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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.
Capital of South Korea and a major tech hub. Known as "The Soul of Asia", 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, K-pop culture, among other attractions. The city's main transit system is the Seoul Metro.
Seoul's metro area contains nearly half of South Korea's entire population
China's largest city and a global financial hub. Also known as "The 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 waterfront, Pudong skyline, Yuyuan Garden, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shanghai Metro.
Shanghai's Maglev train reaches 431 km/h, the fastest commercial train in the world
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
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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