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Teaching English In Korea

Teaching English in Korea is a popular career move for veteran teachers and fresh graduates. The reason is simple. When you move to Korea, you get a chance to learn more about an ancient culture…More to be revealed…
Teaching English in Korea is a popular career move for veteran teachers and fresh graduates. The reason is simple. When you move to Korea, you get a chance to learn more about an ancient culture which has contributed immensely to the world. Also, importantly, teaching English in Korea is very rewarding professionally and financially. Handsome salaries plus attractive perks help build up your nest egg quite substantially during your stint here. Teachers are highly respected in Korean culture. Your professional interaction with students and parents will lead to treasured relationships and memories.

Snapshot Of Korea

Capital

Seoul

Currency

Won

Population

52 Million

Climate

Temperate

How To Start Teaching English In Korea?

Living and teaching English in Korea is an exciting adventure. The East Asian country is well developed industrially as well as economically. Korea offers a quality of life that is comparable to the advanced nations in the world. At the same time, despite all the modernity seen on the streets of Korea’s megacities, the country is proud of its heritage as one of the oldest cultures in the world, making it one of the top-performing best countries to teach English.

While teaching English in Korea, you can immerse yourself in the Confucian way of life, which is still prevalent. But even as old practices and traditions continue to hold sway, Korea’s famous Kpop and KDramas have an incredible cult following across the globe! Perhaps this mix of the old and the new in the country makes searching and securing teaching jobs abroad teaching English in Korea a unique alluring adventure.

How Easy Is It To Find A Job Teaching English In Korea

Korea has always been a thriving market for English teachers. The country has a long tradition of encouraging its citizens to develop their English-speaking skills. The government has several programs aimed at making English more popular and wide-spread in the country. Under these programs, teachers and professionals from native English-speaking countries are invited to work in Korean schools and institutes. There are also opportunities in the private sector.

So, if you are keen on teaching English in Korea, here are your options:

Public Schools:

One of the better-known routes to get a job teaching English in Korea is to apply to the government’s English Program in Korea (EPIK). The program was established in 1995 to improve the English-speaking abilities of Korean students and teachers, develop cultural exchange between Korea and abroad, and introduce new teaching methods into the Korean education system.

Every year, the government recruits between 1000-1500 teachers under the aegis of the EPIK. Some sub-programs come under the EPIK banner. Local or provincial governments run these. This includes SMOE Korea and GEPIK. Teachers selected under SMOE and GEPIK are placed in public schools in Seoul and Gyeonggi province, respectively.

Private Academies/Hagwon:

The hagwon is Korea’s rather infamous private academies that students attend before or after regular school.  They offer private coaching, and their single-minded, rigorous focus on their students’ academic performances has led to their being often dismissed as cram schools.  Hagwons are spread across the country. Some of them are professionally run. But there are also plenty of anecdotal nightmarish experiences narrated by those teaching English in Korea’s hagwon institutes.

Universities / Corporate Houses / Private Tutoring:

You can also apply for teaching English in Korea’s universities. Several universities have language departments. There are also opportunities in corporate houses where teachers are hired to brush up on their employees’ English speaking skills. There is also a market for private tutoring and online teaching in Korea.

The Public-School Vs Hagwon Debate

Public School (Via EPIK)
Hagwon
Professionalism
High
Mixed reviews
Choice of Location
No
Yes
Saving Potential
Yes
Yes
Perks
Yes
Yes
Qualifications
Degree
Degree

Educating Abroad Quick Tip: If you land a job teaching English in Korea via EPIK, you may be posted in schools in rural areas of the country. Whilst this can be a great experience, you need to be sure you can handle the culture shock.

How & When To Apply For Jobs Teaching English In Korea

Recruitment for Korea’s public schools takes place twice a year before the fall and spring semester. The fall term’s application process lasts from February to July, while that for the spring semester is from August to January. As per the fall semester timeline, you have to put in your applications by February. Interviews are normally held in April.

If your application is accepted, the documentation for your visa will be sent to you by June. For the spring semester, the applications are accepted in August. The interviews are normally completed by January, and the documentation is processed by February. EPIK recruits teaching English in Korea will start the fall semester by late August and the spring semester by late February.

You can apply to public schools in Korea directly via their job postings on our international teaching jobs page or EPIK. You could also go through recruiters. The advantage of bypassing recruiters is that your application is likely to be processed faster.

If you have missed the EPIK recruitment deadline but are not keen to put off your plan until the next semester, you can send in your applications to the hagwons scattered across the country. The private academies accept applications throughout the year.

Before you apply to hagwons, it is important to research their background. This is because there are mixed reports regarding their work environment. Some hagwons are part of well-known Korean chains, where professional standards are high. Others are stand-alone, smaller organizations. While not all the smaller and relatively less known hagwons can be categorized as unprofessional, it is advisable to check their background thoroughly.

One of the advantages of applying to hagwons is that you can choose the cities/towns you would like to live in and work in during your stint in Korea.

teaching-english-in-korea-at-a-hagwon
Polana Hagwon gets good reviews for a Hagwon from this article

University jobs are highly sought after. If you are qualified and experienced, you can apply for openings that are often notified on various Korean universities’ websites. Private tutoring is a very lucrative business in Korea. However, the government takes strict action against ex-pats who take up work other than that specified in their visa. It might be better to avoid taking up such assignments.

Educating Abroad Quick Tip: It is advisable to have $1000-$1500 at the start of your Korean stint. Most schools do not pay an advance and you will have to survive on your savings until your first paycheck.

The Qualifications You Need To start Teaching English In Korea

EPIK has spelt out the qualifications required for teaching English in Korea very clearly on its website. They include:

  1. Being a citizen of a country where English is the primary language. The countries included in the list are Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States and South Africa. Indian citizens are eligible for positions if they meet all other requirements and hold a teacher’s English license. You should have studied from at least the junior high level (7th Grade) to university graduation in one of the above seven countries to be eligible for EPIK.
  2. Hold a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited university.
  3. If you have a teaching license/certificate, B.Ed., M.Ed., or any other education-focused major (Physical Education, Math Education, etc.), you do not require a TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate.
  4. If you do not have the qualifications listed in 3, you will need a 100-hour or more TEFL/TESOL/CELTA/etc. Certificate from an accredited program to be eligible. You are allowed to join the course during the application process.
  5. Be mentally and physically healthy.
  6. Have a good command of English.
  7. Have the ability and willingness to adapt to Korean culture and life.

Some Quick FAQ's On Teaching English In Korea

If you teach English in Korea, you can expect to earn $3000 within the the Korean Universities which compared to a lot of East Asia is very good. Korea is one of the few countries where International Schools do not pay the most, however you can still expect to make circa $2500 USD per month. Finaly if you teach English in Korea via the EPIK program expect to earn $2200 per month

Yes English Teachers are in Demand Korea. Korea has a very global and active export sector which uses English, so you will find a big demand for koreans to learn English to help with their job prospects! Due to The demand for English teachers being high. Salaries and perks are also very good in Korea.

No,You can not teach English in Korea without a Degree. You will need a Bachelors degree in Education or the subject that you will be teaching. In Korea you do not need a TEFL certificate how some shools show preference to those that have one.

Also, most schools require a criminal record check from the authorized agency in your country. For US citizens, this will mean a clearance from the FBI. You will also have to submit a medical certificate stating that you are physically fit to take up the job. You have to submit the results of a drug test too.

Hagwons in Korea more or less follow the same guidelines while recruiting teachers. A Bachelor’s degree is mandatory to get a job teaching English in Korea. Can you teach in Korea if you are not from a native-English speaking country? It is difficult, but the smaller hagwons may consider your application if you have the required experience and qualifications. Also, unlike the EPIK jobs, you have to apply to each hagwon individually. Each of them will have their own application/qualification requirements.

The minimum qualification for getting a job in a Korean university is a Bachelor’s degree with a minimum of four years of work experience or a Master’s degree with two years of work experience. Your chances of getting hired are higher if you have academic credentials like publications and workshops to your credit.

Educating Abroad Quick Tip: Any felony conviction or charges including for drunk driving makes you ineligible to apply for the job of teaching English in Korea.

What Visa Will Enable You To Start Teaching English In Korea

You can apply for a visa after you get a formal offer letter or employment contract. If you have been accepted in a Korean public school or hagwon, you must apply for the E-2 visa. However, if you have a job at a university, you can apply for an E-1 visa.

e2 visa for teachers teaching in korea
This is what your E2 Visa will look like when you receive it

Documents required for E-2 visa:

  • Passport
  • Employment contract
  • Notice of appointment
  • E-2 visa application form
  • A copy of your degree. If you are a non-Canadian or non-US citizen, you will have to get your degree apostilled. Canadian and US applicants can get their degree certified by a notary public.
  • Original academics transcripts.
  • Passport photos.
  • Clearance certificate post criminal background check by an authorized body in your home country.

The documents required for the E1 visa for university professors are more or less the same.

Educating Abroad Quick Tip: The visa application has to be filed in the consulate/embassy in your home country. You will be issued a visa number 10-20 days after the application is filed.

Work Environment & Salary Teaching English In Korea

The salaries and perks for teaching English in Korea are attractive. Depending on your degree (Bachelor’s/Master’s), you can earn between $2000-$2200 per month as an EPIK recruit teaching English in Korea. Other benefits include:

  • Settlement allowance of $250
  • Accommodation
  • Severance pay of one month if you complete your contract
  • Entrance allowance (which is a loan) and an equivalent exit allowance on completing the contract. However, this does not apply to all provinces.
  • Compulsory medical insurance with 50 per cent of the premium paid by the employer
  • Renewal bonus if the contract is reviewed. The amount varies depending on the province where you are placed, but it could be up to $1000. However, some places like Seoul do not offer a renewal contract.
  • 18 days paid vacation plus national holidays.

Most hagwons match the salaries offered by the government. They also offer perks like accommodation and airfare.

english-teacher-teaching-tefl-in-korea
Don't be to disheartened if you find students sleeping in your class. Some have been studying for 20 hours

University professors earn between $2200-$3000. Also, if you take summer classes, you are eligible for overtime payments. This ranges from $16 to $40 per hour. The package also includes a housing allowance between $250-350 per month. Other benefits include round trip airfare, end-of-the-year bonus and health care. However, private universities may not offer all perks included in the employment contract of public universities.

If you are working in a public school, work hours will normally be from 9 am to 5 pm. Teaching hours are around 22 hours per week. As an EPIK teacher, you are expected to assist Korean teachers with their English classes. You will also have to conduct conversation classes for Korean students and teachers, prepare teaching material and assist in extra-curricular activities. You have to organize and conduct English camps jointly with Korean teachers. 

In hagwons, teachers are allotted either morning or evening shifts. Teaching hours normally exceed 22 hours, which is the norm for EPIK teachers. At hagwons, you will be expected to handle the English class on your own. There will be no co-teacher, unlike public schools.

University teachers in Seoul have very comfortable teaching hours. Classroom teaching is just around 10-12 hours per week. However, student counselling and administrative paperwork could take up an additional 5-6 hours per week. One of the biggest perks is that you may get up to four months of paid vacations!

Salary & Benefits Comparison - Teaching English In Korea

Benefits
EPIK
Hagwon
University
Salary (Up to)
$2200
$2500
$3000
Airfare
Yes
Yes
Yes
Overtime
No
No
Yes
Paid Leave
18 Days
Varies
Upto 4 Months
Housing Allowance
Yes
Yes
Yes
Bonus
Yes
Varies
Yes

Educating Abroad Quick Tip: Private tutoring is illegal on an E1 or E2 visa. Violating the visa condition can lead to job loss, fines and deportation.

The Cost Of Living Teaching English In Korea

The cost of living in Korea is comparatively low as compared to developed nations. However, salaries for teachers are high. With perks like housing, medical insurance, bonus and airfare reimbursement, you can expect to save a substantial amount of your take-home salary. Even if you take the time to travel around Korea and neighbouring East Asian countries, you will still finish your stint with a healthier bank balance.

Of course, the cost of living is higher in the cities. Seoul is the most expensive city in Korea – but it is still much cheaper to live here than comparable cities of the world. Busan and Jeju Island are also expensive places to live in. If you teach English in Korea under the EPIK program, you may be located in a semi-urban or rural area. The cost of living will be much lower, and your savings potential much higher.

Rent is not an issue when you are working in South Korea as accommodation is normally provided. Private academies will give you a housing allowance. Rents in Korea normally account for 21 per cent of your monthly outflow, so this is indeed a substantial perk! However, you will have to pay maintenance charges and utility bills. The bill for utilities, including electricity, water, heating, cooling and garbage collection – normally amounts to $140-$150 per month. Internet and mobile bill payments will be at least $25 or more, depending on the plan you opt for.

EPIK-teacher-apartment-in-seoul-korea
Let's just say 'cozy' and 'snug' are referred to often by estate agents in Korea

The delicious Korean cuisine will tempt you to the restaurants and eating joints that are always buzzing with activity, especially in the cities. A meal in an inexpensive restaurant will be around $6. A three-meal course in a mid-range restaurant will be around $35.

Setting up your own kitchen and indulging in home-cooked food can be a fun experience given Korea’s abundant and fresh produce.

If you are posted in a city, then you have the option of travelling by Korea’s excellent subway or bus system. A monthly transport pass is $45. Taxis charge around $0.65 for a one km ride, with a base fare of $3. Inter-city bus travel can be between $15-$50, depending on the distance. If you plan to buy a vehicle while in Korea, one litre of fuel will cost you around $1.27.

A comfortable lifestyle in Korea – which includes eating out and entertainment – will cost anything between $800-$1400, depending on your personal tastes and shopping ability!! Given that the salaries are in the range of $2000 and above, it is possible to save substantially during your stay in Korea.

Places To See And Things To Do Whilst Teaching English In Korea

Explore The Country:

As a teacher earning a substantial salary, you will be saving a handsome amount every month. Take the opportunity to travel and explore this fascinating country thoroughly. Korea is a small country. If you are located in a city, it takes just an hour or two to leave behind the busy urban sprawl and reach rural Korea’s beautiful ambience.

From climbing mountains to spending time in a quiet fishing village, from zooming down ski slopes to strolling through emerald paddy fields, from nightclubbing till the wee hours to sleeping soundly under the stars in a traditional inn, Korea offers several rich experiences.

Go On A Culinary Journey:

korean-street-food
You will be amazed at what the Koreans can do with 'eggy bread'

The kimchi is, of course, now a staple in homes across the world. But here is your chance to delve deep into an ancient cuisine that reflects the Korean philosophy of the yin and the yang balancing and complementing each other. Each dish is developed to ensure that the flavours and textures so carefully incorporated into it stand out separately, even as they jell together beautifully. From the staple lunch of Bibimbap to the unusual chicken and beer combination in Chimaek, your Korean culinary journey will be an unforgettable aspect of your stint here.

TEFL Teachers Insight To Teaching English In Korea On YouTube

Teaching English In Korea: Our Final Thoughts

Living in South Korea is an exciting adventure. The Land of the Morning Calm has several fascinating facets. There is a 5000-year old culture to study, a youthful modern buzz to be experienced, scintillating landscapes to be explored and an amazing cuisine to savor.

With well paying jobs, professional work atmosphere, great quality of life and substantial savings potential – teaching English in Korea ticks all the right boxes. If you have an opportunity to move abroad and teach in Korea, go ahead and grab it!

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