Capital of South Korea: Seoul — Facts & 5-Question Quiz
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.
How to remember South Korea
Seoul is in the northwest of South Korea, on the Han River. For the flag, picture a red-and-blue ball on white paper with four black barcodes in the corners.
The flag of South Korea: white, red, blue and black
🇰🇷 The flag is the Taegukgi: a white flag with a red-and-blue circle (taegeuk) in the centre and a black trigram of bars in each corner. White stands for peace and purity. The red and blue circle shows the balance of opposite cosmic forces, yin and yang, and the four trigrams from the ancient I Ching stand for universal elements in harmony.
Region and neighbours
South Korea is a country in East Asia that makes up the southern half of the Korean Peninsula, with the Yellow Sea to the west and the Sea of Japan to the east. It shares land borders with one country: North Korea.
- North Korea 🇰🇵 — capital Pyongyang
Three facts about South Korea
- Hallasan, a dormant volcano, is South Korea's highest point at 1,950 m.
- Jeju Island, about 100 km off the southern coast, is South Korea's largest island.
- The Seoul area is home to more than half of South Korea's population.
Sources: Wikipedia: South Korea, Wikipedia: Flag of South Korea, Wikipedia: Seoul, CIA World Factbook.
Quiz yourself on South Korea
- Asian capitals quiz — match South Korea to Seoul
- Asian flags quiz — spot the South Korea flag among its neighbours
South Korea capital quiz
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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.
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.
What are the colours of the South Korea flag?
The flag of South Korea is the Taegukgi: a white flag with a red-and-blue circle (taegeuk) in the centre and a black trigram of bars in each corner. White stands for peace and purity. The red and blue circle shows the balance of opposite cosmic forces, yin and yang, and the four trigrams from the ancient I Ching stand for universal elements in harmony.
Which countries border South Korea?
South Korea shares land borders with North Korea.
How can I remember the capital of South Korea?
Seoul is in the northwest of South Korea, on the Han River. For the flag, picture a red-and-blue ball on white paper with four black barcodes in the corners.
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