Deciding whether this is an emergency
With the symptoms below, call 119 without delay. The time spent thinking "let's watch a bit longer" is the most dangerous.
Call 119 immediately if
- Unconscious, or reacting strangely
- Cannot breathe, or breathing sounds wrong
- Crushing chest pain with sweating (heart)
- Weakness on one side, a drooping face, or slurred speech (stroke — minutes matter)
- Bleeding that will not stop
- Severe burns, a major fracture, a hard blow to the head
- A seizure that will not stop
- Swallowed medication or chemicals
- Severe abdominal pain or bleeding during pregnancy
- A child who has gone limp and unresponsive
A clinic the next day is fine for
- Mild fever, light cough or runny nose
- Mild stomach ache, diarrhoea
- Small cuts, minor bruises
- Long-standing back or joint pain at its usual level
Steps
- If it is on the list above, call 119 now.
- If unsure, call 1339 or 119 and ask. Asking is not a nuisance.
- Don't stay alone. Tell someone nearby.
- Take your medication and allergy information.
Where to go
- 119 emergencies
- 1339 KDCA advice
- Emergency portal www.e-gen.or.kr (night and holiday clinics)
- 109 suicide prevention (if you want to harm yourself right now)
Questions people ask
I'm ill at night but it may not be an emergency. Find night clinics and late-night pharmacies at e-gen.or.kr.
My child has a fever. The child's state matters more than the temperature. Limp and unresponsive, having a seizure, or unable to drink means 119.
Will it pass if I endure it? Chest pain and stroke symptoms must not be endured. A few minutes can decide the rest of your life.
Take care
Blocking a hospital visit after a workplace injury because "an industrial accident claim is inconvenient" is illegal. Treatment comes first; the claim can be filed later.
Related
call-119 · emergency-room-use · ambulance-cost · what-to-say-emergency
Source
National Emergency Medical Center www.e-gen.or.kr / National Fire Agency www.nfa.go.kr / As of 2026-08