"It used to be nearly impossible to visit the lost-and-found center on a weekday without taking time off — this has taken a huge burden off my shoulders."
Seoul Metro's lost-and-found home delivery service, launched last month, is drawing strong praise, particularly from office workers and people living outside Seoul.
The service delivers items held at the lost-and-found center directly to a customer's home, workplace or any other address of their choosing.
Seoul Metro said the service recorded 91 uses in the three weeks from its launch on July 20 through Friday, averaging 6.1 deliveries per day. The agency also received eight formal commendations through its customer feedback system during the same period.
Users said the service resolved the longstanding inconvenience of weekday-only access, significantly reducing the time and travel required to reclaim lost items. "I can now get my belongings back without having to use a vacation day," one office worker said.
A user from outside Seoul was equally enthusiastic. "I travel to Seoul often for work, but visiting in person was always difficult," the person said. "This is a service that people living outside the city really need."
Other public transit agencies have also taken notice. In July, officials from Korail visited Seoul Metro to study the service's operating framework, application process and customer response as part of a benchmarking exercise.
Seoul Metro said it will continue analyzing usage data and public feedback to refine the service's operations. The agency also plans to develop additional everyday services that residents can feel the benefit of in their daily lives.
Ma Hae-geun, head of Seoul Metro's business division, said the lost-and-found delivery service was introduced as a lifestyle-oriented offering designed to ease the time and travel burden on residents. "Building on the strong public satisfaction and interest from other agencies we have seen since launch, we will continue to expand customer-centered services that make a real difference in people's daily lives," he said.
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