The exact order to follow after losing a wallet in Korea: freeze every card with one call, search the national police Lost & Found portal (Lost112), and reissue your ARC or passport correctly.
Last verified & updated: 2026-09-09
1. Freeze your cards— use each issuer's app (fastest), or call the issuer. Korean card companies offer a batch loss report: report to any one Korean card company you use and ask them to relay the loss to the others in one call.
2. Check recent transactions — screenshot anything you did not make. Do not wait for the statement.
3. Foreign cards: call the number on your bank's app or the global Visa/Mastercard emergency lines. Do this before hunting for the wallet — freezing is reversible, fraud is not.
| Where you lost it | Where to look |
|---|---|
| Anywhere / not sure | Lost112 (www.lost112.go.kr) — the national police lost-and-found database with photos; it has an English mode. Check daily for ~2 weeks |
| Subway | Each line runs lost-and-found centers at designated stations — search the line name + lost and found, or ask any station office |
| Taxi | Paid by card? The receipt or your card app identifies the taxi company — call them directly |
| Bus | Note the route number and call the bus company (the city 120 call center can connect you) |
Korea has a strong hand-it-to-the-police culture — a large share of wallets come back with cards intact. Report it as lost anyway.
| Item | How to replace |
|---|---|
| ARC (residence card) | Within 14 days: reserve at your immigration office via HiKorea, bring passport + photo + fee |
| Passport | Police lost report first, then your embassy for a replacement or emergency travel document |
| Korean bank card | Bank app reissue or any branch with ID — takes minutes, delivery in a few days |
| Driver's license | Any police station licensing desk or driver's license agency with ID + fee |
Under Korean credit-finance law, once you report the loss, the card company generally covers fraudulent charges made from 60 days before the report onward — unless you were grossly negligent (PIN written on the card, card lent to someone). So the report timestamp is your protection: report first, argue details later.
Q. What are the chances of getting a lost wallet back in Korea?
Better than almost anywhere. Found items are usually handed to police and registered on Lost112 (www.lost112.go.kr), which has an English interface. Check it daily for two weeks — items are photographed and searchable by place and date.
Q. Am I liable for fraudulent card charges?
If you report the loss, charges made from 60 days before the report are generally the card company's responsibility under Korean law, unless you were grossly negligent (e.g., PIN written on the card). Report first, dispute after.
Q. How do I replace my ARC (residence card)?
Apply within 14 days of loss: reserve a visit at your immigration office through HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr) or apply online, bring your passport and a photo, and pay the reissue fee. Losing it repeatedly can incur fines.
Q. I lost my passport — police or embassy first?
Both, in that order. Get a police lost-property report (any station, or the Lost112 report), then apply at your embassy for a replacement or emergency travel document. Korean immigration will need the new passport to update your records.
Phone numbers, fees, and procedures can change. Treat this page as a starting point and confirm details with the official sources above.