Escaping a fire
Smoke kills more people than flames. Your life comes before your belongings.
Do this immediately
- Shout "불이야!" (fire) loudly to alert others.
- Press the fire alarm.
- Get outside. Don't stop to collect belongings.
- Call 119 once you are somewhere safe.
How to evacuate
- Move low. Smoke rises.
- Cover your nose and mouth with a wet towel or cloth.
- Never use the lift. Take the stairs.
- Touch the door handle with the back of your hand before opening. If it is hot, don't open it — find another route.
- Once out, never go back in.
If you cannot get out
- Close the door and block the gaps with wet clothing or towels.
- Signal your position from a window with a torch or bright cloth.
- Call 119 and state exactly which floor and where you are.
- If smoke enters, lie as low as possible.
If your clothes catch fire
Stop — drop — roll. Running makes it worse.
Prepare in advance
- Know the emergency exits at home and work.
- Don't store things in corridors or stairwells — they block escape routes.
- Know where the extinguisher is and how to use it. See fire-extinguisher.
- Write your address in Korean — you need it when calling.
Where to go
- 119 fire, rescue and emergency (multilingual interpretation available)
- 112 if arson is suspected
- 1577-1366 · 1345 interpretation
Questions people ask
I can't report it in Korean. 119 connects to multilingual interpretation. Say "fire" or "화재" first, then give the address. See what-to-say-emergency.
I don't know the address. Turn on your phone's location and tell 119. The building name or a nearby landmark also works. See my-location.
Could I put it out with an extinguisher? Only early, while the fire is small. If it has reached the ceiling, evacuate immediately. Keep the exit behind you when you use it.
My pet is inside. Never go back in. Tell the firefighters which floor and where.
Take care
A few breaths of smoke are enough to make you lose consciousness. There is no time to gather things or change clothes. The moment you see fire, leave as you are — and never go back in.
Related
fire-extinguisher · gas-leak · call-119 · what-to-say-emergency · evacuation-shelters
Source
National Fire Agency www.nfa.go.kr / As of 2026-08