Korean Clothing Size Chart 2026: 44/55/66 and 95/100 to US, UK, EU
On published brand charts, Korean women's size 55 lines up with US 4 to 6 (UK 8 to 10), 66 with US 8 to 10, and men's size 100 with an international M, not an L. Korean labels are a rough guide only. The reliable way to buy is to compare the product page's cm measurements with a garment you already own.
Below: where 44/55/66 and 90/95/100 come from, conversion tables from Mytheresa's Korean site and Nike Korea, how to read a Korean size table, and what "Free" size means.
| Item | What we found (checked October 15, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Women's numbers | 44, 55, 66, 77, 88 |
| Korean 55 on Mytheresa's chart | US 4 to 6, UK 8 to 10, Germany 34 to 36 |
| Korean 66 on Mytheresa's chart | US 8 to 10, UK 12 to 14, Germany 38 to 40 |
| Men's numbers | 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110 and up |
| Korean 100 (men) | International M on Mytheresa's and Nike Korea's charts |
| Where 55 came from | 1981 standard: 155 cm tall, 85 cm bust |
| Official labeling since 1990 | Body measurements in cm (bust-hip-height) |
| Best way to choose | Compare cm measurements, not labels |
Sizes vary by brand and cut. Treat every conversion here as a starting point and check the product's own size table before you order.
What do Korean sizes 44, 55 and 66 mean?
They are old body-size codes that Korean shoppers still use every day.
The Kyunghyang Shinmun newspaper explained the history in 2006, citing Korea's standards agency. The 44/55 system was created in 1981. Size 55 was based on the average woman in her twenties at the time: 155 cm tall with an 85 cm bust. Each step up or down changed height by 5 cm and bust by 3 cm.
By that logic:
| Korean size | Height in the 1981 system | Bust in the 1981 system |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | About 150 cm | About 82 cm |
| 55 | 155 cm | 85 cm |
| 66 | About 160 cm | About 88 cm |
The same article says the 44/55 labels were officially dropped in 1990, when Korea moved to an ISO-style system based on centimeters. The current standard, KS K 0051, labels women's clothing as bust-hip-height, for example 82-88-160. But the new format was not mandatory, so 44, 55 and 66 stayed in everyday use.
What this means for you:
- The numbers describe a 1980s body. Korean women are taller now, so brands have stretched the meaning of each number.
- There is no single official 55 today. Two brands' 55 can fit differently.
- "44" is often marketing. The newspaper's point was that tiny labels flatter buyers, not that they follow a standard.
How do Korean women's sizes convert to US, UK and EU?
Mytheresa, a luxury retailer, publishes a conversion chart on its Korean site with a Korea row next to the US, UK and European rows. This is its women's clothing chart, as published in October 2026:
| Mytheresa label | Korea | US | UK | Germany | France | Italy | Japan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| XXS | 44 | 2 | 6 | 32 | 34 | 38 | 5 |
| XS-S | 55 | 4 | 8 | 34 | 36 | 40 | 7 |
| S-M | 55 | 6 | 10 | 36 | 38 | 42 | 9 |
| M-L | 66 | 8 | 12 | 38 | 40 | 44 | 11 |
| L-XL | 66 | 10 | 14 | 40 | 42 | 46 | 13 |
| XL | 77 | 12 | 16 | 42 | 44 | 48 | 15 |
| XXL | 77 | 14 | 18 | 44 | 46 | 50 | 17 |
Two things stand out. Each Korean number spans two Western sizes. And this chart is for European designer clothing, which is cut differently from most Korean brands.
Nike's alpha sizes, for comparison. Nike's women's tops chart lists XS as US 0 to 2, S as US 4 to 6, M as US 8 to 10 and L as US 12 to 14. Put next to Mytheresa's chart, that suggests:
| Korean size | Nearest US numeric | Nearest alpha size |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | US 2 | XS |
| 55 | US 4 to 6 | S |
| 66 | US 8 to 10 | M |
| 77 | US 12 to 14 | L |
This is a bridge between two published charts, not a promise for any single brand.
Denim. Mytheresa's chart also lists waist sizes: 23/24 next to Korean 44, 26/27 next to 55, 27/28 to 29/30 next to 66, and 30/31 to 32/33 next to 77.
How do Korean men's sizes 90, 95 and 100 convert?
Korean men's tops are labeled with chest-based numbers: 85, 90, 95, 100, 105, 110 and so on. Many Korean stores add a letter, such as "100 (L)". That letter is often one step larger than the international letter for the same body.
Mytheresa's men's chart lines up Korean sizes like this:
| Korea | Mytheresa label | Europe / Italy / France | Chest (US/UK, inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 90 | XS | 44 | 34 |
| 95 | S | 46 | 36 |
| 100 | M | 48 | 38 |
| 105 | L | 50 | 40 |
| 110 | XL | 52 | 42 |
| 115 | XXL | 54 | 44 |
| 120 | 3XL | 56 | 46 |
| 125 | 4XL | 58 | 48 |
Nike Korea's men's tops chart shows the same shift. Nike Korea lists its Korean labels next to US sizes:
| Nike Korea label | US size | Chest (inches) | Waist (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| XS (85) | XXS | 28.1 to 31.5 | 22.5 to 25.5 |
| S (90) | XS | 31.5 to 35 | 25.5 to 29 |
| M (95) | S | 35 to 37.5 | 29 to 32 |
| L (100) | M | 37.5 to 41 | 32 to 35 |
| XL (105) | L | 41 to 44 | 35 to 38 |
| XXL (110) | XL | 44 to 48.5 | 38 to 43 |
| 3XL (115) | XXL | 48.5 to 53.5 | 43 to 47.5 |
So a Korean "L (100)" is a US M on both charts. If you wear a US M, look for 100 first, not for the letter L.
Korean sportswear and team-wear makers often use the same pairing. Teammania, a Korean team uniform shop, lists 90 as S, 95 as M, 100 as L and 105 as XL in its size tables.
What does "Free size" mean on Korean clothes?
You will see 프리 (peuri, free) or FREE on many Korean fashion listings, especially on women's shopping apps. It means one size, made to fit a range of bodies.
What to know:
- Free is not universal. It usually fits the brand's own idea of an average customer.
- Oversized fits hide it. A free-size sweatshirt can fit many people. A free-size blouse with set-in sleeves fits far fewer.
- Check the numbers. Free-size items still have a measurement table. Read the chest, shoulder and length lines.
- Compare with something you own. Lay your best-fitting similar item flat and measure it the same way.
If the listing only says "fits 44 to 66" (44~66 까지), that is the seller's view. It is useful, but the cm table is better.
How do you read a Korean size table?
Korean product pages usually show 실측 사이즈 (silcheuk saijeu, actual measurements) of the garment, not body measurements. That is good news: you can compare them directly with clothes you already own.
Common column names:
| Korean | Romanized | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 총장 / 총기장 | chongjang / chonggijang | Total length |
| 어깨너비 | eokkae neobi | Shoulder width |
| 가슴단면 | gaseum danmyeon | Chest, measured flat (half the chest) |
| 가슴둘레 | gaseum dulle | Chest circumference |
| 소매길이 | somae giri | Sleeve length |
| 허리단면 | heori danmyeon | Waist, measured flat |
| 엉덩이단면 | eongdeongi danmyeon | Hip, measured flat |
| 허벅지단면 | heobeokji danmyeon | Thigh, measured flat |
| 밑위 | mitwi | Rise |
| 밑단단면 | mitdan danmyeon | Leg opening, measured flat |
단면 (danmyeon) means flat. A chest of 55 cm 단면 is the garment laid flat, armpit to armpit, so the full chest is about 110 cm. Teammania's tables, for example, give chest as 가슴반품 (gaseum banpum, half chest) for this reason.
Units. Korean tables are in centimeters. Divide by 2.54 for inches.
Tolerance. Garment measurements are taken by hand, so treat them as close, not exact. Leave a little room.
How do you pick your Korean size step by step?
- Choose a similar garment that fits you well, such as a hoodie for a hoodie.
- Lay it flat and smooth it out.
- Measure across the chest from armpit to armpit. That is the 단면 (flat) chest.
- Measure shoulder seam to shoulder seam, then the total length from the highest shoulder point to the hem.
- For pants, measure the waist flat, the rise and the inseam or total length.
- Open the Korean product page and find the measurement table.
- Pick the size whose numbers are closest to yours. Chest and shoulder matter most for tops; waist and hip for pants.
- If two sizes are close, read the fit description, such as 오버핏 (obeo-pit, oversized fit) or 슬림핏 (seullim-pit, slim fit).
This works across brands, which no label conversion can do.
Do Korean clothes run small?
It depends on the brand, and the cut matters more than the country.
- Slim fits. Korean office wear and many women's brands are cut close to the body. If you are between sizes, the larger one is usually safer.
- Oversized fits. Some Korean streetwear brands on Musinsa and 29CM cut tops roomy on purpose, so sizing down can be right.
- Shoulders and sleeves. These are where Korean sizing most often feels small for taller buyers. Check shoulder width and sleeve length even when the chest fits.
- Length. Korean tops and pants can be shorter than US equivalents. Compare total length and inseam.
Nike's own advice for its charts applies broadly: if you are between sizes, go smaller for a closer fit and larger for a looser fit, and follow the chest measurement if chest and waist suggest different sizes.
Which Korean size should you order? Quick reference
These rows combine the published charts above. Always check the product's own table.
| You usually wear | Try this Korean size first | Then check |
|---|---|---|
| Women's US 2 / UK 6 / XS | 44 | Chest and shoulder |
| Women's US 4 to 6 / UK 8 to 10 / S | 55 | Chest, waist |
| Women's US 8 to 10 / UK 12 to 14 / M | 66 | Chest, hip, length |
| Women's US 12 to 14 / UK 16 to 18 / L | 77 | Many brands stop at 77 or 88 |
| Men's US S / EU 46 | 95 | Shoulder width |
| Men's US M / EU 48 | 100 | Ignore the letter, read the cm |
| Men's US L / EU 50 | 105 | Sleeve length |
| Men's US XL / EU 52 | 110 | Brand may not stock it |
Larger sizes can be harder to find from Korean brands. Some women's labels stop at 77 or offer only Free. If you wear larger sizes, filter by measurements, not by number.
Can you return clothes that don't fit?
Returns from Korea are possible but rarely cheap. The item has to travel back to the store in Korea, and international shipping both ways can cost more than the item. Each store sets its own return rules, so read them before you buy.
That is why it pays to check the measurements before ordering. For the details, see returns from Korean stores.
How does HaulKorea help with sizing?
We do not choose your size for you, because only you know how you like clothes to fit. The size table on the product page is the reference. A few things still make it easier:
- No Korean account needed. Send us the product link with the size you picked; you do not need a Korean phone number, card or Korean language.
- Inspection photos. After the item arrives at our warehouse in Korea and before it ships, we send photos. If something looks wrong, you can ask before it leaves.
- Combining. If you are not sure between two sizes of a cheap item, you can order both and combine them with other orders in one box.
| Buy direct | You buy, we ship (package forwarding) | We buy for you (HaulKorea) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who picks the size | You | You | You, from the size table |
| Korean phone, card or language | Often needed | Often needed | Not needed |
| Check before shipping | No | Sometimes | Inspection photos |
| Combine several stores | No | Yes | Yes |
Our total covers the item, Korean shipping and international shipping. Import duty or VAT in your country is paid by the recipient.
Looking for brands? See our best Korean fashion websites or Musinsa Standard. For footwear, use our Korean shoe size chart.
FAQ
What US size is Korean 55?
On Mytheresa's published chart, Korean 55 sits next to US 4 and US 6 (UK 8 to 10). Many Korean brands cut slimmer than Western ones, so check the chest measurement before ordering.
What US size is Korean 66?
Mytheresa's chart puts Korean 66 next to US 8 and US 10 (UK 12 to 14). That is roughly an international M.
Is Korean men's size 100 a large?
Many Korean stores label 100 as L, but both Mytheresa's and Nike Korea's charts line it up with an international or US M. If you wear a US M, start with 100.
What does Free size mean in Korea?
Free (프리) means one size intended to fit a range of bodies. It usually fits the brand's idea of an average customer, so read the cm measurements in the size table.
Why do Korean size tables use half chest?
Many tables measure the garment laid flat, called 단면 (danmyeon). The chest number is armpit to armpit across the front, so double it for the full circumference.
Where did the 55 size come from?
A 1981 Korean standard based size 55 on a woman 155 cm tall with an 85 cm bust. The labels were officially replaced by cm-based sizing in 1990 but are still used informally.
Do Korean clothes fit taller people?
Often the chest fits while sleeves, shoulders or length run short. Compare those lines in the measurement table with a garment you own.
Can HaulKorea choose my size?
No. You pick the size from the product's measurement table, and we buy that option. We send inspection photos before the box leaves Korea.