Seoul
605 km²
Shanghai
6,341 km²
South Korea
China
Area Comparison
Seoul is 10.5x smaller than Shanghai
Population Comparison
Seoul has 2.5x fewer people than Shanghai
Shanghai is significantly larger, covering 10.5 times the area of Seoul. Shanghai spans 6,341 km² (2,448 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 5,736 km². You could fit Seoul inside Shanghai approximately 10 times.
To put Seoul's size in perspective, its area of 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Shanghai at 6,341 km² is about 1.5x the size of Los Angeles metro.
Picture Seoul another way: its area is large enough to fit about 85,000 American football fields, 180 times the area of Central Park, or 10 times the area of Manhattan. For Shanghai, that's about 888,000 American football fields, 110 times the area of Manhattan, or 60 times the area of Paris.
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 covers 605 km² with a population of 9.8 million. The city was founded around 18 BC. Seoul is known for Gyeongbokgung Palace, Gangnam district, Myeongdong shopping, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is 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.
Shanghai is a direct-administered municipality and the most populous urban area in China. It has a population of 29,558,908 in the urban area as of 2025. The city is located on the Chinese shoreline on the southern estuary of the Yangtze River, with the Huangpu River bisecting the city. Shanghai is a global center for finance, business and economics, research, science and technology, manufacturing, transportation, tourism, and culture. The Port of Shanghai is the world's busiest container port.
Also known as "Pearl of the Orient", Shanghai has an area of 6,341 km² and is home to 24.9 million people. Its history stretches back to 1291. Visitors come for The Bund, Oriental Pearl Tower, Shanghai Tower, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's urban population reached 29.5 million in 2025, making it the most populous urban area in all of China.
Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 1.8x larger than greater Shanghai at 6,341 km². The Shanghai metro area is also more populous, with 28.5 million people compared to 25.5 million.
Seoul has a population density of 16,149 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Shanghai, with 3,922 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Seoul is dramatically more crowded, with 4.1x the population density.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Seoul (South Korea) and Shanghai (China) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Seoul has a humid continental climate while Shanghai experiences humid subtropical conditions.
Size Ratio
Seoul fits inside Shanghai ~10 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 4.1x more densely populated
History
Seoul is ~1,309 years older
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).
Shanghai covers 6,341 km². Cities with a similar urban footprint include Perth (6,417 km²), Istanbul (5,461 km²), Guangzhou (7,434 km²), Wuhan (8,569 km²), or Dubai (4,114 km²).
The straight-line distance from Seoul to Shanghai is 866 km (538 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~1h 31m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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