigners use 1577-1366)	Domestic violence, sexual violence, dating violence
Fire & emergency medical	119	O	BBB multilingual interpreter 3-way connection	Fire, ambulance & emergency transport
Police report	112	O	BBB multilingual interpreter 3-way connection	Crime, violence & missing persons
Suicide prevention & mental health crisis	109	O	Korean (interpreter connected if needed)	Suicide, depression & psychological crisis

Which number for which situation?

Medical Emergency (bleeding, high fever, fracture)

Call 119 immediately. If Korean is difficult, just say your country's name — like "Vietnam, Vietnam" — and a BBB interpreter 3-way call will begin. If you are conscious and the injury is minor, you can also go directly to a nearby hospital that accepts foreign patients.

Daily Life Questions & Visa Inquiries

During weekday daytime, call 1345 (20 languages). At night or on weekends, Danuri 1577-1366 provides 24-hour consultation in your language.

Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence & Stalking

If in immediate danger, call 112. For counseling or shelter, call 1577-1366. Danuri is dedicated to foreign women and can connect you with temporary shelter and an interpreter escort.

Psychological Crisis & Suicidal Thoughts

Call 109 anytime (24 hours, anonymous, confidential). If Korean is difficult, you can first call 1345 or Danuri, and ask them to connect you to 109 with an interpreter.

1-(3)Emergency Room Guide

Finding a hospital that accepts foreign patients

Hospital search — You can find hospitals with multilingual services through the Ministry of Health and Welfare's Emergency Medical Portal (e-gen.or.kr) or KHIDI (registered institutions for foreign patient care).
Major hospitals — Large university hospitals (Seoul National University, Severance, Samsung Seoul, etc.) have international care centers with support in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Russian.
Costs — Foreign students enrolled in the National Health Insurance pay the same co-payment rate as Korean nationals (typically 10–50%). Those not enrolled or receiving non-emergency night-time treatment pay the full amount out of pocket.
Interpretation — When transported by 119, a BBB interpreter is connected. After arriving at the hospital, you can call 1345 to request a medical interpreter via three-way call.

Mental Health Crisis Counseling

Suicide Prevention & Mental Health Crisis 109 — Free, 24 hours, anonymous. Since 2024, scattered suicide prevention hotlines have been consolidated into 109 (the previous 1393 is being forwarded to 109 and will be discontinued).
Mental Health Crisis Line 1577-0199 — The old number is still operating for now and will automatically redirect to 109.
Student counseling — Most universities have student counseling centers, and a growing number of schools offer interpretation services specifically for international students.
Confidentiality guaranteed — Counseling content is not shared with your school, immigration office, or employer, and there is no negative impact on your visa whatsoever.

1-(4)5 Steps for Foreign National Assistance

Assess urgency

If there is a threat to life or a crime in progress, call 119/112 immediately. For consultations or information requests, consider 1345 or 1577-1366 first.

Select your language on the IVR menu

Both 1345 and 1577-1366 let you select your language at the first prompt. Just saying one word like "Vietnamese" or "Chinese" is enough to connect.

Request a 3-way interpretation call

If you are at a police station, hospital, or government office, call 1345 or BBB (1588-5644) to request a 3-way call between an interpreter, the official, and yourself.

Referral to a specialist organization

If medical, legal, or shelter assistance is needed after counseling, Danuri and 1345 can refer you to a nearby foreign support center or multicultural family support center.

Follow-up confirmation

Keep your consultation number or case number — if you need to contact them again about the same matter, you can be connected directly to the same officer.

1-(5)Frequently asked questions

Yes, you can. 119 operates a three-way call system connected to BBB Korea volunteer interpreters. When the call connects, just say one word — your country's name, such as "Vietnam", "Mongolia", or "Uzbekistan" — and the operator will bring in an interpreter for that language. Stay on the line and don't hang up until the interpreter joins. Your location is automatically estimated via your mobile phone's GPS, so emergency services are dispatched even if you can't give an exact address. The same system works for crime reports to 112, and after you arrive at the hospital you can call 1345 to request medical interpretation (a three-way call). See the "Emergency room guide" above as well.

D-2 student visa holders are automatically enrolled in the National Health Insurance regional plan upon alien registration (entry), and D-4 general training visa holders are enrolled 6 months after entry; once enrolled, the co-payment rate is the same as for Korean nationals. Even if you are not yet enrolled and face an emergency, when your life is at risk you will be transported by 119 and given first aid before any cost is checked. The hospital bill can then be covered first by the state through the "Emergency Medical Expense Advance Payment Program," with you applying later for installment payment or a reduction, so keep your receipts and medical documents and call 1345 for guidance in your own language. If you want to know how to enroll in health insurance, see the next page, "Medical / Legal / School," as well.

No, it will not. 109, 1577-0199, and Danuri all operate under strict confidentiality, and anonymous counseling — without giving your name or alien registration number — is possible. Without your consent, the fact that you sought counseling is not shared with your school, employer, or immigration office, and there is no visa disadvantage of any kind for having received counseling. 109 operates 24 hours, so you can call at night, and if Korean is difficult you can first call 1345 or Danuri (1577-1366) and ask to be connected together with an interpreter. They will refer you to your school's student counseling center only if you wish.

2. Discrimination & Human Rights Violations

2-(1)Your rights at a glance

Foreigners are equally protected under Korean human rights law

In Korea, human rights are protected regardless of nationality. This is because the National Human Rights Commission Act applies equally to foreigners residing in Korea. Filing a complaint about discrimination or unfair treatment will not negatively affect your visa, and the fact that you filed is not shared with the immigration authorities — so you do not need to hesitate out of fear of retaliation or deportation. In particular, even if your residency status is undocumented, victims of wage theft or human rights violations have their relief handled first, ahead of any status issue. If you have suffered something unjust, do not endure it alone — be sure to ask for help.

On-Campus Incidents — First Contact

School Human Rights Center or Gender Equality Center
Student Affairs Office / Student Counseling Center
Office of International Affairs (OIA) — interpreter accompaniment
Confidentiality guaranteed, no retaliation policy

Off-Campus Incidents — External Channels

National Human Rights Commission 1331 · Online via humanrights.go.kr
Ministry of Employment and Labor 1350 (workplace)
Danuri 1577-1366 (women)
Police 112 · Foreign Affairs Division (criminal matters)

If you have been treated unfairly because you are a foreigner — at school, work, or in public — you can seek help from the following channels.

National Human Rights Commission 1331 — Filing complaints of discrimination and human rights violations
School Human Rights Center — Reporting on-campus discrimination and harassment (name varies by school)
Ministry of Employment and Labor 1350 — Workplace mistreatment and wage theft

Human Rights Commission 1331 Weekdays Foreigners fully protected Email complaints in multiple languages

※ The National Human Rights Commission Act applies equally to foreigners residing in Korea. Phone 1331 is available on weekdays 09:00–18:00 (lunch 12:00–13:00). For foreign-language complaints, the website or email (hoso@nhrc.go.kr) is the most reliable channel.

2-(2)5 Types of Human Rights Violations Faced by International Students

Rental refusal

Cases where a landlord or agent refuses to sign a contract saying "we don't accept foreigners." Country-based discrimination ("no Southeast Asians/Chinese") also counts as a discriminatory act.

Denied entry to restaurants or facilities

Signs saying "No Foreigners," refusal of entry to clubs or bars, etc. If there is no clear lawful reason, this is subject to a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

Verbal and racial violence

Street insults, racial slurs on social media, bullying at school or work. If you have evidence (recordings, screenshots), you can simultaneously file a criminal insult complaint and a Human Rights Commission complaint.

Workplace mistreatment

Wage theft, lower hourly wages than Korean workers, no guaranteed rest or holidays, forced passport retention, etc. Report to the Ministry of Employment and Labor at 1350.

Discrimination at government offices or service counters

Refused a bank account, denied mobile phone activation, discriminatory treatment at government service counters, etc. Get a written reason and file a complaint with the Human Rights Commission.

2-(3)5 Steps for Filing a Human Rights Complaint

Gather evidence

Secure recordings, videos, texts, screenshots, and witness contact details. "What you heard, in that place, on that day" is the most important basis for a complaint.

Report to the school Human Rights Center

For on-campus or dormitory incidents, first report to the school Human Rights Center or Office of International Affairs. If not resolved at the school level, proceed with an external complaint.

File a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission

You can use phone 1331, online at humanrights.go.kr (case.humanrights.go.kr), email (hoso@nhrc.go.kr), or postal mail. For foreign-language complaints, the website and email are the most reliable.

Police or criminal complaint (if applicable)

If there is also a criminal matter such as violence, threats, or insult, simultaneously file a complaint at 112 or the nearest police station's Foreign Affairs Division. This is a separate track from the Human Rights Commission complaint.

Legal consultation and litigation

Through the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (132), school legal consultation, or a foreigner support center, consider civil follow-up measures such as claiming damages.

2-(4)Multilingual Human Rights & Labor Channels

Channel	Phone	Multilingual access	Hours	Main Use
National Human Rights Commission	1331	Email hoso@nhrc.go.kr · Website in English	Weekdays 09:00–18:00	Discrimination & human rights violation complaints
1345 Information Center	1345	Direct consultation in 20 languages	Weekdays 09:00–22:00	Channel guidance & interpreter referral
Danuri Call Center	1577-1366	Direct consultation in 13 languages	24 hours	Women, domestic violence & daily life
Ministry of Employment and Labor	1350	Korean (1345 three-way interpreter connection available)	Weekdays 09:00–18:00	Wage theft & workplace mistreatment
Korea Legal Aid Corporation	132	Korean (interpreter connected if needed)	Weekdays 09:00–18:00	Free legal consultation

Filing a complaint will not affect your visa. Foreigners who report discrimination or wage theft to the Human Rights Commission or the Ministry of Employment and Labor are protected, and the fact of filing is not shared with the immigration office. Even undocumented individuals who are victims of wage theft or human rights violations receive priority relief.

2-(5)Frequently asked questions

The Human Rights Commission does not directly disclose the complainant's information to the perpetrator, and retaliation or any disadvantage imposed because of a complaint is itself subject to separate punishment. However, during the investigation the perpetrator may guess what complaint was filed, so for on-campus or workplace incidents it is safer to first respond together with your school's Human Rights Center or Office of International Affairs (OIA), and if needed get free legal advice from the Korea Legal Aid Corporation (132) or help from an outside attorney. If retaliation actually occurs, keep evidence such as recordings and text messages. See the "5 steps to file a human rights complaint" above for the procedure and how to gather evidence.

The Human Rights Commission accepts complaints in foreign languages. You can email (hoso@nhrc.go.kr) or use the online portal (case.humanrights.go.kr) to send a summary of "when, where, who, and what" happened in your native language or in English, and it helps to attach evidence such as recordings, text messages, or photos. If organizing it yourself is hard, first call 1345 (20 languages) or 1577-1366 Danuri (13 languages) to get interpreter help in arranging the details, then submit the complaint with help from your school's Office of International Affairs or a foreigner support center. See the "5 steps to file a human rights complaint" above for the exact submission routes.

Refusing a contract because of nationality or ethnicity may constitute discrimination without reasonable justification (see the "Rental refusal" type above). Since the key is evidence that the "reason" for refusal was specifically that you are a foreigner, keep any text messages or recordings to the effect of "we don't take foreigners," along with the date and place. You can then file a complaint with 1331 (the Human Rights Commission) to request an investigation, and if Korean is difficult you can ask 1345 for an interpreter to help organize the complaint. However, since it is hard to treat a landlord's legitimate requests for creditworthiness or a guarantor as discrimination, it is important to gather material that clearly shows the reason for refusal was nationality or ethnicity.

A third party forcibly holding your passport or alien registration card is a clear human rights violation and may constitute coercion or unlawful confinement under criminal law. You have the right to keep your own passport, so first demand its return, and if you are refused, keep a record of that (for example by text message). If you are in immediate danger call 112, otherwise report to 1345, and if you feel unsafe you can ask Danuri (1577-1366) for temporary shelter. If there is other unfair treatment as well, such as unpaid wages or denied rest breaks, also report it to the Ministry of Employment and Labor at 1350 (see the "Workplace mistreatment" type above). Your residence status itself remains valid even while your employer refuses to return your passport.

← Previous Scams & residence Next → Medical · legal · school