Shoe sizes in Korea
Shoes in Korea are labeled by foot length in millimeters, in 5 mm steps: 230, 235, 240 and so on. It is the most logical system in the world — measure your foot from heel to longest toe and you have your size. Most women wear between 225 and 250, most men between 255 and 280.
In a shop, the staff may ask 사이즈가 어떻게 되세요? (saijeuga eotteoke doeseyo?) (What size are you?) or 발 사이즈가 몇이에요? (bal saijeuga myeochieyo?). Answer with the number: 이백사십이요 (ibaeksasibiyo) (240). Numbers for sizes are Sino-Korean.
Clothing sizes in Korea
Korea uses three kinds of clothing labels. Women's clothes often use 44, 55, 66, 77, 88 (from XS to XL). Both women's and men's clothes use chest sizes in centimeters: 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110. And many brands simply use S, M, L or 프리 (free size). Korean fits tend to be slimmer than US fits, so many visitors go one size up.
Pants are labeled by waist, in inches (26, 28, 30…) or centimeters (66, 71, 76…). Try things on when you can: 입어 봐도 돼요? (ibeo bwado dwaeyo?) (Can I try it on?).
Ring sizes and cosmetics volume
Rings are sized by number + 호: 12호 (12ho). Couple rings are popular in Korea, and many jewelry shops will resize a ring for you. Korean cosmetics are labeled in milliliters (ml) and grams (g): a 50 ml cream is 1.69 fl oz, and carry-on liquids on flights must be 100 ml (3.4 fl oz) or less per container.
Useful shopping phrases
- Do you have size 240? 240 사이즈 있어요? (240 saijeu isseoyo?)
- Do you have a bigger one? 더 큰 거 있어요? (deo keun geo isseoyo?)
- Do you have a smaller one? 더 작은 거 있어요? (deo jageun geo isseoyo?)
- Can I try it on? 입어 봐도 돼요? (ibeo bwado dwaeyo?) (shoes: 신어 봐도 돼요? (sineo bwado dwaeyo?))
- It's a bit tight: 좀 껴요 (jom kkyeoyo)
- It's a bit big: 좀 커요 (jom keoyo)