[Korea.net News, Government News, September 9 2008] Korea to launch ubiquitous 119 rescue system

Source: Ministry of Public Administration and Security

Korea's National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said Tuesday (Sept. 9) that it will introduce an advanced "119" rescue service in cooperation with regional emergency management agencies and related government organizations.

The state-emergency management body invested 2.8 trillion won last October to build and stabilize a so-called ubiquitous 119 or (u-119) service system which provides prompt rescue service countrywide by using the Internet. The number 119 comes from the phone number Koreas call in case of emergency.

The u-119 system consists of the nationwide u-safety call system and "Help Me 119 Service" for expatriates and seniors currently being operated by regional emergency management agencies in Incheon, Gyeonggi-do (Gyeonggi Province) and Jeollanam-do (South Jeolla Province), and the automatic 119 report service which is currently being test run in 100 farming houses in South Jeolla Province.