Bangkok
1,569 km²
Seoul
605 km²
Thailand
South Korea
Area Comparison
Bangkok is 2.6x larger than Seoul
Population Comparison
Bangkok has 1.1x more people than Seoul
Yes — Bangkok is 2.6x larger than Seoul by area. Bangkok spans 1,569 km² (606 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 964 km². You could fit Seoul inside Bangkok approximately 2 times.
To put Bangkok's size in perspective, its area of 1,569 km² is roughly the same size as London. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
In more relatable units, Bangkok's 1,569 km² is about 220,000 American football fields, 27 times the area of Manhattan, or 15 times the area of Paris. For Seoul, that's about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
Bangkok, officially known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon and colloquially as Krung Thep, is the capital and most populous city of Thailand. The city occupies 1,568.7 square kilometres (605.7 sq mi) in the Chao Phraya River delta in central Thailand and has an estimated population of 11.4 million people as of 2024, 15.9% of the country's population.
Known as "City of Angels", Bangkok covers 1,569 km² with a population of 10.5 million. The city was established in 1782. Bangkok is known for Grand Palace, Wat Arun, Wat Pho, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BTS Skytrain & MRT.
Bangkok's official Thai name is Krung Thep Maha Nakhon, with the full ceremonial name being one of the longest place names in the world.
Seoul, officially Seoul Special Metropolitan City, is the capital and largest city of South Korea, and the largest city in the whole of Korea. The broader Seoul Metropolitan Area, encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province and Incheon, emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Paris, and London, and hosts more than half of South Korea's population.
Seoul has an area of 605 km² and is home to 9.8 million people. It was founded around 18 BC. Visitors come for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.
Seoul Metropolitan Area emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind only NYC, Tokyo, LA, Paris, and London.
Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 1.5x larger than greater Bangkok at 7,762 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 16.2 million.
Bangkok has a population density of 6,718 people per km² — a densely populated city. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul is noticeably denser, packing 2.4 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Bangkok (Thailand) and Seoul (South Korea) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Bangkok has a tropical savanna climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Bangkok stays around 26°C while Seoul drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Seoul, it's 10:00 AM in Bangkok — a 2-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Seoul fits inside Bangkok ~2 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 2.4x more densely populated
History
Seoul is ~1,800 years older
Bangkok covers 1,569 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include London (1,572 km²), Bogotá (1,578 km²), São Paulo (1,521 km²), Johannesburg (1,644 km²), or Mexico City (1,485 km²).
Seoul covers 605 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Chicago (606 km²), Madrid (604 km²), Mumbai (603 km²), Toronto (630 km²), or Hyderabad (650 km²).
The straight-line distance from Bangkok to Seoul is 3,722 km (2,313 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~4h 53m.
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