Why This Matters
Every vehicle at a Korean auction comes with a detailed inspection report — the "auction sheet." This sheet is the single most important document in your buying decision. It tells you the car's accident history, structural condition, exterior damage, mechanical status, and overall grade.
New to Korean auctions? Start with our complete guide to how Korean car auctions work.
The problem: these sheets are entirely in Korean, each auction house uses a different grading system, and the damage codes are not intuitive even for Korean speakers. Most international buyers rely on their agent's interpretation — which means you are trusting someone else's reading of the most critical document in the deal.
This guide gives you the ability to read the sheet yourself.
The Two Numbers That Matter Most
Every auction house assigns two grades to each vehicle. The format varies, but the concept is the same across all houses:
- Accident Grade — Has this car been in a structural accident? How severe?
- Condition Score — What is the overall physical condition of the vehicle?
These two grades are the first thing experienced buyers look at. Everything else is detail.
Glovis: [Accident]/[Condition] (e.g., A/7)
Glovis combines an accident letter grade with a numeric condition score, displayed as something like A/7 or B/5.
Accident Grade (A–F):
| Grade | Meaning | Buyer Impact |
|---|---|---|
| A | No major frame or structural damage | Safe to bid. Best grade. |
| B | Minor outer panel damage — one spot maximum, repaired | Usually acceptable. Check which panel was affected. |
| C | Inner panel or trunk floor damage history | Proceed with caution. Inner panel work suggests a moderate impact. |
| D | Wheelhouse damage, or multiple C-grade spots | Significant accident history. Most export buyers pass on D-grade. |
| F | Major structural damage (frame, side member, cross member) | Do not bid unless you are buying for parts. Structural integrity compromised. |
There is no E grade in the Glovis system.
Condition Score (1–9):
The condition score reflects cosmetic and functional condition, calculated from a deduction-point system during inspection:
| Score | Meaning | Deduction Points |
|---|---|---|
| 9 | Excellent — near-new condition | 0–10 |
| 8 | Very Good — minor wear only | 11–25 |
| 7 | Good — normal used car wear | 26–40 |
| 6 | Above Average — visible wear, no major issues | 41–55 |
| 5 | Average — noticeable wear and minor damage | 56–70 |
| 4 | Below Average — significant cosmetic issues | 71–85 |
| 3 | Fair — heavy wear, may need reconditioning | 86–100 |
| 2 | Poor — extensive damage or wear | 101–115 |
| 1 | Very Poor — severe condition issues | 116+ |
Reading it together: An A/7 car has no structural accident history and is in good cosmetic condition — a solid buy. A B/5 has minor outer panel repair history and average condition — acceptable for budget sourcing but inspect the repair quality. A C/3 has inner panel damage and heavy wear — only for experienced buyers comfortable with reconditioning.
The sweet spot for export: Most export buyers target A/6 or better. This gives you a structurally clean car with reasonable cosmetic condition. Premium buyers aim for A/7 or A/8.
SK: [Accident]/[Exterior] (Letter/Letter)
SK Auction uses separate letter grades for accident history and exterior condition. Both use the A–F scale.
- Accident Grade (A–F): Same logic as Glovis — A is clean, F is structural damage
- Exterior Grade (A–F): Rates paint, body panels, scratches, dents. A is excellent, F is severe damage.
An A/B at SK means no accident history with minor exterior blemishes.
AJ Sellcar: [Accident]/[Exterior] (Letter/Letter)
AJ uses the same letter/letter format as SK. Interpretation is similar.
Lotte: [Accident]/[Exterior] (Letter/Letter)
Lotte also follows the letter/letter format.
Important: While all four houses use letter grades, the specific criteria behind each grade differ between houses. An A at Glovis is not necessarily identical to an A at SK. Within each house, the grading is consistent — but do not compare grades across houses as if they are equivalent.
Damage Codes: What the Symbols Mean
Below the grades, the auction sheet includes a body diagram with damage codes marked on specific panels. These codes tell you exactly what happened to each part of the car.
Glovis Damage Codes
| Code | Korean | Meaning | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|
| XX | 교환 | Panel replaced | 🔴 High |
| W | 용접 | Welding performed | 🟡 Medium |
| PP | 판금 | Sheet metal repair (dent pulled/shaped) | 🟡 Medium |
| F | 꺾임 | Bent or crumpled | 🟡 Medium |
| M | 조정 | Adjusted/aligned | 🟢 Low |
SK Damage Codes
| Code | Meaning | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| XX or X | Panel replaced | 🔴 High |
| W | Welded | 🟡 Medium |
| Q | Quarter panel work | 🟡 Medium |
| P | Paint only (repainted) | 🟢 Low |
| M | Adjusted | 🟢 Low |
AJ Damage Codes
| Code | Meaning | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| X | Panel replaced | 🔴 High |
| W | Panel work / welding | 🔴 High |
| C | Corrosion | 🟡 Medium |
| U | Dent | 🟡 Medium |
| A | Scratch | 🟢 Low |
| P | Paint (repainted) | 🟢 Low |
How to Read the Body Diagram
The auction sheet shows a top-down and side-view outline of the car, divided into panels. Each panel that has damage gets a code written on it. Here is how to read it:
- No markings on a panel = that panel passed inspection with no notable damage
- Single low-severity code (P, M, A) = cosmetic issue only. Normal for used cars.
- Medium-severity code (W, PP, Q, U, C) = repair work was done. Check if it was a structural panel or just an outer body panel.
- High-severity code (XX, X) = that panel was replaced entirely. If it is an outer panel (fender, door, bumper), this is common after minor collisions. If it is a structural panel (side member, pillar, wheelhouse), this is a red flag.
The critical distinction: Outer panel replacement (door, fender, hood) is cosmetic — it means a part was swapped, usually after a collision, but it does not affect the car's structural integrity. Structural panel replacement (A-pillar, B-pillar, side member, cross member, wheelhouse) means the car sustained a serious impact and was repaired. This is what the accident grade is designed to catch.
Mechanical Inspection: The Status Keywords
Below the body diagram, the auction sheet lists mechanical inspection results — engine, transmission, brakes, suspension, electrical systems, and more. Each item gets a status keyword:
| Korean | English | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 양호 / 정상 / 보통 | Good / Normal | Passed inspection — no issues |
| 적합 | Adequate | Meets standards |
| 주의 / 미세 | Caution / Minor | Minor issue noted — monitor but not urgent |
| 판금 / 도장 | Sheet Metal / Paint | Cosmetic repair noted |
| 불량 / 정비요 / 수리요 | Defective / Needs Service / Needs Repair | Failed inspection — requires attention |
| 교환요 | Needs Replacement | Component should be replaced |
| 부식 | Corrosion | Rust or corrosion found |
| 손상 | Damaged | Physical damage noted |
Rule of thumb: Anything marked 양호 or 정상 is fine. Anything marked 불량, 수리요, or 교환요 needs to be priced into your bid. A car with "수리요" on the transmission is a very different proposition than one with "수리요" on a window motor.
The Panels: Korean to English
The body diagram labels panels in Korean. Here are the most important ones:
| Korean | English | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 후드 | Hood | Outer panel — replacement is cosmetic |
| 프론트 펜더 | Front Fender | Outer panel — common replacement after minor front collision |
| 도어 | Door | Outer panel — common |
| 쿼터 패널 | Quarter Panel | Technically outer, but expensive and hard to replace. Damage here suggests side impact. |
| 트렁크 리드 | Trunk Lid | Outer panel |
| 루프 패널 | Roof Panel | If this is damaged or replaced, the car likely rolled or had a severe impact. Red flag. |
| 사이드 멤버 | Side Member | 🔴 Structural — frame rail. Damage here = serious accident. |
| A 필러 / B 필러 / C 필러 | A/B/C Pillar | 🔴 Structural — roof supports. Damage = rollover or severe side impact. |
| 크로스 멤버 | Cross Member | 🔴 Structural — connects frame rails. |
| 휠 하우스 | Wheel House | 🔴 Structural — inner wheel arch. Damage indicates significant front or rear impact. |
| 대시 패널 | Dash Panel | 🔴 Structural — firewall between engine bay and cabin. |
| 플로어 패널 | Floor Panel | 🔴 Structural — undercarriage. |
The quick test: If any red-flagged structural panel shows XX (replaced) or W (welded), the car had a serious accident. The accident grade should already reflect this (C, D, or F) — but always cross-check the diagram against the letter grade. Occasionally, the diagram tells a more detailed story than the single letter conveys.
Red Flags: When to Walk Away
Some patterns on the auction sheet should make you skip the car entirely:
-
Multiple structural panels with XX or W — The car was in a major accident and extensively repaired. Even if it drives fine today, resale value is permanently affected.
-
Accident grade disagrees with the diagram — If the grade says B (minor) but you see welding on a side member, something is off. Trust the diagram over the grade.
-
Engine or transmission marked 불량/수리요 — Mechanical failures on major components are expensive. Unless the price reflects a 500만원+ repair bill, pass.
-
Flood damage indicators — Look for corrosion (부식) on multiple unrelated panels, especially floor panels combined with electrical issues. Korean auction houses are generally good at catching flood cars, but check anyway.
-
Mileage inconsistencies — The sheet shows the odometer reading. If a 2017 car shows 30,000 km, that is suspiciously low unless it was a weekend car. Korean average is ~15,000 km/year.
How LMN Autos Uses This Data
On Auction Eye, we parse every auction sheet automatically and present it in English with:
- Translated grades and their meanings
- Color-coded body diagrams (green/yellow/red by severity)
- Mechanical inspection results in plain English
- AI-powered risk assessment highlighting the issues that matter most
You can view the raw Korean sheet alongside our translated version for any vehicle on the platform. This way, you can verify our interpretation against the original — because we believe you should never have to take anyone's word for it.
Related Reading
- How Korean car auctions work — The complete beginner's guide
- Auction vs retail: 451 cars compared — Why auction prices are 14.6% cheaper
- Complete cost breakdown: auction to your port — Total landed cost by destination
- Most popular auction cars — What is selling right now
USD figures use 1,476 KRW = 1 USD (March 12, 2026, via exchangerate-api.com). Exchange rates fluctuate — check current rates before purchasing.
Published by LMN Autos, a Korean auction sourcing company. Data from our operations.