Use this guide when an item is missing but you do not know that it was stolen. Start with the transport operator or venue, secure anything that can expose money or personal data, and then search or report through Korea’s official lost-property system. If you witnessed theft, threats or another crime, treat it as a police matter rather than a routine lost-item report.
Choose the fastest route
| Where it went missing | First contact | Details to provide |
|---|---|---|
| Subway or train | Station office or operator lost-property desk | Line, direction, stations, car number, time and seat |
| Bus | Bus operator or terminal | Route number, stops, direction, time and payment record |
| Taxi | Taxi company or app/card support | Pickup, drop-off, time, fare, receipt and plate details |
| Airport | Airport or airline desk responsible for the area | Terminal, gate, flight, seat and time |
| Shop, café or hotel | Front desk or security office | Floor, table or room, purchase time and receipt |
| Location uncertain | Search LOST112 and file a report | Distinctive features, serial number, last place and time |
The first 10 minutes
- Reconstruct the last confirmed moment. Write down when and where you last handled the item.
- Call the location. Give an exact route, room, counter, gate, exit or seat.
- Protect accounts. Lock cards, enable phone lost mode and change critical passwords if necessary.
- Save evidence. Keep receipts, app trip history, card-payment records, photos and serial numbers.
- Separate loss from theft. The ordinary police lost-item service is for property that was lost, not stolen. If there are signs of theft or immediate danger, contact police.
How to use LOST112
- Open the official LOST112 portal and select the multilingual guidance if needed.
- Search found items first. Use broader date and location ranges because an item may be registered later or transferred.
- If no match appears, follow the official reporting flow. Korean police guidance says a report may be made online or at a nearby police station or police box.
- Keep the receipt or reference number and update the report if you recover the item.
- Search again over the following days. Official guidance explains that an institution may hold an item for up to seven days before transferring it to the police lost-property system.
Searching found items and filing a lost-item report are different actions. Do both when the location is uncertain.
Copyable incident record
- Item type, brand, model and color:
- Case, stickers, scratches or unique features:
- Serial number or partial identifying number:
- Last confirmed date and time:
- Last place, route, direction, station/stop and seat:
- Next place visited:
- Safe contact number or email:
- Proof of ownership available:
Never publish a full passport number, residence-card number, bank-card number, device passcode or account password.
Phone, wallet and identity documents
Phone
Use the device maker’s official lost-device service, display a safe contact method and suspend the SIM if account takeover is possible. Do not confront anyone alone based only on a map pin.
Wallet and bank cards
Freeze or suspend cards through the issuer, review transactions and report unauthorized activity. A LOST112 report does not replace financial-account security.
Passport
Contact your embassy or consulate for replacement instructions. If travel is close, also contact the airline and the relevant immigration authority.
Residence card
Use HiKorea or call the Immigration Contact Center at 1345 to confirm the current loss-report and replacement procedure.
Collecting the item
The holding office may ask for proof of ownership. Bring identification and useful evidence such as a receipt, serial number, matching photo, device account, ticket or trip record. If someone else will collect it, ask in advance what authorization is required.
Useful Korean sentences
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 분실물을 찾고 있습니다. | I am looking for a lost item. |
| 오늘 오후 세 시쯤 여기에서 잃어버렸습니다. | I lost it here at about 3 p.m. today. |
| 분실물 보관소가 어디예요? | Where is the lost-property office? |
| 분실 신고를 하고 싶습니다. | I would like to file a lost-item report. |
| 접수번호를 받을 수 있을까요? | May I have the reference number? |
Avoid recovery scams
- Ask a claimed finder for a non-public detail or a photo proving possession.
- Never send verification codes, passwords or full identity-document images.
- Prefer collection at an official desk or safe public location.
- Be cautious if someone demands money before providing proof.
Official sources
- Korean National Police Agency LOST112: reporting lost items
- LOST112 English system guide
- Police Civil Service 24: lost-item report overview
Reviewed against official Korean police guidance on 27 September 2026. Procedures can change; verify urgent or unusual cases with the responsible authority.