Korean Job Discussion Forums

[victrolavs]

I am leaving for Korea in July for a year and two of my friends who taught in Korea came back to Canada. Both of them said they felt really fat and unattractive while they were there because none of the clothes fit them. Here in Canada, they are both considered thin to average, a size medium in clothes, but over there they said they were an X-L.

Is it hard to find clothes if you're a size 8 or 10? What about shoes? I am a size 9 and I heard that it's almost impossible to find shoes if you're bigger than an 8.

Will shopping for me in Korea be out of the question?

[aboxofchocolates]

Everyone feels fat in Korea. Koreans feel fat in Korea. You get used to it. You shouldn't have a problem buying clothes. You might have a problem with offensive expats on this site, though....

[yoja]

I *am* fat, so I feel fat no matter where I am. But being fat really doesn't bother me that much, whether I'm in Korea or not. I would imagine that if the thought of being fat bothers you, there would be occasions when you would feel fat at home, too.

Here in Korea, I feel strong, safe, and on occasion, more intimidating than I mean to be. But honestly, I don't give it much thought.

Shoes are hard to find, but not impossible for a size 9. Clothes, I don't know. I wouldn't wear Korean styles even if I were a size 0, but that's just me. You can get things altered or custom made for you fairly cheap here.

Asian bodies tend to have less muscle and flatter butts, smaller chests, etc. So it's not always a question of dress size, but the shape and fit of the bodies they are made for. You know what I mean if you've ever tried on something petite by accident and wondered why it didn't fit, even though otherwise the size might have been okay.

[loggerhead007]

Remember this saying if someone calls you fat here: "I may be fat, but you're ugly and I can always lose weight'"

[littlelisa]

No, I don't feel fat. I'm a M in Canada, and I know I'd be probably a L here or bigger, but I also know that a lot of that is in your head... I'm still the same actual size and I don't consider myself fat.

My K friends are all skinnier than me (even most of the guys, har!), but I don't care. I don't see what added bonus it gives me to be skinnier. I'm healthy, I'm happy, so what does it matter?

I've actually never really thought about it much.

[Draz]

[WendyRose]

I'm a size 6/8 and have a large bust. Finding a coat was nearly impossible -- they wouldn't button over my chest! I highly recommend bringing a coat. Even if you have a smaller bust, the measurement from shoulder to shoulder is so narrow...

I've been able to purchase a few cardigan-type shirts. Korean women tend to wear their shirts/cardigans very loose so that hasn't been a problem. I haven't tried to buy pants here but instead order online and have then sent to the USA and then forwarded to Korea by a relative or friend.

I'm a size 8-9 shoe and have found a few pair here, but it's not very easy to do. Bring a few pair with you.

Anyway, on the issue of "feeling fat" -- I really don't here. I think initially i was self-conscious when browsing through clothing, but I've gotten over that. I know that my body is built differently than the typical Korean woman's body and there is absolutely nothing I can do about that fact. Embrace your curves.

[Illysook]

I don't feel fat here. I'm a size 10-ish and not only do I have a nice rack, but my ass is fabulous! That's the way I look at it, but if others want to idealize the preying mantis stick figures of some of the women here, let them starve to death trying for it, I don't give a hoot.

At my very normal size, it's not hard to find shirts that fit. Pants, I've given up on. The ones that do fit are ugly and/or mannish. Sometimes, you can find skirts.

What really pisses me off is when they won't let me try something on here. It disappoints me, but I then walk out without buying anything when that happens. Then, there are other places that only carry small and medium sizes. I'm built small through my shoulders, and some mediums fit me, but mostly I go with large's to accommodate my chest. After trying on a shirt that I really liked, that had no room for the boobs, I told the clerk that the store should rethink that policy because I'd lived here long enough to know that not all Korean women are small.

[Ruthdes]

Arggh...not being able to try stuff on! Don't get me started.

About shoes, I'm a 9 and I just fit into a 250 (mm) shoe most of the time. I have gotten some great shoes here, particularly boots (though you'll have to wait for summer to be over before you start to find them in big numbers again). Smaller, prettier shoes are harder, but you can find them, you just have to look a little harder. Dongdaemun is your friend. Running shoes and casual shoes are easier.

I'm an Australian size 10 (not sure about North American conversion - maybe 6-8 ), and I have no problem finding clothes. I've bought work pants from Uniglo that fit well, as well as lots of skirts and tops. The best thing is Konglish t-shirts. There are a significant number of Koreans who aren't the size 0 stereotype. They must get their clothes somewhere. The one place I did have issues was jeans. As mentioned in above posts, Korean girls tend to be less curvy than their non-Asian sisters, and I found that jeans that fit my hips, gaped at the waist, and the next size down didn't come up over my chunky thighs. I bought jeans and underwear when I went home.

Hope this helps.

[bananahammock]

I have been thinking about this. I wear a size 6 and have a big bust so I might have problems finding clothes when I go over. Has anyone lost weight from eating more Korean food?

[nero]

[Ruthdes]

[livinginkunsan]

They might not feel it, but we all see it

ps. wearing clothes 3x too small DOESN'T make you look thinner

[prideofidaho]

nevermind the above typed vomit.

Korea is the first place I've felt I've had issues with how I view my body, and nearly every one of my girlfriends would probably agree.

In my opinion, it's a combination of a few things.

First, there is a lack of thoughtfully constructed clothing (everything is assembled in a factory thus having no human considerations of sizing, nor any real attempt to flatter a variety of body types. Korean women come in all shapes and sizes, yet nobody seems to take that into account when they stock their stores full of 'free' sizes that, let's be honest, flatter nobody....not even the stick thin.

Secondly, I find Korean women to be very harsh on themselves when it comes to their size. I'm sure that most of what I observe is them being humble, and thus making the obligatory self-degradation every once in a while, but ultimately a woman's worth can be concluded by her appearance here. So, by the end of my first year I had been around a lot more body-negative notions in Seoul than the previous 25 in my home country.

Thirdly, I had my own bursts of weight gain, which only compounded my body image with negative ideas.

So that's how I feel about it. I do find that as soon as I had confronted these ideas, I began to feel better about myself and my body. Plus, I spent a few weeks on a beach, which helps every woman love her body...regardless of size.

So OP, don't let the body conscious monster take over, feel great about how you look, and more importantly, who you are.

[nero]

hahaha! I love the superior crap that some of these males spout about the western women here, as if most western men here aren't fat slobs too. I am interested in how both men and women present themselves and it is pretty even for fatties.

Btw - working out your upper body for hours with no cardio doesn't make you look cut. It makes you look fat with a layer of muscle over top.