The Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) reported that bags were the most frequently lost items on its trains and at its stations last year. (Image courtesy of Korail)
SEOUL, Jan. 23 (Korea Bizwire) — The Korea Railroad Corporation (Korail) reported that bags were the most frequently lost items on its trains and at its stations last year.
According to a statement from Korail on January 22, a total of 247,225 lost items were reported in 2022, marking a 51.9% increase from the previous year. On average, 677 lost items were recorded daily, outpacing the 8.5% rise in passenger transport.
Bags topped the list, accounting for 15% (36,707 cases) of all items. They were followed by wallets (11.4%, 28,236 cases), shopping bags (10.7%, 26,415 cases), and mobile phones (10.4%, 25,589 cases).
Besides these, the variety of lost items ranged widely, including animals, medical equipment, sports gear, and military items. Some of the unusual finds included lizards in cages, live crabs, dogs, snakes, crutches, canes, coupling devices, CPAP machines for snoring, and dentures.
One train attendant noted an incident involving a fist-sized rock, initially thought to be either a longevity stone or lost item, which was later claimed by its owner.
Busan Station, a major hub on the Gyeongbu Line, recorded the highest number of lost items (45,591), followed by Seoul Station (37,213).
Of all the reported lost items, 56.9% were returned to their owners, with 97% of these being reclaimed within seven days of reporting. Additionally, 37.7% of the items were transferred to the police, and 4.4%, such as perishable foods, were disposed of.
According to relevant laws, lost items are kept at the station of discovery for a week before being handed over to the police if unclaimed.
Customer feedback related to lost items (385 cases) showed that 69.4% of responses were expressions of gratitude for finding lost items and praise for the proactive staff.
Other feedback included general inquiries about lost items (11.4%), complaints about staff responses (11.2%), and requests for compensation due to disposal or damage of found items (4.7%).
Passengers who lose items at a station can report to the nearest station office or railway customer center, while those who lose items on the train should report to the train crew.
Lost items can also be directly checked through the National Police Agency’s Lost and Found Management System (LOST112).
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
