Korean clothing listings usually publish a measured size table — 실측 사이즈 — taken from the garment itself in centimetres. Those numbers, not the S/M/L or 55/66 label, tell you whether something will fit. The reliable method: measure a garment you already own that fits, laid flat, and compare it point by point.
- 실측 사이즈 (actual measurements) are taken from the garment, laid flat, in centimetres.
- Many figures are 단면 — one-side measurements. Compare flat against flat.
- Korean labels 44, 55, 66, 77 and 88 sit beside XS–XL on Korean reference charts, not US numbers.
- Measurement points change with the item: tops list 총장 and 어깨너비, trousers list 허리, 힙 and 밑위.
- A blank cell means the seller did not publish that point — not that it is zero.
Why the Size Label Alone Tells You Little
Korean sizes are numbers, and they map loosely
A Musinsa product page's 기준표 사이즈 tab carries an international reference chart — 한국 44(85) beside 미국 2, 55(90) beside 4, 66(95) beside 6, 77(100) beside 8 and 88(105) beside 10 — and labels it a reference chart, so "55" is orientation rather than fit. Fit is listed separately as 스키니, 슬림, 레귤러, 루즈 or 오버 사이즈, and the page notes that the feel, stretch and thickness ratings are subjective. An "M" in a slim cut and an "M" in an over-size cut are not interchangeable.
What 실측 and 단면 Actually Mean
Measured from the garment, not from a body
실측 means "actual measurement": the seller lays the garment flat and measures it. A Uniqlo Korea sweater page splits its size chart into 제품 치수 (product measurements) and 신체 치수 (body measurements). The body chart gives ranges — size M as 81–87 cm chest, 65–71 cm waist, 88–94 cm hip — and notes that these figures, like those printed on the tag, are body sizes before wearing. Body ranges answer "which size am I?"; garment measurements answer "how big is this piece?" — the second decides fit when you cannot try the item on.
One-side figures, compared flat to flat
A Musinsa women's short-sleeve T-shirt lists seven points in centimetres: 총장, 어깨너비, 가슴단면, 소매길이, 밑단단면, 소매부리단면 and 암홀. The chest row reads 36, 38.5, 41, 43.5 and 46.5 across XS to XL — 가슴단면 figures, measured from one armpit seam to the other, so each covers one side only. So compare flat against flat: lay a top you own on a table, measure armpit seam to armpit seam, and match your number to the table. Doubling a 가슴단면 figure gives the full around-the-chest measurement if you prefer circumference.
Blanks are unknown, not zero
The M column on that tee has dashes where 소매길이, 밑단단면, 소매부리단면 and 암홀 should be, with a note that the product does not provide some 실측 values. A dash means "not published", not "no sleeve".
The Measurement Points You Will See
Tops
총장 (total length), 어깨너비 (shoulder width), 가슴단면 (chest, flat), 소매길이 (sleeve length), 밑단단면 (hem, flat), 소매부리단면 (sleeve opening, flat) and 암홀 (armhole). On the Musinsa tee, 총장 runs from 53 cm at XS to 57 cm at XL — about one centimetre per size step.
Bottoms
A Zigzag denim listing prints 허리, 힙, 허벅지, 밑위, 밑단 and 총장, with 허리 30/32/34/36/38 and 힙 46/48/50/52/54 across XS–XL. Its 총장 column shows two values, 98/103 at XS rising to 102/107 at XL, because the item comes in a short and a long length. The same block also lists stretch as 신축성 없음 (none), which is worth reading beside the numbers.
A Checklist Before You Request
- Find the size section: 실측 사이즈 on Musinsa, PRODUCT INFO → SIZE on Zigzag, or a 제품 치수 / 신체 치수 tab on Uniqlo Korea.
- Check the unit; Korean tables are almost always in centimetres.
- Lay a garment you own flat, measure the same points, and write the numbers down.
- Compare point by point — a few centimetres in 어깨너비 or 가슴단면 usually shows.
- Treat dashes as unknown, and note when 총장 has two values, meaning two length options.
- On a marketplace rather than a brand store, the table comes from the seller: Zigzag states it does not take part in the product.
When the Table Is Missing
Some listings carry no 실측 table at all — just a letter size or one free size — and some publish measurements for the brand's whole line. Do not guess from the label: write the measurements you need into the request. If the store is the obstacle, see why Korean brand orders fail; if the option field is, see how to choose the right option on a Korean product page. For resale listings, where a seller rather than a brand writes the table, see does KREAM ship internationally. Then submit a purchase request.
How to Order from Korea with Ships From Korea
Add the product link, options, quantity, and destination country. Complete payment, and we try to purchase the item in Korea. If the item is sold out, unavailable, or cannot be purchased, your payment is refunded. If the item is available and can be purchased, we receive it in Korea and prepare it for international shipping.
What does 실측 mean on a Korean clothing page?
"Actual measurement" — a size taken from the garment, laid flat, in centimetres. It is not your body measurement, so compare it against a garment you own.
Is Korean size 55 the same as a US small?
Not exactly. Korean reference charts place 55(90) next to US 4 and 44(85) next to US 2, so they do not line up one-to-one. Treat it as orientation and check the 실측 table.
The size table has dashes instead of numbers. What does that mean?
That the seller did not publish those points. A dash is missing information, not a zero, so you cannot read fit from it. Ask before ordering, or pick a listing that publishes the measurement you need.