Each year, a steady stream of English-speaking foreigners makes their way to South Korea for financial, professional and cultural gain. By far, the most popular source of income is found in teaching English. English teaching jobs are relatively easy to obtain as long as you meet a few basic requirements. Jobs are sourced from overseas before your arrival so that the employer can apply for a work permit on your behalf.
Most employers in South Korea will only hire English teachers from the UK, Canada, America, South Africa, Ireland, New Zealand and Australia who have an accredited university degree and a TEFL or TESOL certification (minimum 100 to 120 hours). Those with education degrees or teaching licences may be exempt from the certification requirement. Some of the more lucrative positions also require applicants to have some English teaching experience, but this isn’t always the case. The types of English teaching jobs are varied and abundant and include positions at public schools, private after-school academies (hagwons), private lessons and universities in both cities and small rural towns.
The Korean people place great value on the ability to understand and speak English. Children as young as three are introduced to the language, and from the elementary school level, English must be taken by all students as a second language. The country’s insatiable desire to learn and speak English means that finding a job teaching is easy.
Work Permits in South Korea
Working in South Korea
Teaching in Rural South Korea
Teaching English in public schools
Perhaps the most pain-free and trustworthy way to get an English-speaking job is by going through the South Korean government programme, EPIK (English Programme in Korea).
Established in 1995, EPIK aims to improve the English-speaking abilities of students and teachers in Korea, foster cultural exchanges and reform English teaching methods. EPIK teachers are interviewed via video call before they’re hired, then go through an eight-day orientation and training period when they first arrive.
Teaching in public elementary, middle and high schools across the country, EPIK teachers are essentially government employees. You’ll enjoy benefits such as a furnished home for the period of your contract (after the first year, you can opt for a housing allowance instead), 50 percent coverage of your medical insurance premiums, a travel allowance, a settlement payout and an exit allowance on the completion of your contract.
As an EPIK teacher, you’ll generally teach for 22 hours a week and spend the rest of your office hours planning lessons. You can apply through EPIK directly on their website, or go through a recruiter (usually free of charge), which can make the whole process run more smoothly. There are two big yearly intakes in February and August, but direct placements throughout the year are also possible.
Useful links
Teaching in hagwons
A hagwon is an after-school private academy that focuses directly on one subject. Children of all ages attend English hagwons, even those in preschool. Hagwon jobs are typically better paying than public school ones, but hagwon teachers don’t enjoy the same kind of governmental ‘protection’ as public school teachers do and receive less annual leave.
When searching for a hagwon job, be sure to do plenty of research. Hagwons that cater to students who want to get a head start on their English often employ both Korean and native English-speaking teachers. They vary considerably, from small operations with only a handful of staff members to franchises with thousands of teachers on staff.
Classes are divided according to age group and level, and it’s usually your role as the foreign teacher to help students improve their conversation and pronunciation skills. As a hagwon employee, you’ll also frequently be provided with accommodation, often with basic furnishings, and reimbursement for your air ticket to Korea. Hagwons hire new English teachers all year round.
Teaching English at the university level
Teachers wanting to work at a university typically need a Master’s degree, although some positions may accept a Bachelor’s degree with four or more years of teaching experience. Those with a Master’s degree generally need at least two years of teaching experience to qualify for university positions.
These jobs typically have better hours (around 10 to 16 teaching hours per week), considerably more annual leave (often 8 to 16 weeks) and a competitive salary. University instructors also enjoy more autonomy in their teaching and work with college-aged students. Many English teachers who have worked in the public or private school system for a while become university employees.
