"Thank You to the Subway Staff Who Found My Passport"...A Letter of Appreciation from China

Seoul Subway Line 1 Dongmyo Station Staff Finds Passport and Belongings Lost by Chinese Traveler on Train

Chinese Traveler Sends Thank You Letter to Station Using Translator After Returning Home

On the 20th, a letter sent from China arrived at Dongmyo Station on Subway Line 1. It expressed gratitude to the staff who found the lost luggage containing a passport, and it was notably written carefully in Korean, albeit imperfectly.

Deputy Manager Lee Hyewon (right) and Station Master Jo Hyunggu (left) at Dongmyoap Station

The sender of the letter is Jang Gyemyung, a man in his 20s living in Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Jang visited Seoul with a friend on April 25. While traveling on Line 1, he got off at Dongmyo Station but accidentally left his luggage containing his passport and various important visas on the train.

Realizing he had left his luggage behind, Jang sought help from the staff at Dongmyo Station. Deputy Manager Lee Hyewon, who works at Dongmyo Station, reassured him that she would do her best to find it.

Deputy Manager Lee requested assistance from Yongdap Station and nearby stations, and received a response that the luggage was found before entering the Gunja Train Depot and was handed over to Yongdap Station. After receiving this contact, Jang was able to retrieve his luggage.

Deputy Manager Lee recalled, “Since we handle 6 to 7 lost item cases daily, I just kindly guided him as usual.”

Most items left on the subway can be found by staff, so it is advisable to identify the station where the item was left and the location where you got off, then ask the station staff for help.

If the lost item is not found immediately, it is recommended to check the 'Lost and Found Site' operated by the National Police Agency.

Impressed by the kindness of Deputy Manager Lee and other staff members, Jang wrote a thank you letter after returning home. The luggage contained important items such as his passport and visas, so he was very grateful for their two hours of dedicated effort to find it. Using a translator, Jang even wrote the letter by hand in Korean, albeit imperfectly.

A letter expressing gratitude to the Dongmyo Station staff who found the luggage.

Deputy Manager Lee and the staff at Dongmyo Station, who received the unexpected heartfelt letter, said, “We just did our best to assist the customer, but receiving such a letter makes us grateful and gives us a sense of fulfillment in our work.”

Yoon Hanseung, Director of Jongno Operations Office at Seoul Metro, said, “When employees meet passengers like Mr. Jang who say the staff’s assistance was very helpful, they feel rewarded. Since it is important not to lose your belongings, please check carefully for any items left behind when boarding or alighting from the train.”