Emergency and discrimination/human rights violation reporting
1. Emergency & Daily Life Assistance
▪Even if you don't speak Korean, just say one word in your language and an interpreter will be connected
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.
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119 — Fire & Emergency Medical
24 hours · BBB multilingual interpreter 3-way connection · Free ambulance
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112 — Crime Reporting
24 hours · BBB interpreter connection · Violence, missing persons, emergencies
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1345 Immigration and Foreigner Information Center
Direct consultation in 20 languages · Weekdays 09:00–22:00 · Visa & daily life
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1577-1366 Danuri Call Center
13 languages · 24 hours, 365 days · Foreign women, family & daily life
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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
- National Human Rights Commission 1331 — Human rights violation counseling
※ 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.
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?
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.
During weekday daytime, call 1345 (20 languages). At night or on weekends, Danuri 1577-1366 provides 24-hour consultation in your language.
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.
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.
Emergency Room Guide
- 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.
- 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.
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.
Frequently asked questions
2. Discrimination & Human Rights Violations
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
※ 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.
5 Types of Human Rights Violations Faced by International Students
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.