China vs South Korea
China
South Korea
| Metric | China | South Korea |
|---|---|---|
| Capital | Beijing | Seoul |
| Population | 1,416,096,094 | 51,667,029 |
| Area (km²) | 9,596,961 | 100,363 |
| Population density (/km²) | 148 | 515 |
| GDP per capita (USD) | $13,900 | $36,200 |
| Region | Eastern Asia | Eastern Asia |
| Currency | CNY | KRW |
| Languages | Mandarin | Korean |
| Main religions | Buddhism, Taoism, Folk religions | Buddhism, Christianity |
| Time zone | UTC+8 | UTC+9 |
Green highlights the higher value (or higher GDP per capita). Figures are approximate.
At a glance
China and South Korea are both located in Asia (both in Eastern Asia). China has the larger population — about 27× the population of South Korea, while China covers more land area.
For full geographic detail, see the China map and the South Korea map.
Across the Yellow Sea
South Korea does not border China by land: North Korea sits between them, and the Yellow Sea separates South Korea's west coast from China's Shandong Peninsula. The size contrast is stark. China is roughly 95 times larger in area and has more than 25 times as many people, while South Korea is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. A flight from Beijing to Seoul is short by Asian standards.
Shared heritage, separate identities
Korean kingdoms long had close relations with Chinese dynasties, often within a tributary system, and Korea absorbed Confucianism, Buddhism and classical Chinese writing. Educated Koreans wrote in Chinese characters (hanja) for centuries until the Korean alphabet, Hangul, created in the 15th century, gradually became standard. Today hanja appear only occasionally in South Korea. Korean and Mandarin are unrelated languages, though Korean has a large stock of words of Chinese origin.
From Cold War foes to trading partners
China fought on North Korea's side in the Korean War (1950–53), and Seoul recognised the government in Taipei until 1992, when South Korea and the People's Republic of China established diplomatic relations. Trade then grew rapidly, and China became South Korea's largest trading partner, buying semiconductors, displays and petrochemicals. Relations cooled after South Korea agreed in 2016 to deploy the US THAAD missile-defence system, which Beijing opposed, and Korean tourism and entertainment businesses in China were affected. Fishing in the Yellow Sea and overlapping maritime zones are recurring points of friction.
Two very different political systems
China is a one-party state led by the Communist Party; South Korea is a multiparty democracy and a US treaty ally. Culturally, the flow has partly reversed in recent decades: Korean dramas, music and cosmetics became popular across China and the rest of Asia, while Chinese visitors became one of the largest groups of tourists in Seoul and on Jeju Island.
Frequently asked questions
- Does South Korea border China?
- Not by land. North Korea lies between them, and the Yellow Sea separates South Korea's west coast from eastern China.
- When did China and South Korea establish diplomatic relations?
- In 1992. Before that South Korea recognised the government in Taipei, and China was allied with North Korea.