Capital of South Korea: Seoul
The capital of South Korea is Seoul. South Korea sits in Asia, has a population of 51,815,810, and uses the KRW. Official languages include Korean.
Quick facts
- Capital: Seoul
- Continent: Asia
- Population: ~51,815,810
- Area: 100,210 km²
- Population density: 517 people per km²
- Official language: Korean
- Currency: KRW
- ISO code: KR
How big is South Korea?
By population, South Korea ranks 29th in the world, holding roughly 0.65% of all people on Earth. By land area it ranks 107th.
Those two numbers rarely match, and the gap between them is the interesting part. South Korea has 517 people per square kilometre, which is about 8.7 times the world average of 59.4. It is more crowded than its size alone would suggest.
Within Asia, South Korea is the 13th most populous country of 48.
Countries of a similar size
The two countries closest to South Korea in population are Colombia (51,874,024) and Kenya (54,027,487).
By land area, its closest counterparts are Iceland (103,000 km²) and Hungary (93,028 km²).
Comparisons like these are worth more than raw figures when you are trying to remember them. A number on its own is hard to hold; a number next to a country you already have a feel for is much easier.
Language and currency
Korean is spoken officially in 2 countries in this dataset, including North Korea.
South Korea uses the KRW, and it is the only country that does, which makes the currency name a reliable one-to-one clue.
South Korea in Asia
The largest countries by population sharing this continent are China, India, Indonesia and Pakistan.
If you are learning capitals region by region — far more effective than working alphabetically — Asia is the block South Korea belongs to, and its neighbours are the ones worth learning alongside it.
Try the Country to Capital Quiz, or the harder reverse direction. There is also a full country profile for South Korea and a page on the flag of South Korea.
Frequently asked questions
What is the capital of South Korea?
The capital of South Korea is Seoul.
What is the population of South Korea?
About 51,815,810, making it the 29th most populous country in the world.
How big is South Korea?
100,210 square kilometres, ranking 107th by land area, at a density of 517 people per square kilometre.
What currency does South Korea use?
The KRW, which no other country uses.