Gyeongju Population 2026

Gyeongju has a population of 245,365, making it the #40 biggest city in 🇰🇷 South Korea, located in Gyeongsangbuk-do. Roughly 0.5% of South Korea's population lives here. It is about 42× smaller than Seoul, the country's biggest city.

SeoulGyeongju
Location of Gyeongju (capital Seoul shown for reference). Boundaries: Natural Earth.
Population (city proper)
245,365
Rank in South Korea
#40
Coordinates
35.84°N, 129.21°E
~45 m elevation · Asia/Seoul
Distance to capital (Seoul)
276 km
171 miles, straight line

Other big cities in Gyeongsangbuk-do

CityPopulationRank in South Korea
Pohang492,041#20
Gumi404,691#24
Gyeongsan-si266,951#37
Andong153,348#52
Gimcheon150,000#53
Sangju101,267#57
Yeongju84,625#66
Mungyeong77,304#75

Cities near Gyeongju

  • Yeonil34,560 people · ~20 km away
  • Pohang492,041 people · ~25 km away
  • Eisen56,006 people · ~29 km away
  • Heunghae36,080 people · ~32 km away
  • Ulsan1,098,421 people · ~35 km away
  • Hayang27,236 people · ~36 km away

FAQ

What is the population of Gyeongju?
Gyeongju has a population of 245,365 (city proper, latest official figure via GeoNames), making it the #40 biggest city in South Korea.
What region is Gyeongju in?
Gyeongju is located in Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea.
Is Gyeongju the capital of South Korea?
No, the capital of South Korea is Seoul, about 276 km away.

Sources & notes

Population refers to the city proper (municipal boundaries), not the metropolitan area. Source: GeoNames (CC BY 4.0), retrieved 2026-07-07. Country data: UN World Population Prospects 2024.

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