Seoul Subway Lost and Found 2026: Only 51% Returned, Home Delivery From 5,000 Won

If you leave your phone on the seat just before stepping off a train on Seoul's Line 2, don't panic — there's something you should do first. Remembering the train number, the exact time you got off, and which car you were in can greatly improve your odds of getting it back.

At a glance: 167,738 items were reported lost on the Seoul subway in 2025 (about 460 a day) · 51.4% were returned directly to the owner, 30.1% were handed to police, 18.5% are still being held · To report a loss, call Seoul Metro's customer center at 1577-1234 · Line-specific lost-and-found centers (weekdays 09:00-18:00, closed weekends and public holidays): Lines 1-2 City Hall Center 02-6110-1122, Lines 3-4 Chungmuro Center 02-6110-3344, Lines 5-8 Wangsimni Center 02-6311-6765, Lines 6-7 Taereung Center 02-6311-6766 · Check online via the police lost-property portal lost112.go.kr · Since July 20, 2026, a home-delivery service has been available: under 2kg 5,000 won, 2-10kg 6,000 won, 10-20kg 7,000 won (delivered by CJ Logistics; cash, food, and animals/plants excluded).

According to Seoul Metro, 167,738 lost items were reported on the subway last year, up about 10% from the year before — roughly 460 a day, or one item lost about every three minutes. Yet only 51.4% made it directly back into an owner's hands. The rest were handed to police (30.1%) or remain in storage (18.5%), and many foreign travelers give up simply because they don't know how to report a loss.

The moment you realize you've left something behind, call Seoul Metro's customer center (1577-1234) and give the train number, the time you got off, and where in the car you were sitting. Items collected at a station are first registered with the police's integrated lost-property portal, "Police Minwon24" (lost112.go.kr), then moved to the line's lost-and-found center, where they're held for up to a week. If no one claims an item after that, it's handed over to the local police station.

Since July 20, 2026, a new "doorstep delivery" service means you no longer have to visit a lost-and-found center in person. After confirming your identity by phone with the center, you'll receive an application link where you enter a delivery address and pay the fee. Charges are based on weight: 5,000 won under 2kg, 6,000 won for 2-10kg, and 7,000 won for 10-20kg, with CJ Logistics handling delivery. If your schedule makes it hard to reach a center that's only open on weekday afternoons, having the item sent to your hotel or near the airport is far cheaper and easier than missing your flight. Cash, food, and live animals or plants, however, are not eligible for delivery.

Lost-and-found centers are open only from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays and are closed on weekends and public holidays, so it's safest to call well before your return flight. For commonly lost items like wallets, phones, and bags, reporting within minutes of getting off the train makes a real difference in whether you get it back.