Korean Job Discussion Forums

mistermasan · Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Location: 10+ yrs on Dave's ESL cafe

hello all. seems shoe sizes are different. sometimes i am a 13 other times a 14 using US sizes. where can i buy large shoes in korea? as you can guess, buying on online has been a nightmare.

DRAMA OVERKILL · Joined: 12 Apr 2005

Good luck, man. I'm size 11 and hard enough finding that size. I usually have to settle for "not quite what I want" because the styles for larger sized shoes/sneakers seem to be limited. Maybe it's easier in Seoul or Busan (?).

jaganath69 · Joined: 17 Jul 2003

Try Songtan, the shopping area just outside Osan Air Force base. Lots of big lads there and you should be able to get something in your size.

normalcyispasse · Posted: Mon Dec 10, 2007 11:53 pm Post subject:

Heh. Itaewon? I'm a 13.5 and have never found anything in this country.

ella · Joined: 17 Apr 2006

Have you tried Zappos? I have shoes sent to my home in the U.S. then someone ships them here. Zappos has free overnight shipping until Dec 22nd so the only shipping you'd pay for is from the U.S. to Korea. Shouldn't be a nightmare.

caniff · Joined: 03 Feb 2004 Location: All over the map

You know what they say about guys with big shoes, right?

Big feet.

Missihippi · Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Location: Gwangmyeong

I'm just playing up to the stereotypical southern redneck theme, but would it be cool to walk around and even teach barefooted?

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

In 10 years living in Korea I've never found a shoe that could fit me.

You could always go the route of having some custom made. I have to say it is a pain in the arse to get shoes delivered to you from online vendors, as 90% of them won't ship outside their jurisdiction.

If it is a shoe emergency, I suggest you get a pair made. If you can wait till you get back to your home country, do so. I typically stock up on shoes on trips to my home country.

mistermasan · Joined: 20 Sep 2007 Location: 10+ yrs on Dave's ESL cafe

no. what do they say about guys with big shoes? that it isn't easy to find shoes that fit?

that we have great soles? oh. that is corny. now, don't be so calloused. not trying to be a heel but rather just trying to keep instep wiht the happy pace.

Tony_Balony · Joined: 12 Apr 2007

Yea, Zappos etc. Size 12, I gave up looking. Internet, then ship here.
I use http://usa2me.com

kingplaya4 · Joined: 14 May 2006

If you guys can't find shoes, than what the hell size do they make here? I am an 8 1/2 Medium, and the smallest shoe I can find is an 8 1/2 W. I ended up buying a pair anyway, but I rarely wear them because my feet flop all over the place.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

Underwaterbob · Joined: 08 Jan 2005 Location: In Cognito

I wear a size 15. Itaewon is the only place I know of in Korea that has shoes that fit me.

Get off the subway and walk towards MacDonalds. About 80 meters down (maybe) on the left side of the street there is a small shoe store that has a lot of large shoes: 13-14 and *sigh* only occasionally 15.

Also all of the Nike and Adidas stores in Itaewon have up to size fifteen but only in a few different, er, models of sneaker.

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

lawyertood · Posted: Tue Dec 11, 2007 4:59 pm Post subject:

For dress shoes, you can get them custom made in Itaewon. For athletic shoes you might want to keep an eye open for those posters advertising outlet sales that go up in neighborhoods. They usually take place in hotels and have stalls selling suits, clothing and other odds and ends. Adidas and Nike stalls sometimes have a few pair in larger sizes--I wear size 14(330) and have found basketball and running shoes in my size every now and then.