South Korea: Our Top Guide For Teaching English in South Korea

Teaching in South Korea has become famous for many young graduates who want to taste world travel and pay for their experiences.

What you need before you go

There are only three things you need before starting your adventure abroad:

1. Passport from an English-speaking country
2. Bachelor’s degree from a University
3. TEFL or TESOL qualification

Passports from an English-speaking country 

As long as you carry a passport from a country with English as the first language, you can check this one off immediately. Unfortunately, if you are fluent in English but carry a passport from a country where it is not the first language, you won’t be able to get a contract with a public school. However, it isn’t hopeless – you can secure private tutoring roles. These jobs sometimes offer much better pay rates, but you must be brave enough to sort your visa, find housing and create your client base.

Bachelor’s Degree From A University

It doesn’t matter what your degree is, just as long as you have one. Some public schools will stipulate that the degree took three years to complete – no one seems to know why – but as most degrees take this long, it shouldn’t be an issue. 

 TEFL Or TESOL Qualification

No previous teaching experience is required, but if you are working at a public school, you must have a TEFL or TESOL qualification. Don’t let this put you off; they are easy to get. You can do the courses online from the comfort of your home – some places offer courses with actual classes to attend, but this isn’t necessary to get the qualification. Pro-tip: check websites like Groupon for deals on online courses. Or if you’re willing to work in a Hagwon (privately owned tutoring academy – more on this later), you don’t need this step!

Public School vs. Hagwon

Ok, so now you’re ready to start job hunting. There are two types of jobs in South Korea: Public Schools and Hagwons. Hagwons are privately owned tutoring companies and, as such, are more of a business than a school, mainly driven by the demands of the students’ parents. There are plenty of horror stories online regarding Hagwons, but many people have worked for these companies and truly enjoyed their time teaching in South Korea. Here’s a breakdown of the significant differences between these two types of jobs to help you make an informed decision:

Getting the Job-South Korea

Public School jobs are much more competitive than hagwons. The only natural way to secure one is to apply through a company like EPIK (English Program in Korea) or GEPIK (Gyeonggi-do English Program in Korea). These recruiters will help you secure a job, get a visa and communicate with your school about the contract. All of which can be extremely helpful when moving across the world. But the completion is fierce and you need to apply with these programs 6-7 months in advance of when you plan to leave!

Hagwons, on the other hand, will be hiring all year round, so if you are keen to start your adventure immediately, this could be the way to go. February/March is the start of the new semester, so this is usually the best time to job hunt. There are online forums where you can browse hagwon jobs, but Dave’s ESL Cafe is the most reliable one. Some recruiters can help you secure a job, but do your research before going with one, as many of them are not government-recognised, like EPIK and GEPIK.

Working Hours-South Korea

Public School offers the typical 9-5 schedule of most regular jobs, and you will be teaching middle to high schoolers. You will likely be the only foreign teacher at the school, and you will see each class of students once a week. A Korean teacher will help you if needed, and you will take your breaks when the students do. Lunch is even supplied by the school.

Your contract will stipulate the number of teaching hours required per week, and you will be given a set number of paid vacation days and any national holidays.

Hagwons work differently. They are generally open from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., and you will either be on the early or late shift. The early shift is teaching the youngest kids who are not old enough yet to be going to public school. Think about Kindergarten. Many teachers love working with kids this young, but it can be challenging as this is likely the kids’ first encounter with English, which can make teaching a challenge. 

If you are on the late shift, you will teach middle to high schoolers who come to the Hagwon after school to get extra help with English. The level of English will vary from class to class, but this is also true of public schools. Depending on whether or not you are a night owl, working until 10 p.m. all week can make a social life challenging. However, you will not be the only foreign teacher, so making friends with a similar schedule may be more accessible.

Generally, Hagwons have longer working hours and less paid holiday days. So check your contract before signing to ensure it will accommodate any travel plans you might have!

Salary-South Korea

There isn’t a vast difference between public school and Hagwon pay, but certain hagwons will offer you more money. The general principle of pay is the same for both – your pay will increase each year you stay, and you will receive an extra month’s pay upon completing your contract. A hagwon may offer a more lucrative opportunity depending on your money motivation.

Public schools generally offer more benefits and a regular work pattern; hagwons are potentially more lucrative, but schedules can be complex if you aren’t a night person. It really depends on the type of person you are and why you are in South Korea if you want to travel and explore – public school will offer more time off and freedom. If you need to clear student loans while having an exciting job – Hagwon could be the way to go, but the pay rate isn’t that vastly different.

On the subject of money, there is a third type of job that you should be aware of but approach at your own risk. Private tutoring on the side of teaching is highly lucrative; parents are willing to pay a lot of money to have you tutor their child individually. But be warned – your visa prohibits this, and if you are caught, it can lead to deportation and even being blocked from teaching in South Korea altogether.

Housing-South Korea

So now you have a better idea of what kind of job you can get, the next logical thing is to find where you will stay. The general rule of thumb with housing is that your employer will provide an apartment or give you money for rent at an apartment you find. If you are just starting your new adventure, it will probably be easier to go with a school with an apartment ready for you; however, if you’re feeling adventurous, you can use Craigslist to find available properties. 

You will most likely be provided with a studio apartment, which can be a big change if you are used to living with multiple rooms. These apartments can range quite dramatically in size, but the general layout is one big room combining a living room/bedroom/kitchen and a separate room for your bathroom. Speaking of bathrooms, in Korea, it is expected to have a ‘wet room’, meaning a shower head is attached to the wall, and there is a drain in the middle of the floor. Everything will get wet, so you must buy bathroom ‘slippers’ – a pair of flip-flops you can put on so that your feet don’t get soaked when you’re using the bathroom after a shower. 

One thing to be aware of is that when you first arrive at your new school, you will likely be replacing an English teacher who is leaving. So, you will be sharing this limited space with someone you have just met for the first few days! However, the good thing about this is that they can show you around the neighbourhood and help you get settled in. They can even give you hints and tips about your new job.