How Big Is Seoul?
South Korea · Asia
Area
605 km²
234 mi²
Population
9.8M
Metro: 25.5M
Density
16,149/km²
Founded
18 BC
Seoul Size Overview
Seoul covers an area of 605 km² (234 mi²) in South Korea, Asia. Capital and largest city of South Korea. To put this in perspective, Seoul is about 1.3x smaller than New York City. In more relatable units, that's about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.
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.
With a population of 9.8 million (25.5 million in the metropolitan area), Seoul has a population density of 16,149 people per km². The greater Seoul metropolitan area extends to 11,704 km².
Seoul has a history stretching back to around 18 BC. The city is renowned for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, and Han River.
Seoul has a humid continental climate, with summer temperatures averaging 25°C and winters around -3°C. The city's main public transit system is the Seoul Metro.
Did You Know?
- Seoul Metropolitan Area emerged as the world's sixth largest metropolitan economy in 2022, behind only NYC, Tokyo, LA, Paris, and London.
- More than half of South Korea's entire population lives in the Seoul Metropolitan Area encompassing Seoul, Gyeonggi Province, and Incheon.
Compare Seoul with Other Cities
Compare Seoul with any city using our interactive map tool.
Cities Similar in Size to Seoul
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).