1330 Korea Helpline 2026: When Can You Call in English?

By Bong Tour Editorial Team · Nov 7, 2026 (Sat)

Lost, stuck at a counter, or trying to explain something to a taxi driver? Call 1330, the Korea Tourism Organization's official travel helpline. You get help in English every day from 7 AM to midnight, Korea time. Here's what 1330 can do for you, when to call someone else instead, and how to reach it without a Korean SIM.

SHORT ANSWER
- Call 1330 in Korea, or +82-2-1330 from overseas, every day from 7:00 to 24:00 KST. It's not a 24-hour line.
- An English-speaking agent can give travel info and talk to a hotel, driver, restaurant or shop for you.
- Emergency? Call 112 (police) or 119 (fire, ambulance) instead, at any hour.

QUICK FACTS
What: 1330 Korea Travel Helpline, run by the Korea Tourism Organization (KTO)
Call: 1330 in Korea (no area code) · +82-2-1330 from overseas
Hours: 7:00–24:00 KST, every day
Languages: English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Thai, Vietnamese, Indonesian/Malay
No phone signal? Free online call over Wi-Fi, or chat

What is 1330 in Korea, and what can it help with?

1330 is a phone and real-time chat service for travelers in Korea and people planning a trip. It's run by the Korea Tourism Organization, so it's the official line, not an app or a private agency.

Here's what it covers:

• Travel info: questions about traveling anywhere in Korea.

• Interpretation: help talking to a hotel, a bus or taxi driver, a restaurant or a shop.

• Complaints: if something went wrong on your trip, they talk it through with you and take your complaint.

• Tourist police: they can connect you.

It works both ways. Korean businesses can call 1330 too when they need to talk to a foreign guest. So if a shop owner is struggling with your request, they can pick up the phone as well.

Who should save the number

Honestly, anyone who doesn't read Korean. Save it if any of these sound like your trip:

• You're traveling without a guide and don't speak Korean.

• You'll use buses and taxis, where drivers may not speak English.

• You're staying somewhere small, like a guesthouse or a family-run inn.

• You're traveling with parents or kids and want a backup plan.

• You'll eat at small local places where the menu may be in Korean only.

Should you call 1330 or someone else?

1330 is a travel helpline, not an emergency line. Here's who to contact, depending on what's going on:

On 112 and 119, you can also say "Interpreter please" when the call connects. The operator will then connect you to a professional interpreter.

In a real emergency, don't stop to work out which line is right. Call 112 or 119 first, and sort out the travel questions with 1330 later.

LOCAL TIP
Save 112 and 119 next to 1330 in your phone. In a real emergency you won't want to search for numbers, and you can ask for an interpreter on both.

How do you call 1330 from a foreign phone?

1. Save the number before you fly

Add two entries to your contacts: 1330 for calls inside Korea, and +82-2-1330 for calls from overseas. Don't add an area code to 1330. If the short number doesn't go through on your phone plan, try the full international number.

2. Call and pick English

Choose English when the call connects, then wait for an agent. Have the basics ready: where you are, what you need, and any names or addresses on your screen.

3. Let them talk to the other person

Many people miss this: if you're at a front desk, in a taxi or at a counter, ask the agent to explain to the person in front of you. Put the call on speaker or hand over the phone. The agent talks to them in Korean, then tells you the answer in English.

4. No signal? Use Wi-Fi or chat

On the official 1330 page you can start a free online voice call. It's free on Wi-Fi, and data charges may apply on mobile data. You can also chat with a person:

• 1330 Messenger: in your browser, no download needed

• Messenger apps: KakaoTalk, Facebook, Line and WhatsApp

Chat is handy when you want an address or a phrase you can show someone on your screen.

LOCAL TIP
Before you call, take a screenshot of the address or place name on your map app. Read it out or paste it into chat. Agents can help faster when they know exactly where you are.

Does calling 1330 cost anything?

The online call is free on Wi-Fi, and data charges may apply on mobile data. What a regular phone call costs depends on your phone plan, so check with your carrier if you're roaming.

Common mistakes

• Calling after midnight. The line runs from 7 AM to midnight, Korea time. Older pages online still say 24 hours. Plan late-night questions before 24:00.

• Waiting until it's a problem. 1330 is just as good for small questions, like which bus to take or how to ask for something at a restaurant.

• Using it for an emergency. If someone is hurt or in danger, call 119 or 112 first.

• Forgetting about Wi-Fi. No roaming? Cafes, hotels and many stations have Wi-Fi, and the online call works on it.

How to reach 1330

HOW TO GET THERE
By phone in Korea: 1330 (no area code).
From overseas: +82-2-1330.
Online call: from the official 1330 page, free on Wi-Fi (data charges may apply).
Chat: 1330 Messenger in your browser, or KakaoTalk, Facebook, Line and WhatsApp.
Hours: 7:00–24:00 KST, every day. Check the official page for any changes.

LOCAL TIP
Taking a taxi? Have the driver's attention and the 1330 agent on speaker at the same time. Say your destination, then let the agent confirm it with the driver in Korean before you set off.

FAQ

Is 1330 open 24 hours?

No. It runs 7:00 to 24:00, Korea time, every day of the year. Some older sites still say 24 hours. For a police, fire or medical emergency at any hour, call 112 or 119.

Can I call 1330 from a foreign phone number?

Yes. Inside Korea, dial 1330 with no area code. From overseas, the official number is +82-2-1330. On Wi-Fi you can also start a free online call from the official 1330 page, which is handy if you don't have roaming or a Korean SIM.

What languages does 1330 support?

English, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Russian, Thai, Vietnamese and Indonesian/Malay. Choose your language from the menu when the call connects. Chat is available through 1330 Messenger, KakaoTalk, Facebook, Line and WhatsApp.

Can 1330 help me talk to a taxi driver or a hotel?

Yes. Interpretation is one of its main services, for places like hotels, public transport, restaurants and shops. Put the call on speaker or pass the phone over, and the agent explains to the other person in Korean, then gives you the answer in English.

Have you ever called 1330 on a trip in Korea? Share what it helped with in the comments.

Plan the fun part

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