If you realize you left something on the Seoul subway, act quickly and write down the details while they are fresh. Note the line, direction, station, approximate time, and train car if you know it. Then contact the lost-and-found center serving that line and search the Korean National Police Agency’s LOST112 portal for found items.
First: gather the details
Before calling or making a report, write down:
- The subway line and direction of travel.
- The station where you boarded and where you got off.
- The date and approximate time you last had the item.
- Which door or car you used, if you remember.
- A clear description: color, brand, case, contents, and distinguishing marks.
Do not include sensitive details such as a phone passcode or full payment-card number in a public listing. For a phone or bank card, use the device maker or bank’s official security steps as well.
Contact the right Seoul Metro center
For Seoul Metro’s Lines 1–8, Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Engineering lists four centers, open weekdays 9 a.m.–6 p.m. and closed weekends and holidays. An item may first be logged at a station; if it is not collected there, it is transferred to the center the next day, kept for seven days, then handed to a police station. Line 9 has separate operators and contacts, so use the section-specific details below rather than the general Line 9 customer-service number.
- City Hall Lost & Found Center (Lines 1–2): +82-2-6110-1122.
- Chungmuro Lost & Found Center (Lines 3–4): +82-2-6110-3344.
- Wangsimni Lost & Found Center (Lines 5 and 8): +82-2-6311-6765 or 6768.
- Taereung Lost & Found Center (Lines 6–7): +82-2-6311-6766 or 6767.
- Line 9, Gaehwa–Sinnonhyeon section: Dongjak Lost & Found Center, +82-2-2656-0999; weekdays 10 a.m.–7 p.m., closed weekends and holidays.
- Line 9, Eonju–Central Veterans Hospital section: Sports Complex Lost & Found Center, +82-2-2656-0787; weekdays 10 a.m.–7 p.m., closed weekends and holidays.
These numbers and hours apply only to the named centers, not every railway in the Seoul region. Airport Railroad, KTX, other private lines, buses, and taxis have different operators and contact routes. If you do not know which operator handled your trip, contact the station where you noticed the loss or use the operator’s official directory; the 1330 Travelers’ Hotline can help visitors navigate in English.
Search and report on LOST112
Search the National Police Agency’s current Police Civil Service 24 lost-property portal by category, date, and location, then file a report with the details you collected. Older guides may call the service LOST112; follow the current official portal linked below. The portal is primarily in Korean, so use your browser’s translation feature or ask your accommodation or the 1330 hotline for help if the form is difficult to navigate.
Items can take time to be logged. Search again later and contact the relevant operator center before traveling across the city to collect anything. The Seoul Metro Engineering seven-day holding rule is for its Lines 1–8 centers; Line 9’s official process has its own handling and transfer rules: the operator says unclaimed property is transferred to a police station after seven days and becomes state property after six months. Bring identification and be ready to describe identifying features that are not visible in a listing.
If your passport or valuables are missing
If a passport is missing, contact your country’s embassy or consulate for replacement-document instructions. If a bank card is missing, freeze it through the bank’s official app or emergency phone line. If a phone is missing, use the maker’s official device-location and account-protection tools from another trusted device. Do not share passwords or verification codes with anyone claiming to have found it.
What to say when you call
You can read this simple Korean script or show it to staff:
지하철에서 [물건]을 잃어버렸어요. [날짜] [시간]쯤 [역]에서 [방향] 열차를 탔고, [역]에서 내렸어요. 분실물 접수됐는지 확인해 주실 수 있나요?
It means: “I lost a [item] on the subway. Around [time] on [date], I took the train toward [direction] from [station] and got off at [station]. Could you check whether it has been turned in?”
Quick action checklist
- Record the line, stations, direction, time, and car if known.
- Call the lost-and-found center for the line or operator.
- Search and report the item on LOST112.
- Check again later; newly found items may not appear immediately.
- Secure your accounts or contact your embassy if the item requires it.
For other arrival and departure logistics, see our Incheon Airport departure guide.
FAQ
Can I get a lost item back on the same day?
Possibly, but do not assume it has reached a central center yet. Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Engineering says items can be transferred the next day. Call first and follow the operator’s instructions.
Are Seoul subway lost-and-found centers open on weekends?
The listed Seoul Metro operator center hours are weekdays, 9 a.m.–6 p.m., and closed weekends and holidays. Other operators may differ.
Where do unclaimed items go?
For Seoul Metro Engineering’s Lines 1–8 centers, unclaimed items are transferred to a police station after seven days. Line 9 follows a separate operator process. Search the current Police Civil Service 24 portal and confirm the correct line operator before collecting an item.
Sources (checked September 28, 2026):
Seoul Metropolitan Rapid Transit Engineering: Lost & Found Center
National Police Agency: Police Civil Service 24 lost-property portal
Seoul Metro Line 9: official lost-and-found centers, section contacts and procedure
Contact details and item-handling procedures can change. Confirm the current operator information before visiting a center.