New York
783 km²
Seoul
605 km²
USA
South Korea
Area Comparison
New York is 1.3x larger than Seoul
Population Comparison
New York has 1.2x fewer people than Seoul
New York is significantly larger, covering 1.3 times the area of Seoul. New York spans 783 km² (302 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 178 km².
To put New York's size in perspective, its area of 783 km² is about 1.1x smaller than Berlin. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
In more relatable units, New York's 783 km² is about 110,000 American football fields, 13 times the area of Manhattan, or 7 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.
New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States. It is located at the southern tip of New York State on New York Harbor, one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive with its respective county. It is the geographical and demographic center of both the Northeast megalopolis and the New York metropolitan area, the largest metropolitan area in the United States by both population and urban area.
Known as "New York City", New York covers 783 km² with a population of 8.3 million. The city was established in 1624. New York is known for Times Square, Statue of Liberty, Empire State Building, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the NYC Subway.
New York City sits on one of the world's largest natural harbors, which shaped its rise as America's commercial gateway.
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.
Looking beyond city limits, the New York metropolitan area covers 17,405 km², which is 1.5x larger than greater Seoul at 11,704 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 20.1 million.
New York has a population density of 10,651 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul, with 16,149 people per km², is an extremely dense urban environment. Seoul is noticeably denser, packing 1.5 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — New York in North America versus Seoul in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
New York has a humid subtropical climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. When it's noon in Seoul, it's midnight in New York — a 14-hour time difference.
Density Gap
Seoul is 1.5x more densely populated
Time Difference
14 hours apart
History
Seoul is ~1,642 years older
New York covers 783 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Hamburg (755 km²), Bangalore (741 km²), Kyoto (828 km²), Singapore (733 km²), or Santiago (838 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 New York to Seoul is 11,053 km (6,868 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 30m.
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