Where Can a Plus Size Foreigner Actually Buy Clothes in Korea? My Honest Answer
If you are a plus size woman moving to or visiting Korea, here is the short version: yes, you can find clothes that fit, but you cannot just walk into any random Hongdae boutique and expect it to work. After a year and a half of living in Seoul as a curvy foreigner, my honest conclusion is that online plus size Korean stores like Romi Story plus a couple of physical shops in Itaewon and Dongdaemun are where you will actually have luck. The "Free Size" racks that dominate most Korean shops are designed for someone roughly a US size 2 to 6, so chasing those will only break your heart.
I learned this the hard way. My first month here, I walked into a cute street shop, held up an adorable cardigan, and the staff member gently smiled and said "free size only." I am a US 14 to 16 on a good day, so that cardigan was never going to happen. This post is everything I wish someone had told me before I packed my suitcase. I am going to walk you through Korean sizing, the stores that actually carry my size, what I order online, and the little tricks (like alterations and proxy shopping) that completely changed my wardrobe here.
Why is plus size shopping in Korea so hard for foreigners?
Plus size shopping in Korea is hard because Korean clothing sizing runs one to two sizes smaller than US or European sizing, and most brands simply do not produce larger ranges. A 2015 industry report found only about 15% of Korean womenswear brands carried anything above a Korean size 66 (roughly a US 8 to 10). So it is not you, and it is not your body. The market itself is just narrow.
Let me explain the numbers, because they confused me for ages. Korean womens sizing uses a numeric system created back in 1981, based on the average Korean woman at the time who was around 155cm tall. That is where the famous "55" comes from. Here is the rough translation that I keep on my phone:
| Korean size | US size | Western label |
|---|---|---|
| 44 | 0~2 | XS |
| 55 | 4~6 | S |
| 66 | 8~10 | M |
| 77 | 10~12 | L |
| 88 | 12~14 | XL |
| 99~110 | 14~18 | 2XL |
| 120~140 | 18~22+ | 3XL and up |
And then there is "Free Size" (프리사이즈). This one is sneaky. Free Size does not mean one-size-fits-all. It means the shop made the item in exactly one set of measurements, and that set is almost always cut for a small Korean frame. I once measured two different Free Size blouses and the chest measurement differed by 13cm, so even Free Size is not consistent. My rule now: if something says Free Size and I cannot try it on, I just skip it.
Which Korean plus size stores actually carry my size?
The stores that consistently carry my size are Romi Story, 09Women, Ririnco, JStyle Evellet, and LEWKIN, with Romi Story being the most size inclusive of the bunch. These are the ones I keep coming back to, and I want to talk about my main one first because it genuinely changed how I dress here.
Romi Story — my go-to and why I trust it
Romi Story (롬이스토리) is the brand I recommend to literally every plus size friend who lands in Seoul. They go all the way up to a Korean 140, which is roughly a US 22, and they use their own R0 to R4 sizing system that is honestly easier to understand than the numeric chaos. The styles lean cute and feminine, lots of flowy dresses and soft knits, which is exactly my taste.
What I love most is that they have physical locations, including one near Hongdae, so I could actually go in and touch the fabric and try things on. The first time I walked in and saw clothes in my size on real plus size mannequins, I almost teared up. That sounds dramatic, I know. But when you have spent months being told "free size only," it hits different.
The honest downsides? Their stuff is not the cheapest, and some of the trendier pieces sell out fast online. I ordered a linen dress that took about a week and a half to arrive, and one knit top ran slightly tighter in the arms than I expected. So even with a great plus size brand, I still recommend checking the exact centimeter measurements on each product page rather than trusting the size label alone. Their site does ship internationally, which is great if you fall in love with them and then leave Korea.
The other online stores I rotate through
When I want variety, I bounce between a few others. 09Women got popular partly thanks to a Korean comedian, Kim Min-kyung, and their thing is clean, simple designs and decent outerwear. Their sizing goes up to around a Korean 120. I bought a long coat from them my first winter and it is still in rotation.
Ririnco is where I go for anything slightly dressy. Office wear, wedding guest outfits, that sort of thing. They go up to a Korean 120 and the cuts feel a bit more grown up. JStyle Evellet surprised me because they actually use plus size models and have street style and good bottoms, which is rare. And LEWKIN ships from Seoul and has a curve section with jeans and tops, though their range tops out lower than Romi Story, so I treat them more as a "maybe" than a sure thing.
Where do plus size foreigners shop in Seoul in person?
In person, Itaewon and Dongdaemun are your two best neighborhoods for plus size clothing in Seoul, because both have long catered to foreigners and bigger body types. Itaewon especially has been the foreigner district for decades, and you will find stores there carrying larger clothing and shoes above a US 8.5, which is genuinely hard to find elsewhere in Korea.
I go to Itaewon when I need shoes, honestly. My feet are a US 9 and most Korean shoe shops just stare at me. The Itaewon area has options, and I have also raided the mens section of regular stores for sneakers, jackets, and oversized hoodies. Pro tip that a Canadian expat blogger mentioned and I now swear by: a lot of regular Korean shops carry oversized styles because that is just the trend right now, so an oversized "Free Size" hoodie can sometimes fit a plus size body even when the fitted stuff does not. I have found some of my favorite comfy pieces this way.
Dongdaemun is the giant wholesale and retail fashion district, open until absurd hours, and because the sheer volume of clothing is so huge, you can dig up plus size pieces if you are patient. It is overwhelming though. I only go when I have energy and time to hunt.
One thing that quietly fixed my wardrobe: alterations. Tailoring in Seoul is common and surprisingly affordable. I started buying the largest size available in a style I loved, even if it was a little snug or a little long, and taking it to a local 수선집 (alteration shop) to adjust. A pair of pants taken in or let out for a few thousand won changed everything for me.
Plus size Korea shopping comparison — what fits who?
Here is how I would sort it out depending on what kind of shopper you are.
- If you want the widest size range and feminine styles: Romi Story, hands down. Up to a US 22 and they have physical stores plus international shipping.
- If you want simple, clean basics and outerwear: 09Women is your friend, up to around a US 18.
- If you need office or event wear: Ririnco leans dressy and grown up.
- If you are visiting short term and cannot order online: head to Itaewon for in person options and shoes, and check the oversized racks at mainstream stores.
A quick reality check on what to pack versus buy. From experience and from other plus size expats I follow, the smart move is to bring your own jeans, pants, undergarments, swimwear, and shoes (especially above a US 8), because those are the hardest to source here. Dresses, tops, and oversized layers are much easier to find or order once you arrive.
And do not forget proxy shopping. Some of the best domestic only Korean stores do not ship abroad, but proxy services give you a local Korean address, receive your orders, then consolidate and ship everything to you in one box at a discounted rate. If you have already left Korea but miss a brand, this is how you keep buying.
Frequently asked questions about plus size shopping in Korea
What is the largest size I can find in Korean plus size stores?
The largest size you can realistically find is around a Korean 140, which is roughly a US 22, and Romi Story is the brand that goes that high. Most other plus size Korean stores top out around a Korean 110 to 120, which is closer to a US 16 to 18. If you are above a US 22, your best bets are international brands like Zara, H&M, and Uniqlo, or alterations on the largest available domestic pieces.Do Korean plus size stores ship internationally?
Yes, several do, including Romi Story, The Goeun, and LEWKIN, which all offer direct international shipping from their websites. For stores that only sell domestically, like some sellers on Naver Shopping or Coupang, you can use a Korean proxy shopping service that gives you a local address and reships your order abroad. I have used both methods and the proxy route is worth it when you really want a domestic only brand.What does Free Size mean in Korean clothing and will it fit me?
Free Size means the garment was made in a single set of measurements, not that it stretches to fit everyone. It is usually cut for the average small Korean frame, roughly a US 2 to 6, so it will likely not fit a plus size body unless the item is intentionally oversized in style. My honest advice is to always check the actual centimeter measurements listed on the product, because two Free Size items can differ by over 10cm.Where can plus size foreigners buy shoes in Korea?
Plus size foreigners should head to Itaewon for shoes above a US 8.5, since it is the neighborhood most used to larger foreign sizes. You can also check the mens sections of mainstream stores for sneakers and sandals. Honestly, shoes are the single hardest thing to find in my size here, so I always pack my own and only buy locally as a backup.Are international brands like Zara and H&M a good option for plus size in Korea?
Yes, international chains like Zara, H&M, and Uniqlo are reliable in Korea because their sizing follows global standards rather than the smaller Korean numeric system. They are my fallback when I want something basic and predictable. The trade off is that they carry less of the cute, distinctly Korean style you might be here for, which is why I still mix in dedicated plus size Korean brands.Final thoughts — is plus size shopping in Korea worth the effort?
Plus size shopping in Korea is absolutely doable once you know where to look, and the payoff is being able to wear the Korean styles you love instead of feeling shut out of them. To recap: skip the Free Size racks, lean on plus size online stores like Romi Story and 09Women, shop Itaewon and Dongdaemun in person, embrace cheap alterations, and pack your own jeans and shoes before you fly over.
I will be honest, my first month here I felt invisible in Korean fashion. Now my closet is full of dresses and knits that actually fit, and a lot of them are Korean. It took some hunting, but it was completely worth it. If you only remember one name from this whole post, make it Romi Story.
You can start browsing Romi Story directly at their official site, romistory.com, and your plus size Korea wardrobe journey will be a lot smoother than mine was.