Lucky you! You found that awesome Girl’s Generation t-shirt that you’ve been wanting for so long and buy it instantly! But when you get home and finally try it on, you look like this! Make sure this doesn’t happen when you shop in Korea. Be sure to know Korean sizes!
If you’re going to shop in Korea at some of the global brand stores, you will find the typical small, medium, large sizes that can be found around the world. Generally, these sizes will be pretty close to where you’re from (not always though!). But if you shop at local Korean retailers, you might be confused with the sizes. There are different sizes in Korea for clothes, shoes, pants and even underwear. And no one wants to wear underwear that’s too small for them!
Note: The larger sizes (XL, XXL+) can often be difficult to find in Korea. Itaewon, the foreigner district of Seoul, definitely has large size clothing.
Women’s Clothing Sizes in Korea
| International | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
| Korea | 44 (85) | 55 (90) | 66 (95) | 77 (100) | 88 (105) | 110 |
| Japan | S | M | L | XL | XXL | |
| USA & Canada | 2 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| UK & Australia | 4-6 | 8-10 | 10-12 | 16-18 | 20-22 | |
| France | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40, 42 | 44, 46, 48 | 50, 52, 54 |
| Italy | 80 | 90 | 95 | 100 | 105 | 110 |
| Europe | 34 | 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 |
Men’s Clothing Sizes in Korea
| International | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
| Korea | 85 | 90 | 95 | 100 | 105 | 110 |
| USA | 85-90 | 90-95 | 95-100 | 100-105 | 105-110 | 110+ |
| 14 | 15 | 15.5-16 | 16.5 | 17.5 | ||
| Japan | S | M | L | LL, XL | ||
| 36 | 38 | 40 | 42 | 44 | 46 | |
| UK | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| France | 40 | 42, 44 | 46,48 | 50,52 | 54, 56, 58 | 60, 62 |
| Europe | 44-46 | 46 | 48 | 50 | 52 | 54 |
Korean Shoe Sizes
| Korean Size (mm) | 210 | 220 | 230 | 240 | 250 | 260 | 270 | 280 | 290 |
| USA (Men) | - | - | 5 | 6.5 | 7.5 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 |
| USA (Women) | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7.5 | 8.5 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 |
| Japan | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 |
| Europe (Men) | 36.5 | 38 | 39 | 41 | 43 | 45 | 46 | ||
| Europe (Women) | 34 | 35.5 | 36 | 37.5 | 38.5 | 40 | 42 | 43 | 44 |
| UK (Men) | 4.5 | 6 | 7 | 8.5 | 9.5 | 10.5 | 11.5 | ||
| UK (Women) | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 8 | 9 | 9.5 | 10 |
Source for above charts: naver.com.
Bra Sizes in Korea
| Korea & China |
70A | 70B | 70C | 70D | 70DD | 75A | 75B | 75C | 75D | 75DD | 80A | 80B | 80C | 80D | 80DD | ||
| Japan | AA70 | A70 | B70 | C70 | D70 | AA75 | A75 | B75 | C75 | D75 | E75 | AA80 | A80 | B80 | C80 | D80 | E80 |
| US/UK | 32AA | 32A | 32B | 32C | 32D | 34AA | 34A | 34B | 34C | 34D | 34DD | 36AA | 36A | 36B | 36C | 36D | 36DD |
| Europe | 70AA | 70A | 70B | 70C | 70D | 75AA | 75A | 75B | 75C | 75D | 75E | 80AA | 80A | 80B | 80C | 80D | 80E |
| France | 85A | 85B | 85C | 85D | 85DD | 90A | 90B | 90C | 90D | 90DD | 90E | 95A | 95B | 95C | 95D | 95DD | 95E |
| Australia | 10AA | 10A | 10B | 10C | 10D | 12AA | 12A | 12B | 12C | 12D | 12DD | 14AA | 14A | 14B | 14C | 14D | 14DD |
Source for Korean bra sizes: k-styleme.com
Tip: Watch this fun clip about having big boobs in Korea
I have to say all these things are really relative.
I bought a pair of 280 Converse sneakers that were 9.5 in US size and a size 11 Merrell boots that were listed as 290.
I regularly encounter “XL” Korean shirts that fit like a US medium or small on me.
And pants, don’t get me started on the pants. Even if you find your waist size, the damn legs will fit like sausage links if you got any sort of meat on them.
The Korean Bra Size really help increase your self esteem.
“Yeah, I have a B-cup! First in my lifetime.”
By the way South Korea (and Asia at all) will be my “shopping heaven”, because I’m small.
*right word: petite
[...] where the term “one size” fits all is sometimes the only measurement you can find in a store (see Seoulistic’s post on Korea sizes here). Unfortunately, most people are not all one size and the rest of us needs to look for alternative [...]
French size are clearly not the good ones. For instance, men shoes sized 280 in Korea are equivalent to 42
Yeah, it’s become clear to me that I will not be buying any bras in Korea. I don’t think you can get anything larger than a B cup outside of Itaewon. Heh.
“One size” is hit or miss, too. In the US I wear an 8 in pants and usually a medium in tops, but some of the Korean “One size” stuff fits me fine. Some is ridiculously tiny.
What range of shoe sizes would one normally find in your average shop?
Hey nice video.
Fingers crossed I really hope the
. Keep up the lovely posts.
I’m from Australia and im buying my Mum a jacket from China and i’m freaking out.
She’s a size 18 so ill probably get her a XL or a XXL but im still concerned that the
size will be to small with how puny the sizings are. I’m going to get the XXL because
I am paranoid now and hopefully it will be to big rather than not fit well at all. The XXL
is the largest size they have in the jacket sizes.
jacket fits. Also I don’t know if you have ever watched New Girl you remind me of the
character Jess your personality when you’re on here reminds me of hers on the show
Lauwzs
Also I can’t believe they have a one size fits all thats rediculous.
I would only expect that of hats one size fits all sounds right then.
I was puzzled when I saw free size while shopping for Mum I really
don’t think free size is the appropriate word for it.
~Lauwzs
[...] Korean sizes can be a bit complicated, and since Korean shops might sometimes offer less variety in terms of sizes (usually leaning towards smaller sizes) than other countries, it can be hard for some to find perfectly fitted clothes. That’s why one should go shopping in Itaewon! Itaewon is famous for their custom tailored suits. There’s also baggy hiphop fashion as well as just bigger size clothes in general. Street shopping is awesome too and there’s a whole underground market for super high quality fake bags. [...]