Free size is the phrase that ends more Korean clothing purchases than any other. It sounds accommodating and is not: it means the garment is cut to one pattern, and that pattern was drafted for a specific and fairly narrow body range.
What free size corresponds to
In practice free size fits roughly a US 0 to 6 for fitted styles and up to a US 10 for genuinely oversized ones. Shop-drafted patterns typically assume a bust of 82-88 cm and a waist of 63-70 cm. Anything outside that is a guess, and the seller will not tell you so. Sellers also sometimes note a recommended height range or a maximum weight, and where present those figures reflect the pattern more honestly than the phrase free size does.
The measurements that matter
Korean listings give flat measurements: shoulder, chest, total length, and for bottoms waist, hip, thigh and total length, all measured flat and doubled for circumference. Chest listed as 50 cm means 100 cm around. Comparing these against a garment you own and measure yourself is the only reliable method. Measure the garment you are comparing against while it is lying flat rather than while worn, since that is how the Korean numbers were taken.
Where free size fails specifically
Shoulder width and sleeve length fail first, since Korean patterns run narrow through the shoulder and short in the arm. Bust is the second failure point on fitted styles. Waist and hip are usually more forgiving because so many Korean styles are elasticated or loose through the body. Sleeve length is worth checking specifically against your own arm measurement, since a Korean sleeve at 58 cm will read as three-quarter length on a taller wearer.
When to skip a listing entirely
No measurements posted, only a model height and weight given, or a listing that says the fit is roomy without numbers. These are the listings that generate returns domestically, and you have no return path at all. Photo reviews from other buyers, where available, are the best supplementary evidence since they show the garment on bodies other than the model's.
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Start a buy-for-me order →Frequently asked
Do sellers offer a larger size on request?
Small Korean shops occasionally do custom runs, but the answer is almost always no. Free size means one pattern.
How accurate are the listed measurements?
Expect a tolerance of 1-3 cm, which sellers usually state. On a fitted garment 3 cm matters.
Is model height and weight useful?
Only as a rough anchor. It tells you nothing about your own shoulder or bust measurement.