City Map Compare/Los Angeles vs Seoul
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Los Angeles

1,302 km²

Seoul

605 km²

Los Angeles vs Seoul - City Size Comparison

Los Angeles vs Seoul - City Size Comparison

Los Angeles

USA

Area1,302 km²
Population3.97M
Density3,049 /km²
Elevation71 m
Metro Pop.13.2M
Founded1781
ClimateMediterranean
Seoul

South Korea

Area605 km²
Population9.77M
Density16,149 /km²
Elevation38 m
Metro Pop.25.5M
Founded18 BC
Climatehumid continental

Area Comparison

Los Angeles is 2.2x larger than Seoul

Population Comparison

Los Angeles has 2.5x fewer people than Seoul

Is Los Angeles Bigger Than Seoul?

Yes — Los Angeles is 2.2x larger than Seoul by area. Los Angeles spans 1,302 km² (503 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 697 km². You could fit Seoul inside Los Angeles approximately 2 times.

To put Los Angeles's size in perspective, its area of 1,302 km² is about 1.2x smaller than London. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.

Picture Los Angeles another way: its area is large enough to fit about 182,000 American football fields, 22 times the area of Manhattan, or 12 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.

About Los Angeles

Los Angeles (LA) is the most populous city in the U.S. state of California, and the commercial, financial, and cultural center of Southern California. With an estimated 3.88 million residents within the city limits as of 2024, it is the second-most populous city in the United States, behind New York City, and the largest city in the Western United States. The city has an ethnically and culturally diverse population, and is the principal city of a metropolitan area of 12.9 million people (2024).

Known as "The City of Angels", Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² with a population of 4.0 million. The city was established in 1781. Los Angeles is known for Hollywood Sign, Santa Monica Pier, Beverly Hills, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the LA Metro.

Los Angeles is the second-most populous city in the United States, home to 3.88 million residents within city limits as of 2024.

About Seoul

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. Its history stretches 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.

Metropolitan Area Comparison

Looking beyond city limits, the Los Angeles metropolitan area covers 12,562 km², which is 1.1x larger than greater Seoul at 11,704 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 13.2 million.

Population Density

Los Angeles has a population density of 3,049 people per km² — a moderately dense city. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul is dramatically more crowded, with 5.3x the population density.

This comparison spans continents — Los Angeles in North America versus Seoul in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.

Climate & Time Zone

Los Angeles has a Mediterranean climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Los Angeles stays around 14°C while Seoul drops to -3°C. When it's noon in Seoul, it's midnight in Los Angeles — a 17-hour time difference.

Key Differences at a Glance

Size Ratio

Seoul fits inside Los Angeles ~2 times

Density Gap

Seoul is 5.3x more densely populated

Time Difference

17 hours apart

History

Seoul is ~1,799 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Los Angeles

Los Angeles covers 1,302 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Rome (1,285 km²), Phoenix (1,341 km²), Rio de Janeiro (1,221 km²), San Antonio (1,209 km²), or Lagos (1,172 km²).

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).

Related Comparisons

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Los Angeles bigger than Seoul?
Los Angeles is 2.2 times larger than Seoul by area. Los Angeles covers 1,302 km² while Seoul spans 605 km², a difference of 697 km².
How many times does Seoul fit inside Los Angeles?
Seoul (605 km²) fits inside Los Angeles (1,302 km²) approximately 2 times. That means Los Angeles is 2.2x the area of Seoul.
What is the population difference between Los Angeles and Seoul?
Seoul has approximately 9.8 million people, while Los Angeles has about 4.0 million. Seoul has 5.8 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Los Angeles or Seoul?
Seoul is more densely populated with 16,149 people per km², compared to 3,049 people per km².
What is the time difference between Los Angeles and Seoul?
Los Angeles is in the UTC-8 timezone while Seoul is UTC+9. There is a 17-hour time difference between the two cities.
Which city is older, Los Angeles or Seoul?
Seoul is older, founded around -18, while Los Angeles was established around 1781 — a difference of about 1799 years.
How does the map comparison work?
Our synchronized map comparison tool displays both cities at the same zoom level. When you zoom in or out on one map, the other automatically adjusts to maintain the same scale, allowing you to directly compare the relative sizes of both cities.
Can I compare other cities?
Yes! Use the city selectors at the top of the page to choose any two cities from our database of 50+ major cities worldwide, or enter custom coordinates for any location.

Distance Between Los Angeles and Seoul

The straight-line distance from Los Angeles to Seoul is 9,586 km (5,956 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 47m.

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