Korean labels use their own numbers. Once you know the pattern, shopping fashion and sneakers gets much easier.
Shoes are measured in millimetres
A Korean shoe size is your foot length in millimetres: 240 means about 24 cm, 270 about 27 cm. Measure your foot heel to toe before you travel and you can ask for the right box straight away.
Tops: 85, 90, 95, 100
Many tops are labelled by chest measurement in centimetres, roughly 85 (XS), 90 (S), 95 (M), 100 (L) and 105 (XL). Women’s sizes often run 44, 55, 66, 77. Korean labels can run slimmer than some Western brands, so size up if you are between two.
Try it on
Fitting rooms are standard in road shops and flagships such as Musinsa’s Seongsu stores. In markets, ask before trying anything on; some stalls cannot offer a fitting space.