Losing a passport, having a bag stolen, or witnessing an accident — none of these situations are fun, but knowing how to file a police report in Korea before they happen makes a stressful moment far more manageable. South Korea has a well-organized police system, and foreigners can report crimes with English support available in major cities. Here is exactly what to do.
How to Contact the Police in Korea
The emergency police number in South Korea is 112. This line operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and has multilingual interpretation available including English, Chinese, and Japanese. If you are not in immediate danger but still need to file a report, you can walk into any local police station (경찰서, gyeongchalseo) or a smaller police box (파출소, pachulseo) in person.
For non-emergency situations, the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency operates a dedicated foreigner consultation line at 02-2179-0196, available Monday through Friday from 09:00 to 18:00. Outside Seoul, the national foreigner helpline 1345 (operated by the Korea Immigration Service) can also connect you to the right authorities and provide interpretation support.
Tourist police officers wearing blue-and-yellow vests are stationed at major tourist areas including Myeongdong, Insadong, Hongdae, and Itaewon in Seoul, as well as Haeundae Beach and Seomyeon in Busan. They speak basic English and can assist with initial reporting and directing you to the nearest full station.
Step-by-Step: Filing a Police Report at a Korean Police Station
The process is straightforward once you know what to expect. Follow these steps:
- Go to the nearest police station. In Seoul, major stations include Jongno Police Station (종로경찰서) and Mapo Police Station (마포경찰서). In Busan, head to Haeundae Police Station (해운대경찰서) or Busanjin Police Station (부산진경찰서). Most stations are open 24 hours for emergency reporting.
- Bring your passport. You will need valid photo ID. If your passport was stolen, bring any other ID you have — a driving license or a photo of your passport stored in your phone or email will help.
- Request an interpreter if needed. The officer at the front desk (민원실) can call a phone interpreter at no cost. Do not hesitate to ask — this is a standard service.
- Fill in the crime report form (진정서 or 고소장). You will describe what happened, where, and when. Be as specific as possible: street names, times, descriptions of items or individuals involved.
- Receive your case number (사건번호). This reference number is essential for insurance claims, replacing documents, or following up on your case. Keep a photo of it.
The entire process typically takes 30 to 90 minutes depending on the complexity of the incident and interpreter availability.
Common Situations Foreigners Report — and What to Do
Theft or pickpocketing: Petty theft does occur in crowded areas like Namdaemun Market, Dongdaemun, and subway stations — if it happens to you, our guide on handling lost items in Korea covers the next steps in detail. File a report immediately — you will need the police report to claim travel insurance. Note that Korean police will genuinely attempt to review CCTV footage, which is extensive throughout the country.
Lost passport: File a police report first, then go to your country’s embassy or consulate. In Seoul, the US Embassy is in Jongno-gu (82-2-397-4114), the UK Embassy in Jung-gu, and the Australian Embassy in Jung-gu as well. Emergency passport fees vary by nationality — expect roughly USD 110–145 (approximately 145,000–190,000 KRW) for a US emergency passport.
Scams or fraud: If you paid for services that were not delivered — such as overcharging at an unlicensed taxi or a fake tour — this can be reported to both the police and the Korea Tourism Organization complaint line at 1330, which operates 24 hours in multiple languages.
Traffic accidents: Call 112 immediately and do not move vehicles if there are injuries. Korea operates a no-fault insurance system for minor accidents, but you will still need a police report if injuries or significant property damage are involved. Korea’s road traffic compensation system (자동차손해배상보장법) ensures basic coverage even for uninsured drivers in some scenarios.
Useful Numbers and Resources to Save Before You Travel
- 112 — Police emergency (24/7, interpreter available)
- 119 — Fire and ambulance emergency
- 1330 — Korea Tourism Organization helpline (24/7, English, Chinese, Japanese, and more)
- 1345 — Korea Immigration helpline (interpretation and legal guidance)
- 02-2179-0196 — Seoul foreigner police consultation (weekdays 09:00–18:00)
- Naver Maps or Kakao Maps — search “경찰서” to find the nearest police station
Saving these emergency numbers in your phone before arriving in Korea is a simple precaution that could save significant time and stress. Most visitors never need them — but when you do, having them ready makes all the difference.
What Happens After You File a Report — and How Follow-Up Works
Filing the report is only the first step. Once your case number is issued, the investigating officer assigned to your case (담당 형사) will usually contact you by phone within a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on the caseload at that particular station and how complex the incident is. If you do not speak Korean, mention this clearly when you file so the note is attached to your file — otherwise a follow-up call in rapid Korean can be confusing or easy to miss.
For straightforward theft cases where CCTV footage does not immediately identify a suspect, do not expect daily updates. Korean police generally only reach out when there is a development — an arrest, recovered property, or a request for you to confirm details. If you need documentation sooner (for example, to submit to your insurer or airline before you fly home), you can request a copy of the report summary (사건 접수증) on the spot, and this is usually enough for most insurance claims even before the investigation concludes.
One thing that surprises many visitors: Korea distinguishes between filing a report (신고) and formally pressing charges (고소). For minor disputes — a shopkeeper overcharging you, or a scooter rental company withholding a deposit unfairly — police will often first suggest 합의 (hapui), an informal settlement between the two parties, rather than pursuing a criminal case. This is standard practice and not a sign your complaint is being dismissed; it is simply how many low-level civil-adjacent disputes are resolved in Korea. If you would rather pursue a formal complaint regardless, you are entitled to insist on it — you do not have to accept a settlement offer.
If you need translated documents for an embassy, airline, or insurance company back home, ask the station whether they can issue an English-language certificate of report (영문 확인서). Not every smaller station offers this in-house, and processing can take a few working days, so it is worth requesting it as early as possible rather than waiting until just before your flight. Compare this with simply keeping your Korean-language case number and receipt: that is faster to obtain (same day) but your insurer may require a certified translation, which you would then need to arrange yourself through a translation service — typically adding cost and a day or two of turnaround. (If you have not yet compared providers, see our overview of travel insurance for Korea to understand what documentation each type typically requires.) For most travel insurance claims under a few hundred thousand KRW, the Korean-language receipt with case number is usually sufficient; the English certificate is worth the extra wait mainly for larger claims or when embassies specifically require it.
A practical tip that is not widely advertised: if you are leaving Korea before your case is resolved, ask the officer whether the station can accept updates by email rather than requiring an in-person visit. Many stations in areas with regular foreign traffic — Jongno, Yongsan, and Haeundae among them — are used to this request from tourists and will set it up on request, even though it is not something posted on any official signage or website.