Losing your phone, wallet, passport, or shopping bag in Seoul can be stressful, especially if you are visiting Korea for a short time. Fortunately, the city has official lost-and-found channels for subway services, airport rail, trains, and property reported to the police.
The key is to contact the right organization as soon as possible. Items left on a subway train may be handled by a different operator from items lost in a taxi, at a shopping centre, or in a restaurant.
This guide explains where to start, which official contacts may help, what information to prepare, and what to do if an important travel document goes missing.
What to Do Immediately
If you notice that something is missing, retrace your steps safely and contact the place or transport operator where you last remember having it.
Write down:
- The approximate date and time you lost the item.
- The station, train line, taxi, venue, or neighbourhood.
- The direction of travel and last station, if you were on a train.
- A description of the item, including colour, brand, case, and distinguishing marks.
- Your seat, carriage, or taxi details, if known.
For a phone or electronic device, use its official lost-device service to secure your accounts where appropriate. If bank cards are missing, contact the card issuer promptly. If a passport is lost, contact the relevant embassy or consulate for instructions.
Do not post passport numbers, full bank details, passwords, or other sensitive information publicly while trying to recover your property.
Seoul Subway Lost-and-Found Centres
Seoul subway services are operated by more than one organization, so the correct lost-and-found office depends on the line and operator.
The Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Engineering lost-and-found directory lists these Seoul Metro centres for Lines 1–8: official lost-and-found directory.
| Subway line | Lost-and-found centre | Telephone |
|---|---|---|
| Lines 1 and 2 | City Hall | 02-6110-1122 |
| Lines 3 and 4 | Chungmuro | 02-6110-3344 |
| Lines 5 and 8 | Wangsimni | 02-6311-6765 |
| Lines 6 and 7 | Taereung | 02-6311-6766 |
The listed Seoul Metro centres generally operate on weekdays during office hours and may be closed on weekends and public holidays. Confirm the current schedule before travelling to an office.
What about Line 9?
Line 9 has a separate operator and lost-and-found arrangements. Seoul Metro Line 9’s official information lists its lost-and-found centre at Dongjak Station, with its own operating hours and contact details. Check the current official page before calling or visiting, because contact details may change: Seoul Metro Line 9 official page.
If you do not know which operator handled your journey, ask station staff or use the official Seoul tourism lost-and-found directory to identify the appropriate contact.
What should you tell the subway office?
Explain the line you used, your boarding and exit stations, travel direction, approximate time, and a clear description of the item. If you know the carriage number, seat, or door location, provide that too.
The sooner you report the loss, the easier it may be for staff to identify the journey and check relevant records.
Lost Property on Korail and Airport Rail
Not every railway line in the Seoul metropolitan area is operated by Seoul Metro.
For KTX and other Korail services, use the official Korail customer-service and lost-property channels. For Airport Railroad Express (AREX), contact the operator directly. For practical advice on bags, storage and what to do if you leave something on a train, read our KTX luggage rules guide.
The official Seoul tourism lost-and-found page provides contact information for several transport operators and can be a useful starting point when you are unsure whom to contact: Seoul tourism lost-and-found guide. You can also visit Korail’s official website.
When reporting a loss on an airport train, provide the service, travel time, stations, direction, and any available ticket information. Do not assume that a lost item on the airport railway will be handled by an ordinary Seoul Metro office.
Lost Something in a Taxi?
The best route depends on how you booked and paid for the taxi.
App-booked taxi
Open the ride history in the app you used and look for the trip details or help section. The booking record may identify the driver, vehicle, or customer-service route.
Card-paid taxi
Check your payment receipt or transaction record for the time and fare. If the payment record includes vehicle or operator information, it may help you trace the ride.
Street-hailed taxi paid in cash
This can be harder to trace if you did not keep a receipt. Write down the pickup location, destination, approximate time, taxi colour, and any identifying details you remember.
Contact the relevant taxi service or a local information centre for guidance. If you suspect theft rather than accidental loss, report the circumstances to the police.
Do not assume a particular telephone number will work for every taxi company or payment method. Use current official contact details for the service involved.
Use the National Police Lost-Property Service
If the transport operator or venue does not have your item, search the official Korean National Police lost-property service.
Police Civil Service 24: minwon24.police.go.kr
The portal provides lost-property services, including searching for found items and submitting lost-item reports. The official service information states that foreign nationals are included among eligible users. Some online functions may require registration or additional information: official lost-property service information.
The older LOST112 service has historically been used for lost-property searches. If you arrive at an older link or page, check the current Police Civil Service 24 portal for the relevant service and instructions.
How to search effectively
Try different descriptions of your item. A found phone might be listed by brand or colour, while a wallet could be recorded by its appearance rather than the owner’s name.
Check the date and location carefully. If you find a possible match, follow the official instructions to contact the responsible police station or organization.
Do not assume that every item appears online immediately. A transport operator, business, or venue may still be holding the property locally.
Police assistance by phone
The Korean police civil-service contact number is 182. Official portal information lists operating hours and separate arrangements for callers outside Korea; check the current details on the police website before calling: Police Civil Service 24.
For immediate danger or an emergency, use the appropriate Korean emergency service rather than a routine lost-property channel.
Lost Items at Shops, Restaurants, Hotels, and Attractions
If you lose something inside a business or public venue, contact its reception or customer-service desk first.
Give staff the date, approximate time, location inside the venue, and item description. If you visited several places, make a short list and contact each one rather than relying on a general citywide database.
For a hotel, tell reception and ask whether staff have a lost-property procedure. For a shopping centre or attraction, use its official customer-service contact.
Items handed to the police may later appear in the national database, but there is no guarantee that every lost item will be transferred or listed after a fixed number of days. Check both the original venue and the official police portal.
Help for International Visitors
If language is a barrier, the Korea Travel Hotline 1330 may be able to provide tourism information and guidance. Check its current language availability and operating details before relying on it for an urgent issue.
For a missing passport, contact your embassy or consulate and follow its official replacement procedure. A police report may be useful or required, but it does not replace the passport-replacement process.
For missing payment cards, use your bank’s official contact channels to block or secure the card. For a missing phone, protect your accounts and contact your mobile provider if needed.
A Practical Lost-Property Checklist
- Return to the last location where you remember having the item, if safe and practical.
- Contact the relevant station, taxi operator, venue, or hotel.
- Search the official Police Civil Service 24 lost-property service.
- Record any report reference number and keep copies of relevant messages.
- Secure bank cards, phones, accounts, and travel documents as appropriate.
- Check again later if the item has not yet been logged.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take for a lost item to appear in the police database?
There is no single guaranteed timeline for every operator and venue. Some property is held locally before being reported or transferred. Contact the original operator and continue checking the official police portal.
Can a foreign tourist report a lost item in Korea?
The official Police Civil Service 24 lost-property information includes foreign nationals among eligible users. Some functions may require registration or additional details: official service information.
What if I lost my passport?
Contact your embassy or consulate as soon as possible and follow its official instructions. Also contact the place where the passport was lost and consider making a police report if advised.
What information should I provide?
Give the approximate time and location, a detailed item description, your travel route, and any receipt or booking information. Keep sensitive personal information private.
Final Thoughts
Losing something in Seoul does not mean it is gone forever. Start with the place or transport operator where you last had the item, then use the official police lost-property service if necessary.
Because contact numbers, operating hours, and reporting systems can change, verify details on the relevant operator’s official website before visiting an office. Keeping a clear record of your route and the item’s identifying features can make the search more efficient.
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