What is “plus-size” in Korea? Compared to western countries like the US, Canada, the UK, etc., plus size in Korea starts very small. Whereas, the average size for women in the US and some other countries is around 16, in Korea a size 6-8 is considered plus size.
When preparing to come to Korea, the thing people are often very worried about is clothing. How much clothing should you pack? What kind of clothing should you pack? How long will your clothing last before you have to throw it away? Another aspect some expats most worry about as well is shopping for new clothes once they arrive. For some expats in Korea, shopping will not be much different than back in their home country and they will find their size readily available in the local shops. However, the average sizes carried in Korea are much smaller than the selection found in most western countries. This leads to many expats suddenly finding themselves categorized as “plus-size”. With this guide, we will discuss many aspects of finding clothing in Korea that will fit this range of body types, including what sizes are considered plus size in Korea and some keywords to look for when shopping.
What is “plus-size” in Korea?
Compared to western countries like the US, Canada, the UK, etc., plus size in Korea starts very small. Whereas, the average size for women in the US and some other countries is around 16, in Korea a size 6-8 is considered plus size. For men’s sizes in Korea, plus size starts at a Korean size 100 which is roughly equivalent to a men’s M-L in the US. Something to note is that the smallest size that is considered plus size for women is very small. Due to that fact, when searching for plus size resources online you will most likely find more information on women’s clothing than men’s.
How do you find plus-size clothing in Korea?
If you decide to go shopping for clothes in Korea, there are some phrases you should know. These phrases will help you figure out if a particular shop will carry plus-size clothing or not. The first two phrases are indicators that a shop probably does not have plus-size clothing.
Free Size- this phrase is like the Korean version of “one size fits all”. “Free size” clothing is made for the average Korean body type, so it will most likely be a small size. “Free size” clothing is very common in boutiques and the trendy sidewalk shops in areas like Hongdae.
Asian Fit- this phrase is commonly seen in international brands like H&M or Zara. When you see this phrase it means that the clothing has been sized down from the original western size. The item would fit like something from a petite section, basically. Usually “Asian Fit” refers to specific items within the store that have a tag or sign, rather than the whole store.
The next two phrases are good signs that a store carries plus-size clothing, but can also be used as search terms when online shopping.
Big Size/빅사이즈/큰사이즈/큰옷- these phrases are an indicator that you will find Korean plus sizes at a particular shop. If you use these terms to search for clothes online, especially on Coupang or GMarket, you will want to add “여성” for women’s clothes or “남성" for men’s clothes to the end of the phrase. All of these phrases basically mean the same thing, “big” or “large” sizes are available. Big Size/빅사이즈 and 큰사이즈 are the more common versions of the phrase and in areas frequented by foreigners, the signs may be in English as well.
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Oversized Fit- the trend in Korea, even among people who are not plus-sized, is to wear very baggy or oversized items. Commonly seen in T-shirts, sweaters, and cardigans, this trend can be helpful for foreigners who may only be considered plus-sized by Korean standards and not back home. Due to the very loose fit of these oversized clothes, you might find these items to be fitted or even a little loose on you. Someone who is only slightly bigger than a Korean straight size will have an easier time fitting these clothes.
Shopping For Plus Size Clothing in Korea
Finally, let’s talk about the best ways to shop for plus-size clothing in South Korea. There are three main ways to shop for plus size clothing here: domestic/Korean plus size brands, large international brands in Korea, and overseas brands that deliver to Korea.
Korean Plus-Size Brands
These days there is a large number of domestic plus size brands popping up all over Korea. Many of these brands have physical stores as well as websites to order from. Most of these brands carry up to Korean size 120 for women and up to Korean size 145 for men. It is important to note that not every store that advertises “plus-size” or “big size” is carrying the same range of sizes. They also may offer straight sizes as well as plus sizes, making the selection smaller. Another important aspect to keep in mind is that even though the clothing is labeled as “plus-sized”, it is still made with a Korean body type in mind. So, you may have trouble with these brands if you are very tall, are big-chested, or have very broad shoulders. Always take your measurements and compare them to the item’s measurements on the site before purchasing anything.
Some examples of brands for men are BigNJoy (빅앤조이), Okkane, and 4XR. BigNJoy and Okkane both have online and physical locations with a wide range of sizes. 4XR also has both online and physical stores, however, they differ from the first two in that they carry some well-known brand names along with Korean-made brands.
Some examples of brands for women are RomiStory, 09Women, and JStyle. Romistory and 09Women both have online and physical locations. Their size ranges seem to stop at about a US 16-18, but some items with a looser fit may be over that size. JStyle only has an online store right now, but their FAQ page indicates that they occasionally have pop-up stores. JStyle’s size range goes up to about a US size 20 on some items and they have even featured plus-sized foreign models.
International Brands in Korea
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There are quite a few international brands that have locations and online stores based in Korea. These brands either carry the western sizes for their clothing, have extended size ranges, or have dedicated plus-size sections. The four most well-known brands in Korea are H&M, Zara, American Eagle, and Uniqlo. Most of these stores will have up to an “L” or “XL” in stores, but they may be lower stock than the smaller sizes. Also, H&M has changed their sizing, so in-store will have a more petite sized stock. That being said, all four of these stores have extended size ranges or even plus size ranges on their websites. Usually, the bigger size ranges will be a separate category marked with “plus-size” (written like this 플러스사이즈 in Korean) or “120 size”.
Overseas Brands That Deliver to Korea
In addition to the many established brands to choose from in Korea, there is also the option to order from brands outside of Korea. Most brands offer international shipping these days which is great for anyone who would prefer to buy clothing from brands they are familiar with. The only issues with this option are that shipping can take some time, you will most likely be paying duties, and if the value of your order is $150 USD or more you will have to pay a customs tax in Korea. That being said, if you cannot find your size or preferred style using any of the other resources provided so far, here are some examples of brands with plus sizes or extended size ranges that deliver to Korea. For men’s and women’s clothing: Asos, Everlane, and Nordstrom all have extended or plus size ranges and carry a variety of styles or brands. Amazon also delivers to Korea and within the last year or so has recently improved its service to Korea and even offers free shipping over a certain amount. For women’s plus size clothing, including undergarments: Torrid, Modcloth, and Victoria’s Secret all deliver to Korea. This in no way represents all of the brands that deliver to Korea. If you have a favorite brand, you should look at their FAQ pages and see what their policy is regarding overseas shipping, you may be surprised how many brands now ship virtually anywhere.
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