Living in the United States, you quickly realize that the area code attached to phone numbers contains important information.

Staten Island is one of the boroughs of New York City and shares several area codes that apply to the entire city. The main area codes are 718, 347, and 929, with 917 also being used in some cases recently. These area codes are not unique to Staten Island but are used throughout New York City. Therefore, just because a number starts with 718 does not mean it is necessarily a Staten Island number, as Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx also use 718.

The 718 area code was first assigned in 1984 to the boroughs of New York City (Brooklyn, Queens, Bronx, Staten Island) excluding Manhattan. Previously, the entire city used the 212 code, but due to an increase in subscribers, Manhattan and other boroughs were separated. 718 has long been established as a symbol of New York's outer boroughs. In the mid-1990s, the 917 code was added, initially designated for wireless (cell phone) numbers, but is now assigned without distinction between landline and wireless.

The 347 area code was added in 1999 as an overlay to the 718 code due to subscriber saturation. An overlay means that a new code is applied to the same area where the existing code is used, allowing new subscribers in the existing 718 area to be assigned 347 without geographic separation. The 929 code was added later in 2011 as an overlay due to further subscriber saturation. Thus, while most landline phones or business lines in Staten Island start with 718, many personal cell phones often start with 347 or 929.

When making a call within New York City, you must dial in the long-distance format (10 digits including the area code). The New York metropolitan area mandates 10-digit dialing, so even for numbers with the same 718 code, you must include 718 to make a total of 10 digits. This regulation was introduced after the overlay codes were implemented, and both the 1-xxx-xxx-xxxx format and the xxx-xxx-xxxx format are acceptable. When calling to other states or regions in the U.S., it is common to add a 1 in front.

The main public service numbers in Staten Island mostly start with 718. For example, Staten Island Borough Hall is 718-816-2000, and Staten Island Ferry service information is 718-727-2508. Local hospitals like Staten Island University Hospital (SIUH) and Richmond University Medical Center (RUMC) also use 718 numbers. In contrast, recently opened small businesses or individual entrepreneurs are increasingly using 347 or 929 codes. For directory services like 411 or municipal services like 311, you can dial just the three digits without a code.

When making international calls from Korea to Staten Island (or New York), you need to dial a total of 13 digits including the international call code. The format is 001 (or +1) + area code (718/347/929) + 7-digit number. For example, to call 718-816-2000 from Korea, you would dial 001-718-816-2000 or +1-718-816-2000. Nowadays, using internet-based calling apps like KakaoTalk, Google Meet, or WhatsApp allows you to contact without international call charges, making it very convenient. Especially within the Korean community, KakaoTalk has become a major means of communication, so as long as you have a smartphone, staying in touch between the U.S. and Korea is not very difficult.

Virtual phone number (VoIP) services are also noteworthy. By using services like Google Voice, MagicJack, or Ooma, you can use a real U.S. phone number over the internet and receive a number with a New York area code. This allows for affordable calls and texts within the U.S., making it a useful option for Koreans who are newly immigrating or temporarily residing. However, since each service varies in features, pricing, and reliability, it is advisable to compare them thoroughly in advance.

Finally, during emergencies while living in Staten Island, you can always dial 911. 911 is the unified emergency reporting number that connects you to police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS). For non-emergency police contact, you can call 311 or the local NYPD precinct number. The emergency rooms of hospitals in Staten Island operate 24 hours, and for general medical information or poison emergency consultations, you can contact the New York Poison Control Center at 1-800-222-1222. Understanding the phone number system is fundamental to living in the U.S. and is the first step toward a safe life.