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South Korea
China
Area Comparison
Seoul is 3.3x smaller than Shenzhen
Population Comparison
Seoul has 1.8x fewer people than Shenzhen
Yes — Shenzhen is 3.3x larger than Seoul by area. Shenzhen spans 1,997 km² (771 mi²) while Seoul covers 605 km² (234 mi²) — a difference of 1,392 km². You could fit Seoul inside Shenzhen approximately 3 times.
To put Seoul's size in perspective, its area of 605 km² is about 1.3x smaller than New York City. Meanwhile, Shenzhen at 1,997 km² is roughly the same size as Tokyo (city proper).
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 tech capital and a major innovation hub. Nicknamed "China's Silicon Valley", Shenzhen has an area of 1,997 km² and is home to 17.6 million people. It was established in 1979. Visitors come for Tech industry (Huawei, Tencent, DJI), Shenzhen Bay, Window of the World theme park, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Shenzhen Metro.
Shenzhen grew from a fishing village of 30,000 people to a megacity of 17 million in just 40 years
Looking beyond city limits, the Seoul metropolitan area covers 11,704 km², which is 5.9x larger than greater Shenzhen at 1,997 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 17.6 million.
Seoul has a population density of 16,149 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Shenzhen, with 8,793 people per km², is a densely populated city. Seoul is noticeably denser, packing 1.8 times more people per square kilometer.
Both cities are in Asia, but they represent different national approaches to urban development. Seoul (South Korea) and Shenzhen (China) offer a fascinating regional contrast.
Seoul has a humid continental climate while Shenzhen experiences humid subtropical conditions. Winters differ dramatically: Shenzhen stays around 15°C while Seoul drops to -3°C.
Size Ratio
Seoul fits inside Shenzhen ~3 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 1.8x more densely populated
History
Seoul is ~1,997 years older
The straight-line distance from Seoul to Shenzhen is 2,078 km (1,291 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~2h 57m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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