1. Who Are the Korean Tourist Police?
The Korean Tourist Police (관광경찰) are specialized law enforcement officers wearing distinctive dark blue berets and navy uniforms, fluent in English, Japanese, and Chinese. They operate dedicated visitor assistance centers in major international tourist zones:
- Seoul Locations: Myeongdong (near Myeongdong Theater), Dongdaemun (near DDP), Hongdae (Walkable Street), Insa-dong, and Itaewon.
- Busan Locations: Haeundae Beach plaza, Jagalchi Market, and Gwangalli.
- Incheon Locations: Incheon International Airport passenger terminals and Songdo.
2. Services Provided by Tourist Police
- Preventing Overcharging & Scams: Handling disputes regarding unfair taxi meter overcharges, unregistered accommodation, and market price gouging.
- Language Interpretation & Lost Property: Assisting travelers in filing official police reports for stolen/lost passports, wallets, and mobile phones.
- Emergency Mediation: Direct on-site mediation between merchants, taxi drivers, and travelers.
3. Finding Lost Items via the National LOST112 Portal
South Korea maintains an exceptional recovery rate for lost property. Lost belongings left in subways, taxis, and public parks are cataloged with photos on the National Police Lost & Found portal (lost112.go.kr). Dial 112 for emergency police or 1330 for 24/7 multilingual translation support.