Shopping for Clothes and Shoes in Korea: A Size Guide for Foreigners
How Korean clothing sizes (55, 66, 95, 100, FREE) and shoe sizes in mm work, how to read measurement tables on Korean shopping sites, and tips for returns.
Korean fashion is affordable and fun, but the size labels can be confusing: 95, 66, FREE, 270. Here's how to decode them, in stores and online.
Shoes: just your foot length in millimeters
Korean shoe sizes are the simplest of all. The size is your foot length in millimeters, in steps of 5: 230, 235, 240 and so on. Men's sizes typically run from about 250 to 290, women's from about 220 to 255.
How to measure: stand on a sheet of paper with your heel against a wall, mark the tip of your longest toe, and measure the distance in mm. Round up to the next 5 mm. Measure in the evening, when feet are slightly larger.
Already know your US, UK or EU size? Use the Korean size chart to convert it.
Women's clothing: two systems
- 44 / 55 / 66 / 77 / 88: an older system still used in department stores and by many brands. 55 is roughly a small, 66 a medium.
- 85 / 90 / 95 / 100 / 105: based on bust size in cm. 90 is roughly a small, 95 a medium.
Many casual brands simply use S / M / L, but they often run smaller than Western brands.
Men's clothing: chest size in cm
Men's tops are labeled 90, 95, 100, 105, 110, matching chest size in centimeters. 100 is roughly a large and 105 an extra large. If you usually wear a US large and the item is slim-fit, try 105.
What “FREE” size really means
A label saying FREE or 프리사이즈 means one size meant to fit most people. In practice it usually fits women's 55–66 or men's 95–100. If you are taller or broader than average, check the measurements first.
Reading a measurement table online
Korean shopping sites show real garment measurements (실측 사이즈) in cm. The words to know:
| Korean | English |
|---|---|
| 총장 / 기장 | Total length (shoulder to hem) |
| 어깨너비 | Shoulder width |
| 가슴단면 | Chest width, measured flat (half the chest) |
| 소매길이 | Sleeve length |
| 허리단면 | Waist width, measured flat |
| 허벅지단면 | Thigh width, measured flat |
| 밑단단면 | Hem (leg opening) width |
| 오버핏 / 정핏 / 슬림핏 | Oversized / regular / slim fit |
Tip: lay a shirt you like flat on a table, measure it the same way, and compare. This is far more reliable than the size label. Remember that “단면” (flat width) is half the full circumference.
Pants and jeans
Pants are usually sized by waist in inches (28, 30, 32…), like in the US. Some brands use cm (76, 81, 86…). Divide cm by 2.54 to get inches.
Returns and exchanges
- Online, an exchange or return (교환 / 반품) usually costs a return shipping fee of a few thousand won, sometimes both ways, unless the item is defective.
- Korea's e-commerce law generally gives you 7 days after delivery to cancel an online purchase, with some exceptions (for example, items you have worn or damaged). Check each shop's policy.
- In stores, you can usually exchange with a receipt and tags attached. Ask “교환 돼요?” (gyohwan dwaeyo?, “Can I exchange this?”).
Useful phrases in a store
| Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 입어 봐도 돼요? | ibeo bwado dwaeyo? | Can I try it on? |
| 한 사이즈 큰 거 있어요? | han saijeu keun geo isseoyo? | Do you have one size bigger? |
| 신어 봐도 돼요? | sineo bwado dwaeyo? | Can I try on these shoes? |
| 270 있어요? | ibaek-chilsip isseoyo? | Do you have (size) 270? |