Need a list of 24 Hour Emergency Animal Hospitals? It always feels like our fur babies are sick when their veterinarian is closed. Therefore this list will come in handy if you are needing to find a veterinarian to see your pet in an emergency. During an emergency with your fur baby, it can be critical to locate the closest 24-hour animal hospital quickly. Therefore, we have compiled a list of locations for you to find the help you need. Additionally, we provide critical information you need in these times to get you the best care possible for your pet. Are you in an emergency right now? Do not wait. Go straight to critical information: Types of ’24-Hour’ Animal Hospitals In South Korea, the term ’24-hour’ as it relates to an animal hospital may have a few possible meanings as of 2022: Since 24-hour may mean different things in different locations, we recommend visiting your local 24-hour emergency animal hospital to fully understand how they operate. Don’t wait until there is an emergency. Let’s talk about emergency preparedness. What To Do Before An Emergency Happens Since it is crucial to be able to provide information to the doctor for your pet, planning ahead is important. Once the emergency hits you may feel overwhelmed by 1) finding a hospital, 2) finding transportation, 3) navigating to a new place, 4) managing the language barrier, and 5) making decisions for your pet. Therefore, we recommend: A Typed Medical History and Medication List Have a list of medications and dosages saved to your phone. Hence, we asked our regular veterinarian to write down the names of our fur babies’ medications in Korean (or what they are used to treat). This can be very helpful as some of the drug names are different. Communication Plan Have a Communication Plan and practice your plan for asking for help. Use 1330 or BBB Korea regularly so that you feel comfortable using these services to ask for help. You can’t rely on friends to wake up to help at 3am. Practice the Drive Visit the 24-hour emergency vet nearest your home before an emergency happens. You need to learn the roads and parking situation in advance. Consider visiting the 24-emergency vet for a regular checkup just so that your information is already in their system. Information Available to Copy Paste on Your Phone Have the 24-hour emergency hospital Korean address saved on your phone. It’s very hard to search any app or the internet in a crisis. Have the closest hospital to your house saved on your phone or in your phone contacts. What to Do in an Emergency Getting the right help for your pet as quickly as possible is essential in an emergency situation. This means that you need to prepare yourself before you experience an emergency. Call Ahead Call Ahead to let the 24-hour vet clinic know you are coming. This is an absolutely critical step. You need to contact the 24-hour animal hospital prior to arrival to let them know the medical issue so they can prepare ahead. Leo Mendoza of Shindogs Air says this phone call can mean life or death for your pet: “All 24-hour emergency animal hospitals usually only have ONE general attending vet on duty, and that vet may not be the specialist your pet requires. If the hospital gets advance notice, they will ensure the specialist comes in for your pet!” Grab Medications Take any medications with you to the hospital. Knowing crucial information about your pet’s medical conditions and history can help when making decisions about care. So, make sure to keep a list of any medications and dosages that your pet takes regularly on hand. Remember the Translated Medical History on Your Phone Since you prepared ahead of time, make sure you remember your pet’s medical history that you have saved to the files on your phone. Assistance Calling the Emergency Vet In this stressful situation, you may also want to have assistance calling ahead. Having a language barrier will definitely make this situation more hectic and frustrating. Therefore, if you need assistance calling the 24-hour emergency veterinarian, you can contact: 24-Hour Emergency Animal Hospitals This list has not been vetted by South of Seoul, nor is it an all-exclusive list. However, our goal is to provide you with locations that can assist you to get the help you need as quickly as possible when your pet is unwell. Many of the locations listed below have English-speaking staff, but we cannot guarantee that they will have them available 24 hours a day. Also, this list includes locations in the following areas: Pyeongtaek, Dongtan/Hwaseong, Suwon, Seoul, and Daegu. We know you may be in an emergency right now. Read carefully to determine if you are calling the correct area. Pyeongtaek Correct number for Raum Animal Medical Center is: 031-692-5022 Dongtan/Hwaseong Suwon Seoul Daegu Finding Additional 24-Hour Vets If you are traveling and need to find 24-hour emergency animal hospitals, you can enter the phrase “동물병원 24시간” or “24시간 동물병원” into Naver and it should help you find the closest location to you. However, you can also contact 1330 to assist you in the closest 24-hour animal hospital as well. Here is the list of the locations with Naver pins and phone numbers for you to download and keep handy. Useful Phrases for Pet Owners During an emergency situation, it is always useful to have a few useful phrases on hand. Therefore, we have compiled this list to empower pet owners to do their best for their fur babies in stressful situations. Veterinary Services Vary Between Countries Different cultures and countries care for animals in different ways. For example, Korean veterinarians may not prescribe medications the same way that American veterinarians do. We have found this to be the case as we have dogs on medications for arthritis and anxiety. At a recent emergency vet appointment, we learned that the Korean veterinarian we saw was unfamiliar with treating regularly for either of those conditions. Join the Everything Paws Korea Facebook Group Looking for a place where pet owners living in Korea can ask questions and share ideas? Everything Paws Korea has information on training, recipes, health tips, and DIY. In addition, there are post links to articles and such relating to our pets. However, please keep in mind, information in this group should never replace the advice of a qualified veterinarian. Updated October 26, 2024 KimchiRednecksAbout Melissa Edwards-Whittington & Chuck Whittington (KimchiRednecks) Chuck and Melissa—also known as the KimchiRednecks—have been living in Korea since 2017 and documenting their life abroad since launching their YouTube channel in 2018. Originally created to share their adventures with friends and family back in the U.S., KimchiRednecks has since grown into a vibrant and dynamic platform that reflects their love for Korean culture, food, travel, and everyday life. From foodie explorations and recipe experiments to gaming, tech, and car projects (especially the BRZ), their content offers a fun and honest window into expat life. Chuck Whittington is a graduate of Francis Marion University with a degree in Information Systems Management. With over two decades of experience in IT, Chuck combines his technical expertise with a long-standing fascination with Korea—having visited many times before moving permanently. He’s the tech-savvy side of KimchiRednecks and brings a love for innovation, gaming, and cars to the channel. Melissa Edwards-Whittington holds a degree in Bible with a minor in Elementary Education from Mid-Atlantic Christian University. She has worn many hats over the years—working in customer service, marketing, and now also serving as a volunteer Co-Editor and Social Media Marketing Manager for United on the RoK Magazine. Her writing and digital work focus on building community and supporting military-connected and expatriate populations in Korea. Melissa also volunteers with South of Seoul, where she helps manage online social media groups, supports local language exchanges, and creates original content to assist newcomers and long-term residents alike. Together, Chuck and Melissa share their lives with their three beloved Shih Tzu daughters—Minion, Sookie (forever in their hearts), and Mayhem—who are frequently featured in their videos and social media posts. Whether they’re sipping coffee at a neighborhood café, exploring hidden corners of Korea, or experimenting with homemade whiskey and brandy on their second channel, Shining with KimchiRednecks, Chuck and Melissa are passionate about sharing the real and ever-evolving journey of life abroad. One of their greatest joys is cooking, and they frequently document their culinary adventures—especially their experiences learning to prepare Korean dishes and other global cuisines—on their YouTube channel, inviting others to celebrate food, culture, and connection alongside them. Follow Chuck, Melissa & the KimchiRednecks Adventures: YouTube: @kimchirednecks YouTube: @shiningwithkimchirednecks Instagram: @kimchirednecks Facebook: KimchiRednecks United on the RoK Magazine: www.unitedontherokmag.com

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As some of you already know, 1330 Travel Hotline developed an app to support the international community and their daily queries about resources in South Korea. You can read more about the aid and services the app offers in South of Seoul’s recent blog. This blog will focus on one specific function of the 1330 Travel Hotline App, the SOS Button. What is the 1330 Travel Hotline SOS Button? The 1330 SOS button is channel that connects international residents and travelers to an interpreter who can assist with 119 Emergency Rescue Service calls 24 hours a day 7 days a week. As with the general 1330 app functions, the SOS button offers support in a a variety of languages including Korean, English, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Vietnamese, Thai, and Malay. There is one important thing to note about the 1330 SOS button: It does NOT connect you directly to 119. Instead, you use the 1330 SOS button, you get connected to an interpreter who will assist you with your emergency call. For a faster response, it may be better to call 119 directly. However, be aware that you will need to request an interpreter and wait to be connected in this case. Some individuals have found it difficult to communicate to emergency responders that they need a specific language service. Therefore, having an interpretation service such as 1330 at the ready could save precious time in an emergency. That all said, we have (fortunately) not had the opportunity to test the 1330 SOS button. So, please make your best judgement when deciding whether to use the 1330 SOS service versus calling 119 directly. Fun Fact: When you call 119 directly and ask for a language interpreter, the emergency responder will either connect you with a 1330 representative or another language service. More information on direct 119 calls coming in a future blog. How do I use the 1330 Travel Hotline SOS Button? The 1330 SOS button is simple to use. First, open the 1330 Travel Hotline App. Next, click the SOS Emergency Call button on the bottom of the screen. Finally, select your preferred language. Selecting the language button begins your call. Once connected with an 1330 SOS interpreter, let them know that you have an emergency. Your interpreter will take the necessary steps to connect with an emergency responder and assist with your situation. You should only use the SOS button for emergencies! The 1330 SOS team will have limited capacity to help those truly in need if their lines get backed up with non-emergency calls. So, please be conscientious when utilizing this service. The 1330 Travel Hotline is such an amazing resource to help foreigners navigate Korea. If you haven’t downloaded yet, it is available on android and iOS. Lisa Peck, MPH, CPHMs. Peck graduated from the University of Utah Asia Campus (UAC) in Incheon with a Master’s in Public Health and her Certification in Public Health (CPH). Ms. Peck also holds a Bachelor’s Degrees in Linguistics and one in International Studies with a Global Health emphasis. Ms. Peck is Korean American and speaks both English and Korean. She has moved between the US and Korea since childhood, finally settling in Korea after graduating from UAC. In 2021 Ms. Peck founded the South of Seoul Public Health Program which focuses on research and initiatives regarding the health and wellness of multinational residents in South Korea. Additionally, Ms. Peck oversees the SOS Public Health Graduate Student Practicum Program which provides mentorship and training for Master’s in Public Health students. The program works with two students a semester with a focus on ethical UX research design, survey development, and initiative implementation. www.southofseoul.net

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Before you have an emergency, you need to know 119 which is emergency services in South Korea. About 119 One of THE most important numbers you need to know while living in South Korea is 119. This is THE number to call in emergencies. In a medical emergency, 119 may automatically detect a caller’s location on either a landline or a cell phone. Then, 119 dispatches ambulances quickly. 119 For Those with No Korean Language Ability In theory, foreigners who contact 119 become directed to a translator from the Korea National Tourist Organisation (1330) via a three-way call; this allows a foreigner to clearly communicate their situation and needs. Available languages include English, Japanese and Chinese. Ambulance services are provided free of charge. HOWEVER, 119 operators may struggle to determine what language foreigners may be speaking in order to transfer them to the correct translator. In order to directly connect with an operator in your language, consider calling 1330 directly to reach a translator in your language who will contact 119 for you. Contacting 1330 directly may connect you with support faster. If you have the 1330 app, it also allows you to send photos or get support like Naver links. Personal Experience Using 119 Until recently we sort of lived in fear of ever needing to call it because what if we were in trouble, couldn’t remember how to speak Korean, or didn’t know where we were? A few weeks ago, we found out the answers to all of our questions. While driving on the backcountry roads of Pyeongtaek in the middle of the night we came across an emergency situation with an unresponsive elderly person. Since it was both a rural area, the person was unresponsive, everyone was asleep, and no businesses were open – we were on our own. Despite the fact we were exhausted and worried, the experience went very well. The call to 119 took about 5 minutes total and they had an ambulance on location in less than 15 minutes. Since we were more than 20 minutes from a city, we were impressed by the response time. During the experience, we made realized there are three tips we can provide for you if you have to use 119 in the future. Tips that will help you feel empowered in an emergency. Tips for Using 119 Tip 1: Don’t hesitate to use 119 even if you only speak English but using 1330 will get help faster with less frustration. Since I needed to know how the system works for English-speaking Foreigners, I called and asked for an English speaker. The Korean-speaking dispatcher told me (in Korean) to hold for a few seconds. Don’t panic when you hear them speaking only Korean, just wait. They will get someone for you. I am guessing it took about 30 seconds (at 2am) to have us on the phone with a fluent English-speaking 1330 operator. If you have zero Korean language ability, you may find less stress in simply connecting with 1330 from the beginning and let them patch through to 1330. Tip 2: If you don’t know your address or location, look for a phone number on the side of a building. Since I had no idea what our address was I looked around and saw a business near us that had their phone number listed on their sign. I gave that phone number to the 1330 dispatcher and he used that to find our location. (Learn more about using business phone numbers to find addresses CLICK HERE) I also looked to see if there were any businesses that had the names in English and gave those. Tip 3: Talk slowly and don’t panic and Naver Map yourself. When you call 119 it’s always a stressful situation so breathe and go slow. A second option for giving your location, if there isn’t a business phone number near you, is to open Naver Map (which has an English interface) on your phone and map your location. Then, to keep mistakes from happening, don’t read the address – spell it out for them or ask if you can send them the link somehow. Hopefully, you never need to use any of these tips, but if you do we also hope they come in handy for keeping you safe. We were extremely thankful that our first time using 119 turned out so smoothly despite a language barrier. South of SeoulFounded in 2015, the South of Seoul team consists of volunteers on three continents working together to support English-speaking people traveling or living in South Korea. South of Seoul volunteers work with organizations and individuals across South Korea to improve equitable access to information across South Korea. Much of South of Seoul’s information focuses on Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. Blogs published under the authorship of “South of Seoul” include blogs compiled by multiple volunteers to improve access to standardized information unrelated to individualized personal experiences. www.southofseoul.net

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