Korean phrases for emergencies

안녕하세요 리더님! Koreanstudyjunkie에서 Junie입니다.

Today instead of a normal list of vocab relating to emergencies. I will be teaching phrases that you can easily use in case of emergencies. In TRUE emergencies just knowing these basic phrases can make all the difference!

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Emergency Basics

Start with the absolute essentials learners must know:

• 도와주세요! = Please help me!

• 살려주세요! = Save me! (more urgent/intense)

• 큰일 났어요 = Something serious happened

• 위험해요 = It’s dangerous

• 괜찮아요? = Are you okay?

Teaching tip:

Explain tone— 도와주세요 is the safest default in most situations.

Calling Emergency Services

Important Numbers in Korea:

• 112 = Police

• 119 = Fire / Ambulance

Key phrases:

• 경찰 불러주세요 = Please call the police

• 구급차 불러주세요 = Please call an ambulance

• 신고해 주세요 = Please report it

• 사고가 났어요 = There’s been an accident

Natural Phrases:

• 여기 사고 났어요 = There’s been an accident here

• 빨리 와 주세요 = Please come quickly

Medical Emergencies

Symptoms & situations:

• 아파요 = It hurts / I’m sick

• 많이 아파요 = It hurts a lot

• 피가 나요 = I’m bleeding

• 숨을 못 쉬겠어요 = I can’t breathe

• 의식이 없어요 = They’re unconscious

• 쓰러졌어요 = Someone collapsed

Asking for help:

• 병원에 가야 해요 = I need to go to the hospital

• 의사 불러주세요 = Please call a doctor

Location & Directions

In emergencies, giving location is everything:

• 여기예요 = It’s here

• 저기예요 = It’s over there

• 주소가 뭐예요? = What’s the address?

• 이 근처예요 = It’s near here

Must-teach phrase:

• 위치를 잘 모르겠어요 = I’m not sure of the location

Fire / Danger Situations

• 불이 났어요 = There’s a fire

• 연기가 나요 = There’s smoke

• 나가야 해요 = We need to get out

• 문을 열 수 없어요 = I can’t open the door

Everyday Emergency Situations

Lost / Theft:

• 지갑을 잃어버렸어요 = I lost my wallet

• 핸드폰을 도난당했어요 = My phone was stolen

Asking strangers:

• 도와주실 수 있어요? = Can you help me?

• 영어 하세요? = Do you speak English?

Politeness vs Urgency

• In emergencies, drop perfection and focus on clarity

• Even just:

  • 도와주세요!

  • 119 불러주세요!