Losing your phone, wallet or passport during a trip to South Korea can quickly turn an ordinary travel day into a stressful one.
The good news is that Korea has organized lost-property systems covering police, public transportation, railway stations and airports. The fastest way to recover something, however, often depends on where you lost it and how quickly you act.
An item left on a Seoul subway train should be handled differently from a suitcase left at Incheon Airport or a passport that may have been stolen.
Here is what international travelers should do when something goes missing in Korea.
What Should You Do First After Losing Something in Korea?
Start with the last place where you clearly remember having the item.
Try to reconstruct:
- the approximate time;
- the location;
- the transport service you were using;
- your subway line, train or taxi details;
- where you were sitting or standing; and
- a detailed description of the missing item.
Act quickly if you have just realized what happened.
A phone left on a subway seat may still be on the train. A bag left in a restaurant may still be behind the counter. A wallet left in a taxi may be easier to trace if you still have the receipt or app booking record.
Do not begin by calling Korea’s emergency police number simply because an ordinary item is missing.
If you believe the item was stolen rather than lost, or if the situation involves a crime or immediate danger, that is different. Our South Korea emergency numbers guide explains when to call 112 and how to ask for assistance.
How Does Korea’s Police Lost-and-Found System Work?
South Korea’s police operate a national lost-property system through Police Civil Service 24, or 경찰민원24.
The service includes:
- lost-property reports;
- searches for found property; and
- information about agencies and police offices handling lost items.
The found-property search is available for foreigners as well as Korean residents.
Search for found property — Police Civil Service 24
If your item has not appeared yet, that does not necessarily mean it will never be registered.
A transport operator, station or other organization may initially keep an item before transferring it to a police station or designated lost-and-found center.
Police guidance states that participating organizations may keep found property for a period before transferring unclaimed items to the appropriate police authority.
That means it can be worth checking again later.
Can You Report a Lost Item to the Police Online?
Police Civil Service 24 provides a lost-property report service.
The police describe this service as being for property that has been lost, rather than stolen.
Police Civil Service 24 — Lost Property Report Information
You can also visit a police station, police box or local police substation to ask about reporting lost property.
If you believe someone deliberately took your property, explain the circumstances rather than treating it automatically as an ordinary lost-property case.
What If You Lose Something on the Seoul Subway?
If you realize immediately that you left something on a Seoul subway train, do not wait until the end of the day to start looking.
Go to the nearest station office or customer safety office and explain what happened.
Three details can be particularly useful:
1. Train time
Remember approximately when you got off.
2. Car position
Try to remember which part of the train you were in.
3. Where the item was
Was it on a seat, overhead area or floor?
Seoul Metro specifically encourages passengers to remember these details because they can help staff identify the train and locate the item more quickly.
You can also contact the Seoul Metro customer center at 1577-1234 for lost-property inquiries.
If you are still learning how Seoul’s transport system works, our Seoul subway and T-money guide explains lines, transfers, fares and transportation cards.
Can You Search Online for Something Lost on the Subway?
Yes.
Seoul Metro states that found property it receives is registered with the police lost-property system.
If you do not recover the item immediately through station staff, search Police Civil Service 24.
Useful search information can include:
- date;
- type of item;
- location where it may have been found; and
- identifying information.
For certain categories, police guidance notes that more specific searches are possible. Identification documents can be searched using the owner’s name, while mobile phones may be searchable using their serial number.
Do not rely only on a broad description such as “black bag” if you can provide more distinguishing details.
What If You Leave Something in a Taxi?
Start with the information you already have.
If you booked through a taxi app, open the trip history and identify the ride.
If you hailed the taxi on the street, look for:
- a receipt;
- payment record;
- approximate pickup time;
- pickup and drop-off locations;
- vehicle number or license plate information; or
- any photo that may show the taxi.
This is one reason keeping a taxi receipt for a while can be useful.
If you used an app, follow the app’s current lost-item or customer-support process. If you have a receipt, use the information printed on it to help identify the vehicle or operator.
Our Korea taxi guide for tourists explains booking apps, payment, receipts and the details worth keeping after a ride.
If you cannot identify the taxi, check the national police found-property search as well. A recovered item may eventually enter the police lost-and-found system.
What If You Lose Something on a KTX Train?
If you notice the loss while you are still on the train, tell a crew member as soon as possible.
If you have already left the train, KORAIL advises passengers to contact its railway customer service or a station lost-and-found center.
KORAIL currently lists the railway customer service numbers:
1544-7788
1588-7788
KORAIL also advises passengers to check the national police lost-property system for items lost during rail travel.
When contacting railway staff, prepare as much journey information as possible:
- train number;
- travel date;
- departure and arrival stations;
- carriage;
- seat number; and
- description of the item.
Your ticket or booking history may contain most of this information.
Our KTX train ticket guide explains where to find the important details on your booking and how KTX travel works.
What If You Lose Something at Incheon Airport?
First determine where the item went missing.
This matters because Incheon International Airport divides lost-property responsibility between different organizations.
Inside the Passenger Terminal or Public Airport Areas
The Incheon Airport Lost and Found Office handles items found in areas including passenger terminals, the concourse, transportation center public areas, curbside areas and parking areas.
Terminal 1 Lost and Found:
032-741-3110 / 3114lostnfound@biz.airport.kr
Terminal 2 Lost and Found:
032-741-8988 / 8989lostnfound2@biz.airport.kr
The airport currently lists operating hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., year-round for these offices.
On an Aircraft
If the item was left on an aircraft, contact the airline rather than assuming the airport lost-and-found office is responsible.
Checked Baggage
Missing checked baggage is also handled through the airline.
Report baggage problems to the appropriate airline baggage service.
On an Airport Train or Bus
Items lost on the airport railroad or an airport bus are handled by the relevant transport operator.
For AREX, Incheon Airport currently lists 032-745-7777 for lost-property inquiries.
If you have just arrived in Korea and are trying to work out your onward transport at the same time, our Incheon Airport to Seoul guide explains AREX, airport buses and taxis.
What Happens to a Phone Lost at Incheon Airport?
Incheon Airport says mobile phones, tablet computers and smartwatches found in areas under its lost-and-found jurisdiction are stored for one month before being transferred to the Mobile Phone Lost & Found Center.
The airport lists 1566-4300 for related inquiries.
If your phone disappears, also use the device maker’s location and account-security tools when available.
Do not put yourself in danger trying to retrieve a device from a location you do not recognize.
Consider protecting important accounts, payment services and SIM or eSIM access if the phone cannot be recovered quickly.
What If You Lose Your Passport in Korea?
Treat a passport differently from an ordinary umbrella or shopping bag.
First check the places where it could reasonably have been left, including:
- your hotel safe;
- luggage;
- airport security or immigration areas;
- a tax-refund counter;
- a recent shop or restaurant; and
- transportation used that day.
If you believe the passport was stolen, report the circumstances to the police.
Then contact your own country’s embassy or consulate in South Korea for instructions on replacing the passport or obtaining an emergency travel document.
The procedure is nationality-specific.
Do not assume that instructions written for an American, British, Canadian or Australian passport apply to every traveler.
Your embassy may require identification, passport photos, proof of citizenship, travel details or a police report depending on your circumstances.
If your departure is approaching, tell consular staff your travel date.
What Happens to a Foreign Passport Found at Incheon Airport?
Incheon Airport has a specific procedure for foreign passports found within areas handled by its lost-and-found office.
The airport states that a foreign passport is kept for one month from the date it is found and is then transferred to the relevant country’s embassy.
If you think your passport disappeared at Incheon Airport, contact the airport lost-and-found office promptly rather than waiting until the end of your trip.
Lost or Stolen: Why Does the Difference Matter?
A missing item is not automatically a crime.
You may simply have left it on a train, in a café or in a taxi.
In that situation, start with the relevant transport operator, business, lost-and-found office or police lost-property service.
But if you witnessed someone take the item, have evidence of theft, or face an immediate safety threat, contact the police.
Korea’s emergency police number is 112.
Do not use 112 as a general lost-and-found hotline for an ordinary misplaced item.
For the distinction between police emergencies and non-urgent tourist assistance, see our South Korea emergency numbers guide.
What Information Helps You Recover a Lost Item?
The more specific your information, the easier it can be to distinguish your property from similar items.
Prepare:
- date and approximate time of loss;
- exact or likely location;
- transport line or service;
- train, carriage or seat number where relevant;
- taxi booking or receipt information;
- brand and model;
- color;
- distinctive marks;
- contents of a bag or wallet; and
- a photo of the item if you have one.
For electronics, save identifying information such as the serial number somewhere other than on the device itself before your trip.
For passports, keeping a secure digital copy of the identification page can make it easier to provide passport details to your embassy if the original disappears.
Do not publicly post sensitive passport or financial information while asking strangers online to help find an item.
Can Hotel Staff Help?
Yes, particularly when language is the main obstacle.
Hotel or guesthouse staff may be able to help you identify the Korean name of a station, call a restaurant or explain which transport operator you used.
However, they cannot replace a police report, airline baggage claim or embassy procedure when one is required.
Use accommodation staff as practical assistance rather than assuming they control the lost-property process.
What If You Do Not Speak Korean?
For a straightforward subway loss, start with station staff and show them your route or ticket information.
For broader tourist assistance, the Korea Tourism Organization’s 1330 Korea Travel Helpline provides tourist information and interpretation support.
For a crime or immediate police emergency, use 112.
If you want to prepare these numbers before traveling, our South Korea emergency numbers guide explains the difference between 112, 119 and 1330.
A Simple Korea Lost-and-Found Checklist
When something disappears:
1. Stop and reconstruct your route.
Identify the last place where you definitely had the item.
2. Contact the place or transport operator immediately.
Fast action is especially useful on trains, subways and taxis.
3. Keep your trip details.
Receipts, booking histories, seat numbers and payment records can help identify the right vehicle or location.
4. Search Police Civil Service 24.
A found item may appear after it has been registered.
5. File a lost-property report when appropriate.
The police provide both online and in-person options.
6. Treat passports separately.
Contact your embassy or consulate for nationality-specific replacement instructions.
7. Use 112 if theft or an emergency is involved.
An ordinary misplaced item is different from a crime or immediate safety problem.
The most important thing is to use the system connected to where the item disappeared rather than calling every possible office at once.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a lost-and-found website in Korea?
Yes. The Korean police operate lost-property services through Police Civil Service 24, including found-property searches and lost-property reports.
Can foreigners search for lost property in Korea?
Yes. Police Civil Service 24 lists foreigners among the users supported by its found-property search service.
What should I do if I leave my phone on the Seoul subway?
Contact station staff or the Seoul Metro customer center as quickly as possible. Try to provide the train time, car position and where the phone was left. You can also search the police found-property system if it is not recovered immediately.
What should I do if I leave something in a Korean taxi?
Check your taxi app trip history or receipt first. Record the ride time, pickup and drop-off locations and vehicle information, then use the operator or app’s lost-item process. Also check the police found-property system if necessary.
What should I do if I lose my passport in South Korea?
Check the places where it may have been left, report suspected theft to the police, and contact your country’s embassy or consulate for replacement or emergency travel-document instructions. Procedures vary by nationality.
Should I call 112 for a lost item in Korea?
Not for an ordinary misplaced item. Start with the relevant business, transport operator, lost-and-found office or police lost-property service. Call 112 when you need police assistance for a crime, theft, threat or other urgent situation.
Sources & Further Reading
Police Civil Service 24 — Lost Property Report and Handling Procedure
Police Civil Service 24 — Search for Found Property
Seoul Metropolitan Government — Seoul Metro Lost-Property Guidance
Seoul Metropolitan Government — Seoul Metro Customer Center and Lost-Property Inquiries
KORAIL — Lost Property Guidance for Rail Passengers
Incheon International Airport — Lost and Found
Incheon International Airport — Lost Baggage
UK Government — Passports and Emergency Travel Documents in South Korea