Seoul, South Korea – The South Korean National Fire Agency reported a significant 18.5% increase in the number of overseas emergency medical consultations received through its 119 service last year. The service, which connects South Korean citizens abroad to emergency medical professionals 24/7, has seen a steady climb in usage.

In 2023, the 119 emergency medical consultation service fielded a total of 4,901 calls, averaging 13.4 inquiries per day. This marks a substantial increase from the previous year's 4,135 calls. The service has been particularly popular among South Koreans traveling or residing in maritime regions, accounting for 52.8% of all consultations. However, there was also a notable increase in consultations from those on land and in the air.

The primary mode of contact for these consultations was through social media platforms, with KakaoTalk being the most popular choice. The majority of callers were male, and the 20s and 30s age groups constituted the largest proportion of users.

Medical consultations and prescription advice remained the top reasons for contacting the service. Particularly noteworthy was the 30% increase in medical consultation requests compared to the previous year. Emergency medicine, dermatology, and orthopedics were the most common specialties sought.

"As the frequency of disasters and emergencies both domestically and internationally continues to rise, we are committed to enhancing our 119 emergency medical consultation service to ensure that South Korean citizens can access emergency medical care wherever they may be," said Yoo Byung-wook, head of the 119 Emergency Medical Division at the National Fire Agency. "We will continue to develop comprehensive policies to protect the lives and safety of our citizens overseas."