I lost my passport in Korea and I am panicking?

Don't panic, lost passport situations are common and the Korean process is well-organized. Take these exact steps in order:

Step 1: File a police report (분실신고) at the nearest police station within 24 hours. Bring your ARC and any photo ID. The officer issues a 분실신고확인서 (Lost Item Report Certificate) which you'll need for the embassy and immigration. The Yongsan, Jongno, and Itaewon stations have English-speaking foreign affairs officers. After hours, the 1330 tourism hotline can arrange phone interpretation. The certificate costs 1,000 won.

Step 2: Contact your embassy or consulate immediately to apply for an emergency travel document or replacement passport. Most Seoul embassies are in Jongno, Yongsan, Hannam-dong, and Gwanghwamun. US Embassy at Sejongno requires online appointment booking through their website (24-hour line +82-2-397-4114). UK, Canada, Australia all have similar online appointment systems. Bring: police certificate, two passport photos (taken at any photo studio for 7,000 won), proof of citizenship (driver's license, photocopy of old passport, birth certificate), and the embassy fee (US passport book replacement is 130 USD plus emergency fee, UK is 88 GBP). Emergency travel documents (ETD) for immediate departure cost less and are issued same-day, while full passport replacement takes 1 to 2 weeks.

Step 3: Report to Korean Immigration within 14 days of getting your new passport. Visit your local immigration office (출입국·외국인청) with your new passport, the police report, and your ARC. Apply for an Alien Registration Card update (외국인등록증 정정) since your ARC is linked to your old passport number. Fee is 30,000 won. They'll update your records and issue a new ARC reflecting the new passport. The 1345 hotline (24/7, 20 languages) can guide you through this step in your language.

Step 4: Update other documents linked to your passport. Banks (especially KEB Hana and your main bank) require an in-person visit to update your passport info on file. Phone carrier (KT, SKT, LGU+) needs notification. Health insurance (NHIS) updates automatically through immigration. Travel insurance and any pending visa applications need updating. If you had a Korean driver's license, that doesn't change since it's tied to ARC not passport.

Key reminders: Don't try to leave Korea on the old passport even if found later, since immigration will flag it as cancelled and you'll be detained. Keep digital copies of your passport, ARC, and visa documents in cloud storage so replacement is easier. The Korean police are quite efficient at recovering lost items (especially in restaurants, taxis, and hotels), so check the Lost and Found Center at the original location and the 1599-1117 lost-and-found service. About 60 percent of lost passports are recovered within a week. While waiting for replacement, you cannot travel internationally, but you can move freely within Korea using your ARC. Don't worry about overstay since immigration understands lost passport situations and won't penalize you as long as you report within 14 days.