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South Korea
USA
Area Comparison
Seoul is 3.4x larger than Washington D.C.
Population Comparison
Seoul has 14.2x more people than Washington D.C.
In terms of area, Seoul is 3.4x the size of Washington D.C.. Seoul spans 605 km² (234 mi²) while Washington D.C. covers 177 km² (68 mi²) — a difference of 428 km². You could fit Washington D.C. inside Seoul 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, Washington D.C. at 177 km² is roughly the same size as Washington D.C..
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
Capital of the United States. Often called "D.C.", Washington D.C. has an area of 177 km² and is home to 0.7 million people. It was established in 1790. Visitors come for The White House, Lincoln Memorial, Smithsonian museums, and much more. Getting around is easy with the Washington Metro.
D.C. has more free museums than any other city in the US — all 19 Smithsonian museums charge no admission
Looking beyond city limits, the Washington D.C. metropolitan area covers 14,412 km², which is 1.2x larger than greater Seoul at 11,704 km². The Seoul metro area is also more populous, with 25.5 million people compared to 6.3 million.
Seoul has a population density of 16,149 people per km² — an extremely dense urban environment. Washington D.C., with 3,898 people per km², is a moderately dense city. Seoul is dramatically more crowded, with 4.1x the population density.
This comparison spans continents — Seoul in Asia versus Washington D.C. in North America. Despite the geographic distance, comparing their sizes reveals surprising insights about how cities grow worldwide.
Seoul has a humid continental climate while Washington D.C. experiences humid subtropical conditions. When it's noon in Seoul, it's midnight in Washington D.C. — a 14-hour time difference.
Size Ratio
Washington D.C. fits inside Seoul ~3 times
Density Gap
Seoul is 4.1x more densely populated
Time Difference
14 hours apart
History
Seoul is ~1,808 years older
The straight-line distance from Seoul to Washington D.C. is 11,164 km (6,937 miles), with an estimated flight time of ~13h 38m. See full distance details, including timezone difference and city facts.
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