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USA
South Korea
Area Comparison
San Francisco is 5.0x smaller than Seoul
Population Comparison
San Francisco has 11.2x fewer people than Seoul
Seoul is significantly larger, covering 5.0 times the area of San Francisco. Seoul spans 605 km² (234 mi²) while San Francisco covers 121 km² (47 mi²) — a difference of 484 km². You could fit San Francisco inside Seoul approximately 5 times.
To put San Francisco's size in perspective, its area of 121 km² is about 1.2x the size of Paris (city proper). Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.
A cultural and financial center in Northern California. Known as "SF", San Francisco covers 121 km² with a population of 0.9 million. The city was established in 1776. San Francisco is known for Golden Gate Bridge, Alcatraz Island, Cable cars, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the BART & Muni.
San Francisco's 121 km² makes it one of the smallest major US cities by area
Capital of South Korea and a major tech hub. Also known as "The Soul of Asia", 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, K-pop culture, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Seoul Metro.
Seoul's metro area contains nearly half of South Korea's entire population
Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 1.7x larger than greater San Francisco at 6,984 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 4.7 million.
San Francisco has a population density of 7,190 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 2.2 times more people per square kilometer.
This comparison spans continents — San Francisco in North America versus Seoul in Asia. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
San Francisco has a Mediterranean climate while Seoul experiences humid continental conditions. When it's noon in Seoul, it's midnight in San Francisco — a 17-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
San Francisco fits inside Seoul ~5 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 2.2x more densely populated
Time Difference
17 hours apart
History
Seoul is ~1,794 years older
The straight-line distance from San Francisco to Seoul is 9,029 km (5,610 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~11h 7m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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