I'm A Big Guy. Will I Find Clothes In Korea?

Hey everybody, sorry if this has been asked a millions times.

I'm a fairly big guy even by western standards; I lift weights so I have a fair amount of muscle AND I have a little fat, so i'm not in a good position for when I eventually come to Korea in a few months. I don't want to sound like i'm big headed, but I have pretty huge thighs and I require 40-42" trousers (varies with vanity sizing) so I'm very worried about finding trousers/jeans in Korea. I can't take my own over because my thighs constantly rub together and in a few months there will be pretty big holes in them. I can't exactly go teaching in shorts and I like to dress smart if possible. I'm hoping that some of the western brands could cater for me, but even in the UK I struggle now for brands I love like Zara, which only go up to around 36-38" I think. My only hope is probably to buy from the UK/US and have them shipped over, which of course means I can't try them on first. 

I do want to cut (keep my muscle and lose the fat) soon and i'm trying to exercise more and eat less, but there's not really any fat on my legs/ass and I'll have to stop leg exercises such as squats and hope that the muscles degrade enough to wear normal-ish sizes.

I also have broad shoulders, though I can likely get by if I buy from western shops, but it's the trousers that will really affect things.

Does anybody else have these problems? There must be some guys who lift here in Korea. I'm also expecting that i'll get a lot of comments about my weight in Korea, but I don't care about that. 

Re: I'm A Big Guy. Will I Find Clothes In Korea?

You will definitely have trouble finding jeans and shirts, but not impossible. Anyone who doesn't where skinny jeans has trouble finding pants and popular stores usually have XL as their largest size in stock. That's Asian XL...so more like Western Large.

Dress pants are a different story. There are many shops where you can get them tailored. Also, if you rip them from your thighs rubbing together, take them to the dry cleaners to have them stitch them up for $2 (세탁소). They're everywhere and probably on the first floor of wherever you might live.

It's hard to find stores that sell more than skinny pants, but all the shopping malls have western stores. H&M, Zara, Banana...they are decently priced for Korea...Gap...is not. They are about triple the price. I personally have to buy jeans online as I can't fit into Korean Jeans....I'm a 32 waist but need 40s for my legs to fit (Hockey Player).

For Jeans, I suggest stocking up before coming...
You'll be fine for shirts but not hoodies. Hoodies are hard to find for taller, broad shoulder men.

Also, there is Itaewon in Seoul. They have western sizes and fake brands, but most is the baggy, gangsta type. It's next to a military base, so lots of international stuff there, including amazing restaurants from around the world.

And yes, if you think you'll get comments about your weight, you definitely will. Koreans, especially kids, are very blunt. They'll say something like...Teacher, you're a vegetarian, but why are you fat... But, you're kimchi diet will help you slim down. JK, you'll love Korean food.

Anyway, that's all I can think of.
 

Re: I'm A Big Guy. Will I Find Clothes In Korea?

I think you will indeed find it near on impossible to get clothes that fit here. The other big issue is it appears from the cut of Korean clothes that the men here have annoyingly tiny hips and bellies, and have a distinct V shape to their already slender bodies.

So I find even if I buy the absolute largest size shirts here, they are VERY hard to button below the chest!

Shoes I am size 11 or 290 here - very few chances of finding those sizes (with ease) in the main shops, but online is better.

Costco is now here but not with US prices on clothes, making me think they also do not stock many 'US' sizes.

You can use Gmarket to find the bigger sizes (takes ages to navigate as most Korean websites but you will get there with patience) and delivery is normally excellent. As you say, online ordering can be a bit hit and miss - not least as there seems to be no standard here for sizes. You can try a 115 (that's big) shirt on at one store and it will be tight, then go to the next store and the very same size is loose on you.....

Hey, take it as part of the fun of being here!

 

 

Re: I'm A Big Guy. Will I Find Clothes In Korea?

I second this, I wear a 36 size pant, and generally cannot find a fit, or style I care for. In addition, with Korean inflation on clothing, it is cheaper to buy from the States and have things sent over...