Travel Basics
Safety & Etiquette
Emergency numbers, zero tipping culture, and public transport manners.
Korea is one of the safest countries in the world. You can walk alone at 2~3 AM and almost nothing happens. Still, foreign visitors should know a few safety tips and manners. After this guide you can enjoy Korea worry-free.
1. Emergency numbers — memorize these
Korea's 3 emergency numbers
- 112 — Police. Theft, assault, sex crime, traffic accident — anything. Auto-routed to a translator if needed.
- 119 — Fire / Ambulance. Fires, medical emergencies, injuries. English-capable agents.
- 1330 — Tourist Helpline. 24/7 free. English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian, Arabic, Malay.
1330 is the Korea Tourism Organization's foreigner-only translation hotline. It helps with everything: reading a menu, talking to a taxi driver, finding lost items, or knowing where to go. Call 1330 and they'll translate and connect you to the right person.
Tip: 1330 also works on KakaoTalk
If calling is hard, search "1330" as a KakaoTalk channel and add it. Text-based questions, fast replies. Send menu photos and ask "What's this dish?" — they'll answer.
Tourist information centers — when you're lost
Major Seoul tourist areas have Tourist Information Centers (TICs). Look for the red "i" sign. Multilingual staff (English, Chinese, Japanese) are on duty. Free maps, recommendations, and Korea guides. First stop if you're lost or your phone runs out of data.
| Area | TIC location | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Myeongdong | Next to Myeongdong Station Exit 6 — Myeongdong Tourist Information Center | 09:00~21:00 |
| Hongdae | Near Hongik Univ Station Exit 9 — Hongdae Info | 10:00~22:00 |
| Insadong | Mid-Insadong Street, "Tourist Information" sign | 09:00~20:00 |
| Gangnam | Gangnam Station Exit 10, Seoul Global Center | 09:00~18:00 (closed weekends) |
| Jongno (Gwanghwamun) | KT Gwanghwamun Branch 1F | 09:00~18:00 |
| Incheon Airport T1 / T2 | 1F arrivals, central area | 24 hours |
Lost items — when you misplace something
Korea has very high lost-item recovery — over 90% of items lost on subway, bus, taxi, or in restaurants are returned. Found items typically go to a nearby police station or lost-and-found office.
Lost item channels
- 1st: lost112.go.kr — National police lost-and-found search portal (English supported)
- 2nd: 1330 hotline — they'll tell you where to file the report
- 3rd: Ask the staff where you lost it (cafes/restaurants usually hold items)
- Subway lost items — Seoul Metro: 02-6110-1122
- Kakao T taxi — in-app "Report Lost Item" menu (fastest)
2. There's no tipping in Korea
Unlike the US or some European countries, you do NOT add tip in Korean restaurants or taxis. The price on the menu / receipt is the final price. Staff trying to charge more than the receipt is a red flag.
Watch out: Leave a tip and staff will chase you
Leave 10,000 KRW on the table and a staff member will run out yelling "You forgot your change!" Tipping isn't how things work in Korea. To express gratitude, "맛있게 먹었어요" ("That was delicious") is enough.
3. Restaurant manners — calling staff
Korean restaurants expect you to call the server yourself. There's no dedicated waiter checking in like in the US. First-timers think "why is no one coming?" Two methods to call:
How to call staff
- Press the call button on your table (if present — it lights up and a server comes)
- Shout "저기요!" (Jeo-gi-yo!) or "여기요!" (Yeo-gi-yo!) — totally normal in Korea, not rude
- Raise your hand to be visible (gentlest method)
"저기요!" sounds loud to foreigners but it's the standard polite call in Korean restaurants. Sitting silently and waiting is actually inefficient and may seem standoffish.
4. Subway and bus manners
No phone calls or videos without earphones
Korean subways are very quiet. Loud calls or video without earphones makes everyone in the car uncomfortable. Calls should be brief and quiet; videos require earphones.
Leave priority and pregnant seats empty
The subway car ends are priority seats; pink seats are for pregnant women. Even in a packed train, regular passengers leave them empty. Sitting "because they're open" gets disapproving looks. Always leave them.
[Pink pregnancy seat in Seoul subway]
5. Greetings — making Korean friends
Koreans value greetings. Saying "안녕하세요(annyeonghaseyo)" when entering a shop is enough to get a warm smile from staff. Pronunciation can be off — Koreans appreciate any attempt at the language.
5 essential Korean phrases
- 안녕하세요(annyeonghaseyo) — Hello / Hi
- 감사합니다(gamsahamnida) — Thank you
- 죄송합니다(joesonghamnida) — Sorry / Excuse me
- 얼마예요?(eolmayeyo?) — How much?
- 맛있어요(masisseoyo) — Delicious / Tasty
Tip: 90-degree bows aren't expected
Korean dramas show deep 90-degree bows but foreigners aren't expected to do that. A light head nod is plenty polite.
6. Korean drinking manners — when out with new friends
When you befriend Koreans, sharing drinks often follows. Korean drinking has unique etiquette. Foreigners aren't held to the highest standards, but knowing it makes Korean friends light up: "Wow, you know our culture!"
4 drinking manners
- Pour with both hands — one holding the bottle, the other supporting your wrist
- Receive with both hands — both supporting the cup
- Drink slightly turned away from elders (sideways profile)
- Don't pour your own drink — wait for someone to fill it; fill others' cups too
Tip: First drink may be "one-shot"
Koreans sometimes do "one-shot" (down the first glass in one). If you're not comfortable, "전 천천히 마실게요" ("I'll drink slowly") works fine. Pacing yourself isn't rude.
7. Removing shoes — where?
In Korea, shoes come off in homes, some restaurants, hanok (traditional houses), and saunas / jjimjilbang. It feels strange but is core to Korean culture. Look for a shoe rack at the entrance and switch to slippers or socks before entering.
| Place | Shoes off? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Regular restaurants / cafes | No | Western seating |
| Traditional Korean restaurants (floor seating) | Yes | Shoe rack at entrance |
| Jjimjilbang / sauna | Yes | Shoes go in entrance lockers |
| Hanok villages / palaces (interior) | Yes | "Please remove shoes" signs |
| A Korean friend's home | Yes | Always, no exceptions |
| Some hospitals / clinics | Yes | Slippers provided |
Watch out: Sock holes
You'll be removing shoes often, so pack hole-free socks. New socks at convenience stores or Daiso run 1,000~3,000 KRW.
8. Next steps
Calling Kakao T taxis
Korean taxi calls, foreign card payment, English support.
Foreigner-ready hospitals for emergencies
Emergency hospitals and clinics with foreigner support.