Lost Something in Korea? A Simple Lost-and-Found Guide
You reach for your wallet after a normal day out in Korea. It is not there. Or you get home and realise your bag is still on the bus. Where should you start?
Check the place you last used it, then search the police’s found-item records. Keep a few clear details ready so you can explain what happened without a long conversation in Korean.
1. Start with the last place you remember
Our first suggestion is to contact the café, shop, station or transport company involved. If you were travelling, check your ticket, booking or payment record for the time and route. Ask staff whether an item matching yours has been handed in.
Write down where you asked and what they said. If you and your partner are helping each other, share one short note so you do not lose track of the calls.
2. Search the official police service
The Korean National Police Agency’s Police Civil Service 24 portal (경찰민원24) has a 습득물 검색 service: a search for items that someone has found. The filters include item type, date found and region. The portal also lists an English language option.
Try the likely area and a useful date range first. Our suggestion is to widen your search if there is no close match. Compare the item’s details carefully before assuming it is yours.
Search found items ↗Official police portal · 습득물 검색Two terms to remember:
습득물 검색 — search items that have been found.
분실물 신고 — report something you have lost.
3. Prepare three simple details
Time: When did you last have it? An approximate time is better than a guess presented as certain.
Place: Where did you last use it? Add the station, direction of travel, bus route or shop name if you know it.
Details: Describe the colour, material, size and anything distinctive. A photo you already have may help. Keep private details for the staff handling your enquiry.
4. No match? Check how to report it
The official guide lists both online and in-person ways to report lost property, with no application fee. For an in-person report, it directs people to a nearby police station or local police office. The guide also lists an English report form.
If the online process is difficult to use, check the in-person route. This guide does not assume that every reader can complete online identity verification.
Read the lost-property report guide ↗Official police guidance · 분실물 신고5. Call before you go to collect it
Our suggestion: confirm the holding location and opening hours before travelling. Ask what you need to show to prove the item is yours. Do not assume the collection desk is the same place where you lost it.
You can show staff these short sentences:
지갑을 잃어버렸어요.
I lost my wallet.
이 물건이 제 것인지 확인하고 싶어요.
I would like to check whether this item is mine.
찾으러 갈 때 무엇을 가져가야 하나요?
What should I bring when I come to collect it?
KEYWORD_WORLD tip: Save the item’s reference number and the office’s contact details in the same note. That makes the next conversation easier, whether you handle it yourself or ask your partner to help.
More everyday help in Korea
Sources and checks · Checked 29 September 2026.
Official facts: Korean National Police Agency, found-item search and lost-property report guide. The practical suggestions and example phrases are KEYWORD_WORLD editorial guidance.
Images are AI-created illustrations. They do not show an official office or an actual lost item.
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