Use foot length as a starting point for shoe size
Korea sizes footwear by foot length in millimetres, and it is the same number for men, women, trainers, boots and dress shoes. A size marked 260 generally corresponds to a foot length of 26 centimetres. Steps are usually 5 mm — 250, 255, 260 — though some brands stock only 10 mm intervals. Measure your foot at home, heel to longest toe, and shop on that number; use it as a starting point, then check the brand’s fit and width.
The number is a physical measurement rather than a code, which is why it travels so well: the national shoe-size standard (KS M 6681) is built on the international Mondopoint system. A working conversion, from the size table of the Korean resale platform Feelway (필웨이):
| Korea (mm) | Men's US | Men's UK | Men's EU | Women's US | Women's UK | Women's EU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 220 | — | — | — | 5 | 2 | 35 |
| 230 | — | — | — | 6 | 3 | 36 |
| 240 | — | — | — | 7 | 4 | 37 |
| 250 | 7 | 6 | 40 | 8 | 5 | 38 |
| 260 | 8 | 7 | 41 | 9 | 6 | 39 |
| 270 | 9 | 8 | 42 | 10 | 7 | 40 |
| 280 | 10 | 9 | 43 | — | — | — |
| 290 | 11 | 10 | 44 | — | — | — |
| 300 | 12 | 11 | 45 | — | — | — |
The foreign columns are rounded and other charts put them half a size out; the millimetre column is exact. Two practical notes. Large sizes thin out fast — above about 280 mm for men and 250 mm for women you are into special order at many Korean chains. And Korean lasts tend to be narrow, so a wide foot may need a wider fit rather than simply a longer shoe.
Compare clothing measurements across brands
Korea has national clothing-size standards, written by the Korean Agency for Technology and Standards (국가기술표준원) and last revised on 17 September 2025:
| Standard | Covers | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| KS K 0050 | Adult menswear sizes (성인 남성복의 치수) | men 18 and over, including dress shirts |
| KS K 0051 | Adult womenswear sizes (성인 여성복의 치수) | women aged 18–59, foundation garments excluded |
| KS K 0052 | Infant clothing sizes (유아복의 치수) | infants to pre-school |
They are built on the Size Korea (사이즈코리아) national body survey — 103,803 people measured since 1979 — and no shop has to follow them. They carry no certification and no penalty, so brands size to their own customers, and two jackets carrying the identical designation fit differently from brand to brand.
So buy by the actual measurements (실측) instead. Look for listed measurements such as shoulder width (어깨너비), half chest (가슴단면), total length (총장) and sleeve length (소매길이) in centimetres. Measure a garment you already own and compare. Check whether the measurements describe the body or the garment. Brands use different cuts, so there is no reliable rule to buy exactly one size larger.
What the numbers on the label mean
Men. The number is the chest measurement in centimetres: 95 is a 95 cm chest. Trousers are sold on waist in centimetres or in inches, and both appear on the same rail.
| International | XS | S | M | L | XL | XXL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Korea (men) | 90 | 95 | 100 | 105 | 110 | 115 |
Women. Numbers such as 44, 55, 66, 77 and 88 are size labels, rather than direct measurements of a current garment. They are the leftover of a numbered grade system introduced in 1983 off the 1979 body survey — 55 meant 155 cm tall with an 85 cm bust, 44 meant 150 cm and 82 cm, 66 meant 160 cm and 88 cm — and the whole scheme was repealed on 29 December 1990. The numbers survived, describing a body from forty years ago: the average Korean woman in her twenties has gained about 7 cm of height since, and the current adult averages are 172.5 cm for men and 159.6 cm for women. Modern brands use these labels differently. Treat the conversion below as a rough comparison and use the garment measurements to choose.
| Korea (women) | 44 | 55 | 66 | 77 | 88 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| International | XS | S | M | L | XL |
Free size means one offered size
Free size (프리사이즈) does not mean the garment fits everyone. It means the maker cut one size and that is all there is. An analysis of 337,247 listings on the Korean fashion platform Musinsa (무신사) put numbers on it:
- 26.6% of all womenswear listings were free size, against 2.3% of menswear; in women's tops it reached 41.5%.
- Measured against the sized listings, women's free-size garments landed 45.1% on M and 42.2% on S. Men's and unisex free size landed on L.
The study found many free-size items comparable to S or M, but that does not establish the fit of any particular garment. Free-size clothing is common in Dongdaemun (동대문), on the online malls, and in the small independents in Hongdae (홍대, the nightlife and student district around Hongik University) and Myeongdong (명동, central Seoul's main shopping street, and its cosmetics district). Ask for the actual measurements, since oversized and fitted free-size garments differ.
How to buy without being caught
- Read the centimetres, ignore the letter. Compare against a garment you own.
- Try the item on where possible. If you cannot, compare measurements and check the return policy.
- Ask before you fall in love with something. Whether you can try clothes on is each shop's own choice: department stores and the big chains have fitting rooms; small market stalls and many street-front shops in Dongdaemun and Myeongdong allow trousers and skirts only, or nothing at all. 입어봐도 돼요? means “May I try this on?”
- Try shoes on before choosing a size. Length, width and shape all affect the fit.
- Keep the receipt. Check the shop’s return terms before paying, especially if you cannot try the item on.
