Foreigners now can report emergencies in four different languages

The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced Tuesday that it launched an application that allows users to report emergencies in five languages.

A screenshot of the Ministry of Interior and Safety's application that allows users to report emergencies without having to make a call. [MINISTRY OF INTERIOR AND SAFETY]

The Ministry of Interior and Safety announced Tuesday that it launched an application that allows users to report emergencies in five languages.

The app, named Baro Emergency Reporting App, is available in Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese and Filipino.

It will allow users to report to the police, fire department and the Korea Coast Guard without making a phone call.

Users only have to select a photo that shows their situation. Then, the app will alert the police or fire department. Some of the situations users can report on the app include theft, traffic accident and physical assault.

Languages provided on the application [SCREEN CAPTURE]

Users can also describe the emergencies in writing, and the text gets sent to the appropriate organizations immediately. Users can also submit on the app the location of the emergency, personal information of the person in trouble and photos and videos that could be helpful for first responders.

Users are currently allowed to download the app on Apple's App Store, One Store and Google's Play Store. The app is to go online starting Wednesday.

The interior ministry hopes the new app will help those who struggled to call emergency numbers, including people who aren't fluent in Korean or those with hearing impairments.

"We will continue to improve and develop the Baro Emergency Reporting App so anyone can report emergencies anytime, anywhere," Cho Sang-myeong, head of the ministry's safety management policy bureau, said.

BY LEE TAE-HEE [lee.taehee2@joongang.co.kr]