After Social Distancing Ended, Lost Items in the Subway Also Increased Significantly

Last Year, a Total of 127,387 Lost Items

[Asia Economy Reporter Kiho Sung] Seoul Metro announced on the 10th that the total number of lost items reported to the corporation last year reached 127,387, a significant increase to 125% compared to 101,618 lost items in 2021. This rise is attributed to the easing of quarantine rules, recovery in subway ridership, and an increase in various events and evening gatherings, which have led to more lost items.

The most frequently lost item in the subway last year was wallets, with a total of 31,228 cases reported, accounting for 24.5% of all lost items. This was followed by mobile phones (16.5%), clothing (14.4%), and bags (14.2%) in that order.

The most commonly lost subway items have shifted from bags to mobile phones and wallets. Bags, which were the most lost item 10 years ago, have recently fallen to fourth place. In 2006, bags accounted for 31.6% (16,355 cases) of all lost items, but from 2014 to 2017, mobile phones took the top spot.

Since 2018, wallet losses have been the highest. Considering that most wallets reported on site are thin card wallets, it is presumed that many people forget their wallets after using transportation cards at ticket gates and other locations.

Among the lost items reported last year, 80,191 cases (63%) were returned directly to their owners. 29,618 cases (23%) were transferred to the police, and 17,578 cases (14%) are still being stored, waiting for their owners. The item type with the highest return rate to owners was mobile phones at 94.1%. Bags (78.9%) and wallets (78.2%) also recorded high return rates, but for clothing, only 1,833 out of 18,333 cases were returned to owners, indicating that 9 out of 10 people do not retrieve their lost clothing.

What should you do if you suddenly realize you left something behind while traveling on the subway? A corporation official said that confirming the location and time of loss is the most important step. Before reporting the lost item to the Customer Safety Office, accurately checking the train disembarkation time and direction, as well as boarding and alighting locations, greatly helps in finding the lost item.

It is important to note that if an item is dropped onto the tracks through the gap between the train and the platform, it may be difficult to retrieve it on the same day. Lost items on the tracks cannot be collected during train operation hours for safety reasons. When an item falls onto the tracks, reporting the type of item and platform location to the Customer Safety Office will allow it to be collected after business hours and returned starting the next day.

When lost items are reported at each station, they are first registered on the National Police Agency’s lost property portal site ‘lost112’ and then transferred to the lost property centers operated by each subway line. If passengers do not immediately claim their items, they are stored for one week before being transferred to the police station.

The lost112 site can be accessed via computer and smartphone apps. Users can search by date, item type, and location where the item was lost, and photos are sometimes uploaded. If you find your lost item in the search results, bring your ID to the station or lost property center where the item is stored to claim it.

Meanwhile, the lost property centers also offer a service to store lost items in lockers within the subway. Lost items are stored in lockers at the station where the lost property center is located, and the locker number and password are sent to the owner. This service is very useful for citizens who cannot visit the lost property center during business hours due to night shifts or other reasons.

Seoul Metro Sales Support Director Gilho Seo said, “Putting business cards or other identification in wallets or bags, or confirming the location and time of loss, greatly increases the chances of recovering lost items.” He added, “Please understand that items dropped onto the tracks cannot be retrieved during operating hours due to safety measures.”