🇰🇷 South Korea
Last verified: July 2026 — validate with your local authorities during the annual update of the club directory.
1. Emergency numbers
| Service |
Number |
| Fire, rescue and ambulance (medical emergency) |
119 |
| Police |
112 |
| Emergency medical / illness advice, hospital referral (KDCA) |
1339 |
| Travel helpline for foreigners (interpretation, 24/7, multilingual) |
1330 |
112 and 119 are free, work without an area code from any mobile phone, and offer interpretation (English, Chinese, Japanese and more).
2. National disaster management
| Element |
In South Korea |
| Lead agency |
MOIS — Ministry of the Interior and Safety (disaster and safety policy, civil defense, alerts) — mois.go.kr |
| National coordination body |
Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters (CDSCH), activated by MOIS for major disasters |
| National framework |
Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety; prevention → preparedness → response → recovery cycle |
| Territorial crisis authority |
Metropolitan / provincial and city/county/district (si-gun-gu) governments run local disaster response headquarters |
| Research & doctrine |
NDMI — National Disaster Management Research Institute (research, technology); NDTI — National Civil Defense and Disaster Management Training Institute (training) |
| Citizen preparedness |
National Disaster and Safety Portal (SafeKorea) — safekorea.go.kr — shelter locator, guidance; MOIS Emergency Ready app (English alerts, nearest shelter) |
3. Alert systems
| System |
What it is |
Access |
| Emergency alert text (CBS / Korean Public Alert Service) |
Cell broadcast pushed by MOIS and local governments (typhoon, flood, heavy snow, wildfire, air-raid, etc.) — reception is mandatory on all phones |
Automatic |
| Emergency Ready app (MOIS) |
Localised alerts in English + nearest shelter + one-tap 119 |
App stores |
| KMA — Korea Meteorological Administration |
Typhoon tracks, severe-weather warnings, earthquake information |
kma.go.kr / weather.go.kr |
| National Disaster and Safety Portal (SafeKorea) |
Alerts, shelters, safety guidance |
eng.safekorea.go.kr |
| KMA earthquake service |
Real-time domestic and worldwide earthquake information |
kma.go.kr/neng/earthquake |
4. Key non-Rotary actors
| Actor |
Role in disaster |
| Korean Red Cross (Republic of Korea National Red Cross) |
Emergency relief, shelter support, blood services, volunteer mobilisation — redcross.or.kr |
| MOIS / CDSCH |
State institutional coordination — get known BEFORE the crisis |
| Local government disaster HQ (si-gun-gu) |
The club's first territorial contact (drills, shelters, evacuation) |
| National Fire Agency (119) |
Rescue, EMS, urban search and rescue |
| Community Safety / volunteer disaster networks |
Local response and recovery volunteering |
5. Dominant risks → guide cards
| Risk |
Where |
Card to print |
| Typhoon |
Nationwide, mainly Jun-Oct (south and east coasts most exposed) |
Card B1 |
| Flood / flash flood |
Nationwide, summer monsoon (Jangma) and typhoon rains |
Card B2 |
| Heavy snow / cold wave |
North, mountains, east coast; winter |
Card B3 |
| Heat wave |
Cities and inland basins, summer |
Card B4 |
| Earthquake |
South-east (Gyeongju, Pohang); moderate but real risk |
Card A1 |
| Wildfire |
East coast (Gangwon), spring, dry winds |
Card C2 |
6. Equivalences with the guide's terms
| Generic term in the guide |
South Korea equivalent |
| National disaster management agency |
MOIS (Ministry of the Interior and Safety) |
| National response plan |
Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety; CDSCH activation |
| Emergency medical service (EMS) |
119 fire/EMS; 1339 medical advice |
| Territorial state authority |
Provincial and si-gun-gu (city/county/district) disaster HQ |
| Mass casualty protocol (MCI) |
Emergency medical response under the National Fire Agency / regional trauma centres |
| Civil-security citizen reserve |
Civil Defense Corps (Minbangwi) |
| Inter-agency coordination |
CDSCH (Central Disaster and Safety Countermeasures Headquarters) |
Donation tax rules: donations to a designated or legal donation organisation (jijeong / beobjeong gibugeum danche) approved by the government qualify for a personal income-tax credit (15% up to KRW 10 million, 30% above). Only an authorised organisation can issue deductible receipts — confirm your recipient's status with the National Tax Service before promising donors a tax benefit.
7. Rotary section — to be completed by your club
| Element |
Your information |
| Rotary district |
____ |
| District Governor (DG) |
____ |
| District disaster officer (DRO/DRC) |
____ |
| ShelterBox / Rotary disaster contact |
____ |
| Local government disaster HQ (contact) |
____ |
| Neighbouring clubs (< 50 km) |
____ |
| Last update of this section |
//______ |
Sources: MOIS (mois.go.kr), National Disaster and Safety Portal / SafeKorea (eng.safekorea.go.kr), Korea Meteorological Administration (kma.go.kr), NDMI (ndmi.go.kr), Korean Red Cross (redcross.or.kr), Digital Government of Korea CBS (dgovkorea.go.kr), PwC Tax Summaries (Republic of Korea). Report any error: g.bourgogne.rtn@gmail.com