Frequently asked questions
Everything we get asked about how Lost & Found Korea works. Search or browse by category.
About the Service
What we do and how we work
We help international travelers recover items they've left behind in Korea — bags, wallets, passports, electronics, anything you might have lost at an airport, hotel, locker, public transit station, or other Korean facility. We coordinate the search in Korean on your behalf, retrieve the item once located, package it carefully, and ship it to wherever you are in the world.
Korean facilities are excellent at storing lost items, but they generally aren't equipped to handle international shipping, English correspondence, or follow-ups across time zones. Once you've left the country, the practical path back to your item often closes. We bridge that gap.
We work nationwide. We coordinate with airports, hotels, train and subway systems, taxi companies, and various other facilities across Korea.
No. We're an independent, registered business in Korea. We work as your authorized agent — communicating with facilities and authorities on your behalf — but we are not part of any government agency or facility.
We do not accept items left behind on purpose, or suitcases and other large luggage. We are a lost-item recovery service for people who were unable to collect their belongings — not a general luggage shipping service.
Pricing & Payment
Fees, currencies, and how to pay
Our plans:
- I know where it is (pickup by kind of place) — $45 for an airport, hotel, venue or subway; $55 for an airline, train station, bus, limousine, police station or anywhere else. The same price for every destination, in Korea or overseas; an item held anywhere on Jeju adds $40. Pay now for a discount, or pay after pickup.
- All-in-One — $90. For when you don't know where your item is — we search, recover, and deliver. Free to request; you're charged $90 only after we successfully find it.
Courier/shipping cost isn't included in any plan — it's billed separately after we find and weigh your item, with no markup.
Yes. Service fees do not include third-party costs such as locker storage fees, international shipping, packaging materials, optional insurance, or customs duties. We provide an itemized estimate before you commit, so you'll know the full total in advance.
We currently accept payment via PayPal (which also supports major credit cards). For custom invoices that include third-party costs (storage, shipping, etc.), we send you an itemized invoice that you can pay directly through PayPal.
Our fees are quoted in USD. Payment is processed in USD via PayPal, which automatically handles currency conversion at PayPal's exchange rate if you pay from a different currency.
You don't have to pay the service fee up front: pay now for a discount, or pay after we have picked up your item. Shipping is different — once we have the item and have weighed it, we send you the exact courier cost, and that (with the service fee, if it isn't paid yet) is paid before we ship, because postage, packaging and any locker fees are paid out on your behalf.
Recovery & Shipping Process
From report to delivery
Submit a brief report through our website. Include:
- A description of the item
- Where you think you lost it (or last saw it)
- Approximate date and time of loss
- Your contact information and current location
The initial report is free. With All-in-One you're only charged once we've located your item; "I know where it is" pickups are paid when you book (with a discount) or after pickup.
It varies depending on where the item is held and how quickly the facility responds. Most cases are located within 24–72 hours. Some take longer, particularly with smaller facilities or items lost in transit. We'll keep you updated throughout.
With All-in-One, there's no charge if we can't locate your item — you're billed only after we find it. With "I know where it is", you already know where the item is held: if you choose pay after pickup, nothing is charged before we have retrieved it; if you pay now (with a discount), see the refund answer below for cancelling before we start.
Lost items have been held by third parties before they reach us, so neither we nor you can be certain what they contain. In addition, anyone sending a package internationally is legally required to confirm that it contains no narcotics, explosives, or other dangerous goods, and to declare its contents accurately to customs and the postal service or carrier. An inaccurate declaration can lead to the package being held at customs, returned, or destroyed. For these reasons, we open packaging and check contents only as far as needed for transport safety, customs declarations, verifying the item is yours, and safe packing. We photograph the item before and after any check. We do not read or copy the contents of wallets, documents, or similar items for any other purpose.
We typically use EMS (Korea Post's international express service) or EMS Premium, which are reliable, trackable, and well-suited for international delivery. Express options are available if you need faster delivery, though they cost significantly more. We'll recommend an option based on your item's size, weight, and urgency.
Yes. Every shipment includes a tracking number that you can use on Korea Post's site, USPS (for U.S. shipments), or unified tracking sites like 17track.net.
- EMS Standard: typically 7–14 days
- EMS Premium: typically 5–7 days
- Express: typically 3–5 days
Times vary by destination country and customs processing.
Safety, Insurance & Refunds
Protection and policies
Yes. EMS includes basic insurance, and we add declared-value insurance up to your stated item value at no extra cost to you, for protection during international transit. For high-value items, additional carrier insurance is available.
Once handed off to the carrier, the package is in their custody and shipping risk transfers to them. If something goes wrong in transit, the carrier or insurance provider handles the claim. We provide all documentation needed to support your claim and assist throughout the process.
It depends on how you pay.
- Pay now — cancel before we start the service (for example, before we contact the holding office) and you get a full refund. Once the service has started, cancellation is limited.
- Pay after pickup — you pay only after we have retrieved the item, so nothing is charged before that.
- If the fee for the actual type of place is lower than for the type you selected, we refund the difference.
- If we cancel the service ourselves (for example, the item cannot legally be retrieved or shipped), we refund everything except third-party costs already incurred.
With All-in-One, there is no fee if the item is not found. See the Refund Policy for details.
You're responsible for any customs duties or import taxes imposed by your country. We declare item values honestly on customs forms based on the value you provide. For shipments under most countries' de minimis thresholds (e.g. $800 for the U.S.), no duties typically apply.
We don't ship anything illegal, hazardous, or restricted under Korean export law or your country's import law. This includes weapons, certain medications, ivory, and other regulated items. If we're unsure about a specific item, we'll consult with the post office before proceeding.
We only collect what we need to coordinate the recovery and shipping. We never sell your data, and we share information only with the facilities and carriers necessary to complete your service. See our Privacy Policy for details.
Trust & Verification
Why you can rely on us
Fair question. We're a registered business in Korea (registration number visible in our footer and legal pages). We provide tracking numbers, photographs of the packaging process, official post office receipts, and continuous updates. Payment is processed through PayPal, which provides its own buyer protection. We're happy to answer any questions before you commit.
Yes. We provide:
- A clear estimate before payment
- A PayPal payment receipt
- Photographs of the packaging process
- The official shipping receipt and tracking number
- Customs declaration documentation
Email us at support@lostandfoundkorea.com. We respond promptly. If something goes wrong, we'll work with you to resolve it transparently.