Smartphones most lost item on subway

By Kim Rahn

Smartphones and laptops were the items lost most frequently on the subway last year.

Seoul City said Tuesday that passengers lost 19,842 electronic devices on trains on subway lines Nos. 1 to 8, followed by 19,826 bags.

It is the first time in five years that bags have not been the most lost item having topped the list for the previous five years.

“We presume it is because the number of passengers carrying electronic items such as laptops, smartphones, MP3 players and tablet computers has grown rapidly, especially after a wireless Internet service became available on the subway in metropolitan areas,” a city official said.

The number of lost electronic devices has soared 120 percent from 2007, while that for bags rose 18.8 percent in the same period. Lost clothes, documents and jewelry followed.

Electronic gadgets and bags were also the most found articles, with 93.5 percent and 82 percent of the owners claiming their items respectively.

“It is because the more expensive the item is, the more immediately passengers report their loss to the authorities. On the other hand, only half of lost clothes are returned,” the official said.

After more than 18 months of not being claimed, cash and other valuables are handed to the state, while other items are donated to charity organizations.

“Those who leave anything behind are advised to remember the train number, the departing point and the time they got off the train and report the loss to the subway operator’s office at subway stations. Or they can visit the lost and found centers,” he said.

The official added people can check whether their items are at the centers by visiting their website that contains photos of lost articles.