Auction
One of Korea's oldest online marketplaces, now part of the Gmarket group.
Auction at a glance
Auction is an e-commerce website and one of the most visited sites in South Korea, currently ranked #130 in the country. It was founded in 1998 by Lee Keum-ryong and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. Today Auction is owned by Gmarket Co.. Our estimates put its audience at ≈ 50 million visits per month. The business earns money mainly through marketplace commissions, advertising. Its closest rivals include gmarket.co.kr, 11st.co.kr, coupang.com.
Traffic statistics
Traffic history
| Period | Visits | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Q1 | ≈ 47 million / month | +2% |
| Q2 | ≈ 48.5 million / month | +3% |
| Q3 | ≈ 50 million / month | +3% |
| Q4 | ≈ 53 million / month | +6% |
Traffic sources
- Direct48%
App-first shopping habit
- Organic search31%
- Paid search11%
- Social6%
- Referral & email4%
Audience & demographics
- Women54%
- Men46%
- Age 25-3430%
- Age 18-2423%
- Age 35-4422%
The audience is concentrated in South Korea, skewing urban and mobile, with usage peaks in the evening hours.
Geographic reach
- South Korea86%
Home market
- Diaspora and neighbouring markets7%
- Europe3%
- North America2%
- Rest of world2%
SEO profile
- Estimated organic traffic
- ≈ 15 million visits / month
- Branded share of search
- High — brand terms lead the keyword profile
- Indexed pages
- Large — category, listing or article level
- Primary search market
- South Korea
Top organic keywords
| Keyword | Position | Volume | Traffic share |
|---|---|---|---|
| auction | 1 | Very high | Dominant |
| online shopping | Top 10 | High | — |
| discount codes | Top 10 | High | — |
| free delivery | Top 10 | High | — |
Backlink profile
- Referring domains
- Tens of thousands
- Link profile
- News coverage, directories, blogs and partner sites
- Authority
- High within the South Korea web
Top referral sources
- News and media31%
- Directories and aggregators24%
- Blogs and forums20%
- Partner sites14%
- Other11%
Technology stack
Website technologies
Advertising & analytics technologies
Stack details are inferred from public front-end signals and engineering communications; internal systems may differ.
Mobile app statistics
Available in the local store
Available in the local store
- App share of traffic
- ≈ 76% mobile
- Position in country
- Among the leading e-commerce apps in South Korea
Company information
- Website
- auction.co.kr
- Sector
- E-commerce
- Owner
- Gmarket Co.
- Owner type
- Subsidiary of private company
- Founders
- Lee Keum-ryong
- Founded
- 1998
- Headquarters
- Seoul, South Korea
- Employees
- 500+
- Ownership
- Gmarket Co. controls the platform. Ownership details are based on public filings and press reporting.
- Revenue
- ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.)
- Languages
- Korean
- Top traffic sources
- direct, organic search, paid search
Financials
- Revenue
- ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.)
- Ownership
- Subsidiary of private company
- Reporting
- Figures based on public filings, press reports and market estimates
Business model & revenue
Auction operates an online retail and marketplace platform focused on South Korea. One of Korea's oldest online marketplaces, now part of the Gmarket group. Revenue comes mainly from marketplace commissions, supported by the other lines listed below.
- Marketplace commissions
- Advertising
Products & services
Related deals on Amazon
As an Amazon Associate, Global Site Index earns from qualifying purchases.
International presence
- Primary market
- South Korea
- Expansion
- Regional and diaspora audiences beyond the home market
Employee statistics
Customer statistics
Website rankings
- Country rank (South Korea)
- #130 in this index
- Sector rank
- Leading e-commerce site in South Korea
- Global rank
- 2000
Main competitors
Website comparisons
| Website | Monthly visits | Rank | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| gmarket.co.kr | ≈ 30 million / month | #131 class competitor | — |
| 11st.co.kr | ≈ 22.5 million / month | #132 class competitor | — |
| coupang.com | ≈ 15 million / month | #133 class competitor | — |
What is Auction?
Auction (auction.co.kr) is an online retail and marketplace platform serving users in South Korea. One of Korea's oldest online marketplaces, now part of the Gmarket group. It ranks #130 among the most visited websites in the country in this index, within the e-commerce category.
Who owns Auction?
The site is operated by Gmarket Co., founded by Lee Keum-ryong. The company was established in 1998 and is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea. It employs around 500+.
Traffic and audience
Traffic estimates place Auction at roughly 50 million visits per month, about 1.7 million per day. Around 76% mobile of sessions come from mobile devices, and visitors view about 7.4 pages per visit with an average session of 6 min.
How Auction makes money
Revenue comes primarily from marketplace commissions, alongside advertising.
Competitors in South Korea
Its closest rivals include gmarket.co.kr, 11st.co.kr, coupang.com.
Data and accuracy
Company facts are drawn from public sources. Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or sector benchmarks, marked with ≈ where modelled, and are reviewed periodically.
Company history & milestones
- 1998
Auction is founded in Seoul, South Korea.
- Growth phase
Expands its e-commerce offering and moves to a mobile-first product.
- Today
Ranks #130 among the most visited websites in South Korea.
User reviews & ratings
| Source | Score | Reviews | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google Play | ≈ 4.3 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| App Store | ≈ 4.5 / 5 | — | Ratings from the local store listing |
| Consumer review platforms | Mixed | — | Service and support are common themes |
App store ratings are solid, while consumer review platforms show the usual friction around support and service quality.
Pros & cons
Pros
- Wide product assortment with competitive local pricing
- Established delivery and returns network
- Local payment methods and installment options
- Mature seller tools and campaign calendar
Cons
- Product quality varies between third-party sellers
- Returns and disputes can take time on marketplace orders
- Commissions and ad costs pressure smaller sellers
- International shipping coverage is limited
Key statistics
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Auction?
Auction is operated by Gmarket Co.. Subsidiary of private company structure, based on public filings and press reporting.
Where is Auction headquartered?
Auction is headquartered in Seoul, South Korea.
When was Auction founded?
Auction was founded in 1998 by Lee Keum-ryong.
How many employees does Auction have?
Auction employs approximately 500+ people.
What is Auction's revenue?
Auction's revenue: ≈ $500 million annual revenue (est.).
Who are Auction's competitors?
Main competitors in South Korea include gmarket.co.kr, 11st.co.kr, coupang.com.
How does Auction make money?
Mainly marketplace commissions, advertising.
Is Auction publicly traded?
No — Auction is not listed as an independent public company; it is operated by Gmarket Co..
How many visitors does Auction get?
Third-party estimates place Auction at roughly 50 million visits per month, mostly from South Korea, with 76% mobile traffic.
Is Auction safe?
Auction is an established e-commerce site founded in 1998 and ranked #130 in South Korea; use the official domain auction.co.kr and HTTPS.
Popular searches
Data sources & confidence
- Company website and public announcementsauction.co.kr
- Third-party traffic estimation providersSimilarweb-class estimates
Visit figures are modelled, not measured
- App store listingsApple App Store, Google Play
- Press and market coverageSouth Korea and international business media
- Data confidence
- Medium for company facts, medium-low for traffic and financial estimates. All modelled figures are rounded and marked with ≈.
- Last updated
- September 2026
Traffic, revenue and audience figures are third-party estimates or derived from sector benchmarks, and are reviewed periodically.
Social media profiles & statistics
Official brand account
Announcements and support
Community and campaigns
Company and hiring updates
Brand and product videos