Knowing how to respond during emergencies is crucial, especially when you are in a foreign country. This guide provides essential Korean vocabulary and phrases related to disaster evacuation procedures, helping you understand warnings, ask for help, and follow instructions to ensure your safety in Korea.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 재난 대피 방법 배우기
Pronunciation: jae-nan dae-pi bang-beop bae-u-gi
Meaning: Learning disaster evacuation methods
Essential Vocabulary
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Expression: 재난
Pronunciation: jae-nan
Meaning: Disaster -
Expression: 대피
Pronunciation: dae-pi
Meaning: Evacuation -
Expression: 지진
Pronunciation: ji-jin
Meaning: Earthquake -
Expression: 태풍
Pronunciation: tae-pung
Meaning: Typhoon -
Expression: 화재
Pronunciation: hwa-jae
Meaning: Fire -
Expression: 홍수
Pronunciation: hong-su
Meaning: Flood -
Expression: 비상구
Pronunciation: bi-sang-gu
Meaning: Emergency exit -
Expression: 대피소
Pronunciation: dae-pi-so
Meaning: Shelter / Evacuation center -
Expression: 안전
Pronunciation: an-jeon
Meaning: Safety -
Expression: 위험
Pronunciation: wi-heom
Meaning: Danger -
Expression: 구급 상자
Pronunciation: gu-geup sang-ja
Meaning: First aid kit -
Expression: 소방서
Pronunciation: so-bang-seo
Meaning: Fire station
Asking for Help and Information
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Expression: 비상구가 어디에 있나요?
Pronunciation: bi-sang-gu-ga eo-di-e it-na-yo?
Meaning: Where is the emergency exit? -
Expression: 가장 가까운 대피소는 어디인가요?
Pronunciation: ga-jang ga-kka-un dae-pi-so-neun eo-di-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Where is the nearest shelter? -
Expression: 어떻게 해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteo-ke hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: What should I do? -
Expression: 이 곳은 안전한가요?
Pronunciation: i go-seun an-jeon-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is this place safe? -
Expression: 도움이 필요해요.
Pronunciation: do-u-mi pil-yo-hae-yo.
Meaning: I need help. -
Expression: 무슨 일이에요?
Pronunciation: mu-seun i-ri-e-yo?
Meaning: What’s happening? / What’s wrong? -
Expression: 대피 경로를 알려주세요.
Pronunciation: dae-pi gyeong-ro-reul al-lyeo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please tell me the evacuation route. -
Expression: 가족과 연락하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: ga-jok-gwa yeol-la-ka-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I want to contact my family. -
Expression: 다친 사람이 있나요?
Pronunciation: da-chin sa-ra-mi it-na-yo?
Meaning: Is anyone injured? -
Expression: 구조대는 언제 오나요?
Pronunciation: gu-jo-dae-neun eon-je o-na-yo?
Meaning: When is the rescue team coming? -
Expression: 안전한 곳으로 안내해 주세요.
Pronunciation: an-jeon-han go-seu-ro an-nae-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please guide me to a safe place.
Giving and Following Instructions
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Expression: 즉시 대피하세요!
Pronunciation: jeuk-ssi dae-pi-ha-se-yo!
Meaning: Evacuate immediately! -
Expression: 저를 따라오세요.
Pronunciation: jeo-reul tta-ra-o-se-yo.
Meaning: Follow me. -
Expression: 침착하세요.
Pronunciation: chim-cha-ka-se-yo.
Meaning: Stay calm. / Be calm. -
Expression: 대피소로 가세요.
Pronunciation: dae-pi-so-ro ga-se-yo.
Meaning: Go to the shelter. -
Expression: 낮은 자세를 유지하세요.
Pronunciation: na-jeun ja-se-reul yu-ji-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Stay low. / Keep a low posture. -
Expression: 엘리베이터를 사용하지 마세요.
Pronunciation: el-li-be-i-teo-reul sa-yong-ha-ji ma-se-yo.
Meaning: Do not use the elevator. -
Expression: 계단을 이용하세요.
Pronunciation: gye-da-neul i-yong-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Use the stairs. -
Expression: 창문에서 멀리 떨어지세요.
Pronunciation: chang-mu-ne-seo meol-li tteo-reo-ji-se-yo.
Meaning: Stay away from the windows. -
Expression: 머리를 보호하세요.
Pronunciation: meo-ri-reul bo-ho-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Protect your head. -
Expression: 밖으로 나가지 마세요.
Pronunciation: ba-kkeu-ro na-ga-ji ma-se-yo.
Meaning: Do not go outside. -
Expression: 안전 지침을 따르세요.
Pronunciation: an-jeon ji-chi-meul tta-reu-se-yo.
Meaning: Follow the safety guidelines.
Understanding Warnings
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Expression: 긴급 재난 문자
Pronunciation: gin-geup jae-nan mun-ja
Meaning: Emergency alert message -
Expression: 대피 명령
Pronunciation: dae-pi myeong-nyeong
Meaning: Evacuation order -
Expression: 지진 경보
Pronunciation: ji-jin gyeong-bo
Meaning: Earthquake warning/alert -
Expression: 태풍 주의보
Pronunciation: tae-pung ju-ui-bo
Meaning: Typhoon advisory -
Expression: 호우 경보
Pronunciation: ho-u gyeong-bo
Meaning: Heavy rain warning -
Expression: 화재 경보
Pronunciation: hwa-jae gyeong-bo
Meaning: Fire alarm / Fire warning -
Expression: 쓰나미 경보
Pronunciation: sseu-na-mi gyeong-bo
Meaning: Tsunami warning -
Expression: 민방위 훈련
Pronunciation: min-bang-wi hul-lyeon
Meaning: Civil defense drill -
Expression: 위험 지역
Pronunciation: wi-heom ji-yeok
Meaning: Danger zone -
Expression: 접근 금지
Pronunciation: jeop-kkeun geum-ji
Meaning: No entry / Keep out -
Expression: 기상 특보
Pronunciation: gi-sang teuk-ppo
Meaning: Weather advisory/warning
Cultural Tips
Korea has a well-established system for disaster management. You will often receive emergency alert messages (긴급 재난 문자 – gin-geup jae-nan mun-ja) on your mobile phone for various situations like typhoons, heavy rain, heat waves, or earthquakes. Pay attention to these alerts.
Civil defense drills (민방위 훈련 – min-bang-wi hul-lyeon) are conducted periodically. During these drills, sirens may sound, and traffic might be temporarily stopped. While foreigners are usually not required to participate actively, being aware of them is helpful.
Designated evacuation shelters (대피소 – dae-pi-so) are common, often located in subway stations, schools, or public buildings. Look for signs indicating these shelters in your neighborhood beforehand.
Due to its geographical location, Korea is prone to typhoons (태풍 – tae-pung) during the summer and early autumn, and occasionally experiences earthquakes (지진 – ji-jin), although major ones are rare. Heavy rainfall (호우 – ho-u) can also lead to localized flooding (홍수 – hong-su).
Following instructions from authorities (police, firefighters, building managers) is crucial during emergencies. Koreans generally place high trust in official guidance during crises.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: An earthquake tremor is felt inside an office building.
Roles: A (Korean colleague), B (Foreign colleague)
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Expression: B: 어? 방금 흔들린 거 맞죠? 지진인가요?
Pronunciation: eo? bang-geum heun-deul-lin geo mat-jyo? ji-jin-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Huh? Did that just shake? Was that an earthquake? -
Expression: A: 네, 지진 같아요! 빨리 책상 밑으로 들어가세요! 머리 보호하고요!
Pronunciation: ne, ji-jin ga-ta-yo! ppal-li chaek-ssang mi-teu-ro deu-reo-ga-se-yo! meo-ri bo-ho-ha-go-yo!
Meaning: Yes, I think it’s an earthquake! Quick, get under the desk! Protect your head! -
Expression: B: 네! 이제 어떻게 해요?
Pronunciation: ne! i-je eo-tteo-ke hae-yo?
Meaning: Okay! What do we do now? -
Expression: A: 흔들림이 멈추면 비상구를 통해 밖으로 대피해야 해요. 엘리베이터는 절대 안 돼요.
Pronunciation: heun-deul-li-mi meom-chu-myeon bi-sang-gu-reul tong-hae ba-kkeu-ro dae-pi-hae-ya hae-yo. el-li-be-i-teo-neun jeol-ttae an dwae-yo.
Meaning: When the shaking stops, we need to evacuate outside through the emergency exit. Definitely no elevators. -
Expression: B: 알겠습니다. 비상구는 어디에 있어요?
Pronunciation: al-get-sseum-ni-da. bi-sang-gu-neun eo-di-e i-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Understood. Where is the emergency exit? -
Expression: A: 저쪽 복도 끝에 있어요. 침착하게 저를 따라오세요.
Pronunciation: jeo-jjok bok-tto kkeu-te i-sseo-yo. chim-cha-ka-ge jeo-reul tta-ra-o-se-yo.
Meaning: It’s at the end of that hallway. Stay calm and follow me.
Practice Tips
Familiarizing yourself with disaster-related vocabulary is the first step! Try making flashcards for the words listed above~
Practice the question and instruction phrases aloud. Imagine yourself in an emergency situation and rehearse what you would say or need to understand.
Look for safety information signs (안전 표지판 – an-jeon pyo-ji-pan) in public places like subway stations or buildings in Korea. Try to read and understand them.
If possible, participate in or observe a safety drill. This provides invaluable real-world context for the language you’re learning!
Knowing these expressions can significantly increase your safety and confidence while living or traveling in Korea. Stay safe and keep practicing! 화이팅!
