South Korea has long been one of the most popular places to teach English and it is easy to see why so many foreigners fall in love with the country.
If you are looking to teach English in Asia then Korea really is one of the best countries.
Living expenses here are pretty low and working conditions, like anywhere you teach English, can be really great or really bad in Korea. Many times the language schools in Korea don’t keep their promises. However, Korea has a pretty good labor board that allows you to complain and get some justice if things don’t go right.
Find TEFL certification courses and jobs in South Korea and apply to live and work in places like Seoul.
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Country Facts
• Capital: Seoul
• Dailing Code: +82
• Currency: South Korean Won
• Population: 51.78 million (2020)
How to Teach in South Korea
Korea is one of the best countries to work. The pay is one of the highest in the world, the jobs are abundant, and the benefits are really good. There are a lot of young people here and is the major destination for young people looking to teach English after college. Teaching in Korea is something done by a lot of people who are looking to take a year or two off after college.
The main types of teaching are:
• Private English Language Institutes (Hagwons): General English, Business English
• University Academic Departments: General English, English for Specific Purposes (ESP).
• Some universities also have their own language institutes.
• Government & Private Research Institutes: General English, ESP
• Corporate in-house Language Programs: General English, Business English
• State & Private Kindergartens: English for Younger Learners
Hagwons can be found all over the country – some are well-known chains while others are small, family-owned operations. Hagwons employ a foreign teachers for conversation and occasionally for writing classes. Hours range from 20 to 30 hours per week. Split shifts are common, with teachers expected to teach adults from 7am to 9am (before office hours) and school students then adults from 4:30 to 9:30. Class sizes can range from 5 to 25, depending on the success of the institution.
Most large corporate groups (chaebol) have their own in-house language programs. The typical instructor can expect to teach more than 30 hours per week, with teaching hours spread from early morning to late at night. Most are intensive residential programs where the students study for three to six months. Some employers provide full benefits including housing.
Major universities in Seoul, as well as some provincial universities, operate foreign language institutes. These institutes tend to have the highest hiring standards in Korea; most instructors have MA degrees in TESOL, and years of teaching experience. The pay, status and benefits offered by these institutes are among the best in Korea. As a result there is very low turnover.
Universities also employ full-time English conversation instructors to teach on their academic programs. University classes tend to be large, with little personal contact with the students. Most instructors teach between ten and 15 hours a week. These posts include three to four months of paid vacation per year.
Universities in the provinces generally provide better housing, working conditions and salaries, and tend to treat foreign instructors as part of the faculty. The better working conditions, however, should be balanced against the cultural isolation a foreigner may encounter living in the Korean countryside.
Many government agencies and some private companies operate research institutes. Most of these institutes hire foreigners who have degrees in the humanities, economics or business administration as full-time editors. Editors proofread correspondence and research publications, write speeches, and occasionally teach. Most institutes pay quite well, and some provide housing. Because these institutes tend to be government-run or affiliated with corporate groups, their instructors seldom experience problems in obtaining work visas.
Another option for teachers interested in working in Korea is KORETTA/EPIK, a government-sponsored program which places native speakers in every school district in Korea and presents a unique opportunity for the adventurous to live far from tourist routes and population centers. Recruiting and training are performed professionally, but teachers’ living and working experiences vary considerably.
Reasons to Teach in South Korea
Here are some of the benefits of applying:
• High salaries – Korea is one of the best places to earn the most money teaching abroad
• Friendly people and very respectful teachers
• Challenge to integrate into a different society, language and culture
• So many incredible places to live like Soeul
• Lots of diverse destinations to see in your spare time
TEFL Courses in South Korea
Interested in taking a classroom TEFL course? Open to doing this overseas? Gaining a TEFL certification in South Korea can be an amazing way to integrate into the country and get a job on completion.
These companies offer TEFL certifications in Korea:
ITTT 4 Week TEFL Course in Seoul
Kick-start your teaching adventure abroad with an in-class TEFL/TESOL course in Seoul from ITTT. Learn how to teach from the best TEFL/TESOL trainers in the industry.
The course takes place at a school on Yeongjong Island just 40 minutes from downtown Seoul and while the course prepares you to teach English anywhere in the world, the cultural orientations leave you uniquely positioned to understand the role of a teacher in South Korea.
The first week of your program includes in-depth cultural orientations, ensuring you deeply understand the Korean way of life and culture. This is followed by three weeks working with experienced instructors to ensure you are able to effectively manage a classroom for learners of any age and plan, develop and deliver lessons effectively and with confidence.
You will also complete two full days of practical teaching at a local Korean school with your fellow course participants to ensure you’re fully prepared and confident for the real thing once you’ve graduated from the course. This includes immensely valuable feedback from your instructor on areas you’ve performed well and where you can improve.
Price from US$2100.
TEFL Jobs in South Korea
Once TEFL certified you can apply for teaching jobs in South Korea. Some recruiters offer attractive packages to foreign teachers including high salaries, flight reimbursement, Pickup service, free furnished accommodation or a housing allowance, paid holidays, orientation and job training and more.
These companies hire English teachers for jobs throughout South Korea:
• Aclipse
• Gangnam English Academy
• Korean Horizons
• Travel and Learn in Korea
Best Places to Seek Employment
Most teaching jobs can be found in the larger cities including:
• Seoul
• Busan
• Incheon
• Daegu
• Daejeon
• Gwangju
• Suwon
• Goyang-si
• Seongnam-si
• Ulsan
• Bucheon-si
• Jeonju
Salaries
English teachers can expect to make anywhere between KRW 1.9-2.3 million ($1,660-2000 USD) per month, with higher pay going to those with a TEFL certification, a teaching license, graduate degree, and more experience. Teaching English at a hagwon (private institute), you will earn about KRW 2.1 (current starting salary) million per month for a 40 hour work week. Other teachers may earn around KRW 18,000-30,000 ($15-25 USD) per hour for a 120-hour work month.
Private schools tend to pay more than public schools, though if you teach at a public school for a few years, you can work your way up the salary ladder. A teacher’s salary is considered pretty decent, and it’s likely that you can save money while working in Korea, particularly if your employer covers your housing expenses. If you teach business or work at an international school, you can earn upwards of 6 million Yen per month.
Most foreign employees are required to pay Korean income taxes, which are generally withheld and paid by the employer. Teachers working for colleges or universities are sometimes entitled to an exemption from paying Korean taxes for up to 2 years.
Requirements
You will need a BA from a university and a TEFL degree in order to teach English in Korea. Experience is usually not required. If you are a certified teacher, you are almost guaranteed a job. When applying for positions with really young children, schools prefer to hire women. Korea also takes a lot of first time teachers without any experience.
What to Expect
When teaching in South Korea expect very friendly and respectful students, tech savvy classroom, small class sizes, teaching support and working hours from 4 pm-10 pm, but this depends on the employer. Class schedules are based on the type of school that you teach for. Public schools are generally the most desired positions due to the few classes taught by the teacher and the longer vacation time. The Korean culture is pretty strict and working in Korea can be a good experience but you might have a hard time getting vacation or sick time.
Visa
In order to teach English in Korea legally, you must have a visa. While many people still choose to work illegally, if you are caught, you will be fined, deported, and likely not allowed re-entry into Korea. Schools only hire teachers with a work permit.
Most English teachers acquire an E-2 visa. Visa issuance is very closely controlled by the Korean government, and getting your visa can take from one week up to two months. You must acquire your visa outside of Korea, so you can come to Korea on a tourist visa to find a job and get the necessary paperwork and then go to a nearby country, such as Japan, to get the actual visa. Once you are offered a job, your employer can help you get your visa.
When you get your work visa, you have 90 days to register with the Korean immigration and get a residence certificate and re-entry permit.
Changing employers is quite difficult and requires release consent from your original employer for the remaining period of the contract. Permission from the Korean immigration authorities is required and you must leave Korea and return with a new visa with your new sponsor. You should direct any questions on this procedure to the nearest immigration office.
Costs & Accommodation
Meals
Budget: W2300-3400
Mid-range: W3400-12000
High: W12000-20000
Deluxe: W20000+
Accommodation
Temporary, per night
Budget: W8000-23000
Mid-range: W23000-45000
High: W45000-70000
Deluxe: W70000+
Renting apartments and houses is easy and best done through an estate agent. Prices for apartment start at around 2 million Won, but sharing is a good option. Cheaper places can, of course, be found, but you may need help from the school. Many schools offer accommodation as part of their package to teachers. Most contracts are 2 years. You will be expected to pay the first month’s rent, a security deposit, key money, and an agent’s fee. You can expect some steep move-in costs. Have a local on-hand can help to make things run smoothly and keep things legitimate.
A cheaper option is that of ‘boarding houses’ where you get a room in a house shared by others. These cost around W500 000 including 2 meals a day and can be comfortable and cosy, as long as you get along with the other people in the house. A slightly more private option is that of a private rooms, or jachui. These are cheaper and can be more spacious, but don’t include food. These are best found through a Korean speaking friend.
Living in Korea – things to see and do
Korea is a country of amazing beauty, but the cities are often uninspiring and depressing.
In Seoul, Tongdaemun (east gate) and Namdaemun (south gate) both have interesting markets and inexpensive shopping. Insadon-gil, a street in north Seoul, features antiques, folk crafts, art galleries, and several good restaurants. Hye Hwa is a college area, where you’re likely to find coffee shops, several theaters, and inexpensive restaurants. Other places to visit include Kyongbok Palace, Nam San Tower, National Folklore Museum, Chogysea Temple, the War Memorial Museum, and Lotte World.
The areas around Seoul also have several areas of interest: you can go hiking, or visit Inch’on, a town on the east coast that has a fish market and amusement park rides.
Pusan has a lively night scene and a large expat population. Places to visit in Pusan include Pusan Tower, Chagalchi Fish Market, Taejongdae Park, Pomo-sa Temple, Yongdusan Park, Haeudae Beach Resort, and Tongnae Hot Springs.
Kwangju is beautiful, clean, organized, and has a good reputation with Koreans and foreigners alike. You can visit Chomsongdae ( Star Tower), which is the oldest known astronomical observatory in the world, royal tombs, P1unhwangsa Pagoda, and Sokkuram Shrine, a “stone-grotto” shrine that holds a large granite Buddha. Kwangju National Museum is also worth a trip.
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