Track it, lock it, suspend the line, and block the IMEI so the phone is a brick to anyone else — plus where lost phones actually turn up in Korea: subway lost centers, taxis, and Lost112.
Last verified & updated: 2026-09-09
From any browser: iCloud Find My (Apple) or Find My Device (Google). Mark it as lost, which locks the screen, and display a message with an alternate contact — a finder in Korea will very often call it.
Do not wipe it yet — a wiped phone cannot be tracked. Wipe only when you give up on recovery or it holds sensitive work data.
1. Carrier — call SKT, KT, or LG U+ (or your budget MVNO) to suspend the line so nobody runs up charges or receives your verification texts.
2. IMEI blacklist — Korea runs a shared lost-device registry (Korea Mobile Phone Find Center, www.handphone.or.kr). Once registered, the device cannot join any Korean network even with a new SIM — worthless to sell, and more likely to be returned.
3. On a tourist SIM or eSIM? Suspend through the provider's app or site, then still file the police report below.
| Route | How |
|---|---|
| Lost112 | National police lost-and-found (www.lost112.go.kr, English available) — found phones are photographed and listed; check daily for 1–2 weeks |
| Subway | Line-operated lost-and-found centers — tell them the time, line, and car position if you can |
| Taxi | Trace the taxi through your card receipt or ride app history and call the company |
| Bar / restaurant | Call before visiting — staff usually keep phones behind the counter for a few days |
File a police report at any station (bring your passport). You need the report number for phone insurance, travel insurance, and for disputing any charges. Never arrange to meet someone who “found” your phone and wants a finder's fee in cash — hand that conversation to the police.
Q. Where do lost phones usually end up?
Subway lines run their own lost-and-found centers (check the line's website for the station serving your route), taxis can be traced through your card receipt or the T-money helpline, and everything handed to police appears on Lost112 with photos.
Q. What is IMEI blocking and should I do it?
Korea keeps a shared blacklist of lost phone serial numbers. Once your carrier registers the loss, the device cannot join any Korean network even with a new SIM — which kills its resale value and often gets it returned instead.
Q. I am a tourist with a Korean eSIM/prepaid SIM. Who do I call?
Contact the SIM provider from their app or website to suspend the number, use Find My (Apple) or Find My Device (Google) to lock the phone remotely, and file a Lost112 report so police can match it if found.
Phone numbers, fees, and procedures can change. Treat this page as a starting point and confirm details with the official sources above.