What to do in case of emergency

Pedro: Nice to meet you, Su-hyeon. I've heard a lot about you from Jessie.
Su-hyeon: Nice to meet you, too. Why don't we all go partying sometime? I think it'd be fun.
Pedro: Sure. How about Bamdokkaebi Night Market, too?
Jessie: One thing I really like about Korea is that it's safe, and so I can roam around freely at night.
Su-hyeon: True. A lot of foreign residents commend the country's safe streets at night.
Jessie: Yeah, but what if something dangerous happens to me late at night? We might witness such an incident, if not become a victim. This thought scares me, especially since I'm not fluent in Korean.
Su-hyeon: You can call 112 to report a crime to police or 119 to request ambulance service from the fire department or a medical emergency center. There's also a 119 app you can download on your smartphone.
Jessie: Oh, that's a good idea.
Su-hyeon: The app is called "119 신고 (119 Multichannel Emergency Reporting System)." You can report your location by just activating the GPS and touching the app, and then notify authorities of your situation simply by making a video call and showing your surroundings on the screen. So you should be fine even if you don't speak Korean well.





Jessie: I can usually get by though I speak very little Korean. But I think it'd be quite hard in case of emergency.
Su-hyeon: What kind of case do you mean?
Pedro: For example, what if I get sick late at night?
Su-hyeon: I guess it depends on the type of illness, but you can get over-the-counter medicine for fever or indigestion at convenience stores, most of which are open 24 hours a day. Or just look up "Pharm 114" on the web (http://www.pharm114.or.kr/) to find one nearest to your house.
Pedro: I'm covered by Korea's national health insurance.
Jessie: So am I. My school recommended that foreign students apply for national health insurance, so I did. My friend Yuta suddenly came down with a terrible stomachache past midnight and was sent to the emergency room. He had to get several checkups. Thank goodness he was covered by health insurance, otherwise he would've had to pay a LOT.
Su-hyeon: I always recommend that foreign residents in Korea get health insurance. They can apply for either the national or private insurance. Regardless of which you apply for, you must submit a copy of your alien registration card or any document that proves that you live in Korea. For international students, a certificate of school enrollment is also required.
Pedro: I've lived in Korea for seven years and gotten a health checkup here before.
Su-hyeon: Really? That's great.
Jessie: Korea is renowned for its medical service, and certain hospitals have departments that specifically cater to foreign patients.
Su-hyeon: Yep. Local governments also provide free medical service to foreign laborers or multicultural families.




Su-hyeon: I went to the homepage of Public Safety Education. (http://kasem.safekorea.go.kr/ptl/fms/main.do?menu_pk=M012800&menu_key=form)  Its content is available in several foreign languages, so I'd recommend you read it and tell your other foreign friends about it as well.
Pedro: You can also download the app "안전디딤돌 (Emergency Ready)" on your smartphone. It texts you warnings of a forest fire, cold wave or another danger in English or Chinese.
Jessie: Oh, I see. Thanks.




Jessie: The best-case scenario is if we never get sick and or face an emergency. But I feel more at ease now that I know what to do in an emergency.
Su-hyeon: I think Pedro knows more about these things than I do. Please tell me more, too.
Pedro: OK, I'll be sure to share more information like this.

Written by Min Yea-Ji
Translated by Lee Jihae
Illustrated by Yuhaill
jesimin@korea.kr