Beijing
16,411 km²
Seoul
605 km²
China
South Korea
Area Comparison
Beijing is 27.1x larger than Seoul
Population Comparison
Beijing has 2.2x more people than Seoul
Beijing is significantly larger, covering 27.1 times the area of Seoul. Beijing spans 16,411 km² (6,336 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 15,806 km². You could fit Seoul inside Beijing approximately 27 times.
To put Beijing's size in perspective, its area of 16,411 km² is about 2.6x the size of Shanghai. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
In more relatable units, Beijing's 16,411 km² is about 2,300,000 American football fields, 160 times the area of Paris, or 140 times the area of San Francisco. For Seoul, that's about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
Beijing, previously romanized as Peking, is the capital city of China. With more than 22 million residents, it is the world's most populous national capital city, as well as China's second-largest city by urban area, after Shanghai. It is located in Northern China, and is governed as a municipality under the direct administration of the State Council with 16 urban districts.
Known as "Northern Capital", Beijing covers 16,411 km² with a population of 21.5 million. The city was founded around 1045 BC. Beijing is known for Forbidden City, Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Beijing Subway.
With over 22 million residents, Beijing is the world's most populous national capital city.
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. The city dates back to 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 Beijing metropolitan area covers 16,411 km², which is 1.4x larger than greater Seoul at 11,704 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 21.5 million.
Beijing has a population density of 1,313 people per km² — a relatively spread-out city. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul is dramatically more crowded, with 12.3x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Beijing (China) and Seoul (South Korea) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Both cities share a humid continental climate, though local geography creates distinct microclimates in each.
Size Ratio
Seoul fits inside Beijing ~27 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 12.3x more densely populated
History
Beijing is ~1,027 years older
Beijing covers 16,411 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hangzhou (16,854 km²), Brisbane (15,826 km²), Chengdu (14,378 km²), Sydney (12,368 km²), or Xi'an (10,097 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 Beijing to Seoul is 952 km (592 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 37m.
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