A Study on the Categorization of Korean Foot Shapes

Recently, Korean's 3-D foot data have been extensively collected through 5th national anthropometric survey known as 'Size Korea'. In this study, Korean foot shape was investigated and subsequently classified, based on the existing standard for foot shaping. This study analyzed and categorized Korean foot shapes through the following methods. Although the data used in this study were limited to those of Korean adults, major factors affecting the foot shape were deduced and then categorically grouped by the multivariate statistical analysis. For those whose age ranged from 14 to 70, major factors affecting the foot shape for the male were related to foot breadth, ankle thickness, 1st toe shape, malleolus height, heel to top of the foot length, the ratio between toe-side and heel-side and 5th toe shape. For the female, the ball of foot height was added to the above factors. From the factors extracted, the Korean foot shape was categorized into three groups for the male and four groups for the female. They were the ladder type, the inverted triangle type and the square type. For the female, the triangular type was added to the three types. These findings will serve as useful information for the footwear production industry in Korea.

한국인 발 형상 분류에 관한 연구