Police and lost-and-found

Call 112 to report a crime or any emergency needing police. Text reports are also accepted. Interpretation is available: English and Chinese are handled directly, while other languages are connected through an outside interpretation service. Fires and medical emergencies go to 119 instead, so remember both numbers before your trip.

Go to the station office right away and tell staff the station, time, direction of travel and which car you were in. Seoul's subway lines run lost-and-found centers by line and operator. You can also search items handed in to police nationwide on Police Minwon 24, the police online service that replaced the former LOST112 site in January 2026.

If you paid by card, the receipt or payment record can help identify the taxi. If you booked through a ride-hailing app, check your trip history and contact the app's customer support about the lost item, as features differ by app. If that fails, report the loss at a police station or on Police Minwon 24, formerly LOST112.

First report the loss at a police station and get a written confirmation. Then contact your embassy or consulate to ask about a replacement passport or an emergency travel document. Required documents can differ by country, so follow your embassy's instructions. If your departure is soon, also check with your airline and Korea Immigration Service.

Many people in Korea hand found items to the police or station staff, and travelers often report getting things back. Still, there is no guarantee, so keep valuables on you. If something goes missing, report it as quickly as possible; the sooner you act, the better your chances.

A pajulso or jigudae is a small neighborhood police box that handles quick help like directions and lost-property reports. A police station (gyeongchalseo) is a larger office handling investigations. For most traveler problems, walking into the nearest police box is enough to get started.

Korea's dedicated tourist police unit was disbanded in 2024, and patrols in tourist areas are now handled by mobile patrol units and local police stations. If you run into problems such as overcharging or lost items, go to a nearby police box or call 112. For help in a foreign language, call the 1330 Korea Travel Hotline.

Call your card issuer immediately to block the cards. Then report the loss to the police and keep the report confirmation, since your insurer may ask for it. Save your bank's overseas lost-card number before you travel so you are not searching for it in a panic.

Call 112 or go to the nearest police box. Having the time, place and list of stolen items ready makes the report faster, and you can ask for an interpreter. Be sure to get a copy or confirmation of the report, since travel insurers usually require one for theft claims.

LOST112 was the former name of the national police lost-property portal; since January 26, 2026, the service has been merged into Police Minwon 24. There you can search handed-in items by type, date and region and register a lost-item report. Some transit operators keep items in their own centers first, so check those as well.

Note the bus route number and the time you rode, then contact the bus company that runs that route. If you used a transit card, the usage record can help confirm the route and time. Each city handles bus lost-and-found differently, so ask local transit information or the 1330 hotline.

Often, yes. You can request interpretation when calling 112, and police in tourist areas are used to helping foreign visitors. At a neighborhood police box, officers frequently use translation apps or interpretation phone services. Speaking slowly in short sentences makes things easier for everyone.

For items lost inside the terminal, contact the airport's lost-and-found center or an information desk. Anything left on the plane is handled by the airline, so contact them directly. Items forgotten at security screening can also be traced through the airport.

Take it to the nearest police box or police station. If you found it in a subway station or building, handing it to station staff or the management office also works. Keeping someone else's property as your own can be a crime in Korea, such as embezzlement of lost property. Tell staff where and when you found it to help return it.

Bring your passport to prove your identity. Being able to describe the item or its contents helps confirm it belongs to you. If you cannot go in person, ask the office holding it whether someone else can collect it for you or whether it can be sent.

Sometimes. You can ask the office holding the item about international shipping, but whether it is possible and how it works depends on the office. Another option is having a friend in Korea collect and send it. Always leave a reachable email address when you report the loss.

Check your foreign ministry's website or your embassy's site in Seoul for emergency contact details. Save the embassy address and emergency number in your phone before you travel. In serious situations, such as an arrest or major accident, you can ask police to notify your consulate.

Stay calm, answer questions politely and show your passport if asked for ID. Foreigners in Korea are generally required to carry their passport or other legal ID, with an exception for those under 17. If you cannot communicate, ask for an interpreter. Shouting at or pushing an officer can lead to charges of obstructing official duties.

Contact the front desk first and ask whether the item has been found. Give your room number and dates of stay to help staff search. If you suspect theft rather than loss, tell the property and then report it to police by calling 112 or visiting a police box.

When you report the loss at a police box or station, ask for a report confirmation. You may need it for a travel insurance claim or a passport replacement, so do not skip it. If you reported online through LOST112, save a screenshot of your submission as well.