City Map Compare/Seattle vs Seoul
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5 km
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Seattle

369 km²

Seoul

605 km²

Seattle vs Seoul - City Size Comparison

Seattle vs Seoul - City Size Comparison

Seattle

United States

Area369 km²
Population0.74M
Density2,005 /km²
Elevation40 m
Founded1851
Seoul

South Korea

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

Area Comparison

Seattle is 1.6x smaller than Seoul

Population Comparison

Seattle has 13.2x fewer people than Seoul

Is Seattle Bigger Than Seoul?

Seoul is significantly larger, covering 1.6 times the area of Seattle. Seoul spans 605 km² (234 mi²) while Seattle covers 369 km² (142 mi²) — a difference of 236 km².

To put Seattle's size in perspective, its area of 369 km² is about 1.6x smaller than Seoul. Meanwhile, Seoul at 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City.

Picture Seattle another way: its area is large enough to fit about 52,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Monaco, or 110 times the area of Central Park. Seoul, by comparison, equals about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan.

About Seattle

Seattle is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Washington and the Pacific Northwest region of North America. It is the 18th-most populous city in the United States with a population of 780,995 in 2024, while the Seattle metropolitan area at over 4.15 million residents is the 15th-most populous metropolitan area in the nation. The city is the county seat of King County, the most populous county in Washington.

Known as "The Emerald City", Seattle covers 369 km² with a population of 0.7 million. The city was established in 1851. Seattle is known for Space Needle, Pike Place Market, Starbucks headquarters, among other attractions.

Seattle is Washington's most populous city with 780,995 residents in 2024, anchoring the Pacific Northwest.

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. 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.

Population Density

Seattle has a population density of 2,005 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 8.1x the population density.

Key Differences at a Glance

Density Gap

Seoul is 8.1x more densely populated

History

Seoul is ~1,869 years older

Cities Similar in Size to Seattle

Seattle covers 369 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Philadelphia (370 km²), Dhaka (368 km²), Portland (376 km²), Atlanta (348 km²), or Denver (401 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 Seattle actually bigger than Seoul?
Seoul is 1.6 times larger than Seattle by area. Seoul covers 605 km² while Seattle spans 369 km², a difference of 236 km².
How many times does Seattle fit inside Seoul?
Seattle (369 km²) fits inside Seoul (605 km²) approximately 1 times. That means Seoul is 1.6x the area of Seattle.
What is the population difference between Seattle and Seoul?
Seoul has approximately 9.8 million people, while Seattle has about 0.7 million. Seoul has 9.0 million more residents.
Which city is more densely populated, Seattle or Seoul?
Seoul is more densely populated with 16,149 people per km², compared to 2,005 people per km².
Which city is older, Seattle or Seoul?
Seoul is older, founded around -18, while Seattle was established around 1851 — a difference of about 1869 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 Seattle and Seoul

The straight-line distance from Seattle to Seoul is 8,323 km (5,171 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~10h 17m.

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