Convert North Korean Pyong to Square Meter easily.
1 pyong x 3.306 = 3.306 m²
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Ever wondered how North Korea measures apartments or farmland? While most countries use square meters, the secretive state clings to the pyong, a unit shrouded in history. Whether you’re analyzing satellite imagery of Pyongyang or just curious, our tool bridges this measurement gap instantly. Let’s unravel the story behind this unit and make conversions a breeze.
Unit definitions
What is a north korean pyong (pyong)?
- Description: Traditional area unit used in North Korea for land and buildings.
- Symbol: pyong
- Common uses: Real estate, agriculture, urban planning.
- Definition: 1 pyong equals a 6 x 6 Korean cheok square (approximately 3.306 m²).
What is a square meter (m²)?
- Description: SI unit for area measurement, recognized globally.
- Symbol: m²
- Common uses: International real estate, construction, science.
- Definition: Area of a square with 1-meter sides.
Conversion formula
Pyong to m²:
m² = pyong × 3.306
m² to pyong:
pyong = m² ÷ 3.306
Example calculations
- Converting 5 pyong to m²:
5 × 3.306 = 16.53 m² - Converting 20 m² to pyong:
20 ÷ 3.306 ≈ 6.05 pyong
Conversion tables
Pyong to square meters
| Pyong | Square Meters |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3.306 |
| 2 | 6.612 |
| 3 | 9.918 |
| 4 | 13.224 |
| 5 | 16.530 |
| 6 | 19.836 |
| 7 | 23.142 |
| 8 | 26.448 |
| 9 | 29.754 |
| 10 | 33.060 |
Square meters to pyong
| Square Meters | Pyong |
|---|---|
| 5 | 1.513 |
| 10 | 3.025 |
| 15 | 4.538 |
| 20 | 6.050 |
| 25 | 7.563 |
| 30 | 9.075 |
| 35 | 10.588 |
| 40 | 12.100 |
| 45 | 13.613 |
| 50 | 15.125 |
From hanja to hermits: The pyong’s journey
The pyong’s origin story begins with the Japanese tsubo (坪), introduced during Korea’s occupation (1910-1945). Post-WWII division saw North Korea retain the unit as part of its resistance to Western influence, while the South phased it out. Today, it’s more than measurement—it’s a political statement. Urban planners in Pyongyang still design apartment blocks in pyong counts, and farmers report crop yields per pyong to local committees. Interestingly, some 1990s trade documents with China used pyong for timber exports, creating temporary confusion until metric clarifications.
Five things you didn’t know about pyong
- The average North Korean apartment is 80-100 pyong (264-330 m²), though this varies by social class.
- Kim Il-sung’s birthplace in Mangyongdae is officially listed as 15 pyong, cementing the unit’s cultural significance.
- During food shortages, state rations were sometimes calculated per pyong of farmland.
- North Korean math textbooks teach pyong conversions up to middle school.
- The unit’s persistence complicates international aid efforts—NGOs must convert relief material estimates to pyong for local officials.
FAQ
The pyong has historical roots in the Japanese tsubo, adapted during Korea's colonial period. It remains in use for real estate and agriculture to preserve cultural identity.
The conversion (1 pyong = 3.306 m²) is standardized, though slight regional variations might exist in informal contexts.
No. South Korea uses square meters exclusively. The pyong is only relevant in North Korea.
Primarily for land measurement, but you might encounter it in agricultural reports or historical documents.
Imagine a square roughly 1.818 meters per side. That’s about the size of a small parking spot.