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Staying Safe in Seoul: Emergency Numbers, Pharmacies, and Scams

· 3 min read
Kai Miller
Kai Miller
Cultural Explorer & Photographer

South Korea is statistically one of the safest countries in the world. You can leave your laptop on a café table for an hour, and it will still be there when you return. Violent crime against tourists is incredibly rare.

However, "Safe" does not mean "Risk-Free." From seasonal air pollution to specific tourist scams, here is your survival guide.

Staying Safe in Seoul: Emergency Numbers, Pharmacies, and Scams

1. Emergency Cheat Sheet​

Save these numbers now.

  • 112: Police (Emergency).
  • 119: Fire & Ambulance (Emergency).
  • 1330: Korea Travel Hotline.
    • Why it's magic: This 24/7 service offers interpretation in English, Chinese, Japanese, and more.
    • Use case: If you are at a police station or hospital and cannot communicate, call 1330 and pass the phone to the officer/doctor. They will translate for you.

2. The Invisible Enemy: Yellow Dust (Fine Dust)​

In Spring (March-May) and occasionally winter, air quality can drop due to "Yellow Dust" (Hwangsa) blowing from deserts.

  • The Tool: Download the MiseMise app.
    • Blue/Green: Good. Enjoy the outdoors.
    • Red/Black: Bad. Wear a mask.
  • The Mask: Do not use cloth masks. Buy KF94 masks at any convenience store (Example brands: AirQueen, Kleenex).

3. Getting Sick: How to use a "Yak-guk"​

Pharmacies in Korea are marked with a big "약" (Yak) sign. They are everywhere, but they are different from CVS in the US.

  • Over-the-Counter (OTC): You can buy Tylenol, digestive medicine (Bearse), and patches (Pas) without a prescription.
  • Cold Medicine: Stronger cold meds (with Pseudoephedrine) require you to show ID/Passport, even if buying OTC.
  • The Pharmacist: They are highly trained. Use a translation app to describe symptoms ("Sore throat", "Stomach ache"), and they will give you a packet of pills.

Note: Convenience stores (CU, GS25) sell basic emergency meds (Tylenol, Band-aids) 24/7, even when pharmacies are closed.

4. Scams & Annoyances​

The "Cult" Recruiters (The Nice Couple)​

If two people (usually a man and a woman, or two women) approach you on the street in Hongdae or Gangnam with:

  • "Excuse me, you have a bright aura."
  • "Do you know about Korean traditional culture?"
  • "Can you help us with a survey?"

Walk Away. They are cult recruiters. They will try to take you to a "ceremony" room and pressure you to give money to "cleanse your ancestors' spirits." They are not dangerous, just persistent and expensive.

The Taxi "Surcharge"​

  • Legal: A 20-40% surcharge applies late at night (10 PM - 4 AM) and for crossing city boundaries (e.g., Seoul to Gyeonggi-do). This is automatic on the meter.
  • Illegal: A driver asking for a flat fee (e.g., "50,000 won to Gangnam") without the meter. Refuse this.

5. Strict Laws to Know​

  • Drugs: Korea has Zero Tolerance. Cannabis is fully illegal. If you are caught with CBD oil or gummies, you will be arrested, imprisoned, and deported. Do not bring it.
  • Self-Defense: Korean law punishes "mutual violence." If a drunk person hits you and you hit back, you are both charged with assault. Do not fight back. Block, retreat, and call 112.

Stay healthy and safe, and enjoy your trip! If you need to prepare your medical kit, check our Packing List.