How to Read a Korean Car Inspection Report (성능점검기록부): Every Section Explained

What the report is and who issues it

The Performance & Condition Inspection Report (성능·상태 점검기록부) is required by Korea's used-car trading law for every used car sold through a dealer or an auction. A licensed inspector at an approved inspection centre issues it, it stays valid for 120 days, and the inspector is legally liable for what they write: if undisclosed structural damage appears later, the inspection centre pays.

That liability is what makes remote buying from Korea safer than in most markets. The report runs to about two pages: the car's details, VIN and mileage; the body diagram with its codes; a table rating the mechanical systems; and the inspector's notes. We send it to you in full, translated, for every car you ask about, before you bid.

The body diagram and its codes: X, W, A, U, C

The key page is a diagram of the car from above, below and both sides, with a code on every part. X = part replaced (교환), W = repaired by welding or panel-beating (판금·용접), A = minor scratch or paint, U = dent, C = corrosion. A part with no code is original and sound.

The rule that matters: not the code alone but where it sits. The report splits the car into outer panels (외판) and main structural parts (주요 골격). Outer panels are the bonnet, front fenders, doors, boot lid and radiator support (rank 1), and the rear quarter panels, roof and side sills (rank 2). An X or W on these is very common in a market where tight parking scrapes cars daily, and it does not mean a serious accident.

The main structural parts are the front panel, front cross member, inner panel, side members, wheel housings, the A, B and C pillars, the dash panel, floor pan, boot floor, rear panel and package tray. Any X or W on one of these means the car had an accident that reached the structure. That is where you stop and ask, however tempting the price.

The 'accident' (사고) and 'no accident' (무사고) box

The report marks 'accident' or 'no accident' on one criterion only: was any main structural part damaged, replaced or welded? So a 'no accident' car can have two replaced doors and a repainted bonnet; that is acceptable and common, it usually sells a little below a car with no codes at all, and it is a good buy for someone who reads the report.

An 'accident' car means frame damage. Some were repaired well and some were not, and the report does not grade the quality of the repair. They sell at a clear discount; we recommend them only to buyers who know exactly what they are getting and accept the lower resale value in the Gulf.

Engine, gearbox and leaks

A table rates each system: engine (starting, noise, oil and coolant leaks, belts), transmission (leaks, shift quality), fuel, cooling and electrical systems, driveline, steering and brakes. The values: 양호 = good, 불량 = bad or needs repair, 미세누유 = slight seepage, 누유 = leak.

Slight seepage on an engine past 100,000 km is common and usually nothing to worry about, but 'leak' or 'bad' on the engine or gearbox is reason enough to skip the car or order an extra inspection. On diesels and hybrids we also read the inspector's notes on the turbocharger and the battery where they appear.

Mileage, first registration and number of owners

The mileage is read from the odometer and cross-checked against the mandatory periodic inspection record and the insurance history, so odometer tampering is nearly impossible in Korea and is a criminal offence. The report also gives the first registration date, which can differ from the model year (a 2021 model may have been registered in 2020); we use it to confirm the car's real age.

The insurance history (보험이력) is a separate document we request with every car: how many times the owner changed, how many accident claims were paid and for how much in won (own-car damage / other-car damage), and whether the car was ever written off, flooded or stolen. A small claim is usually a bumper or a mirror; a claim in the millions of won is worth asking the inspector where the damage was.

Usage history: private, rental or taxi?

A box that is easy to skip: the usage history (용도 이력). It states whether the car was registered for private use, as a rental (렌트) or for commercial/taxi use (영업용). The popular sedans, the Sonata, K5, Avante and Grandeur, are common in Korean rental and taxi fleets, usually as LPG versions, with high mileage and a lower price.

We read this box for you and tell you before you bid if the car was a fleet car, so you can decide whether the lower price is worth it. We also confirm the fuel type from the report, because LPG versions do not suit most Gulf countries.

The auction's own grade, and what the report does not cover

On top of the official report, the Korean auction platforms add their own inspectors' assessment and high-resolution photos of the underbody, engine bay and interior. We rely on both: the report for legal liability, the platform photos to see with our own eyes what sits behind the codes.

What the report does not cover: the quality of earlier repairs, the exact state of tyres and brakes, the interior electronics, and faults that only show up on a drive. For that we arrange an additional on-site inspection with a test drive on request, especially for luxury cars and for any car whose report carries a note.

What we do for you

We send you the full translated report with the photos and the insurance history, explain any unclear code, and arrange an additional independent inspection if you want one. We never recommend a car with structural damage unless you know about it, and we never bid before you have approved the report and the written final price. Start in the auction or read how to import a car from Korea.

Frequently asked questions