TEACH ENGLISH IN SOUTH KOREA

About Teaching English in South Korea

To teach English in South Korea, most teachers will need a TEFL certificate and a 4-year college degree. You must be a native English speaker too. The average salary for teaching English in South Korea is $1,850 - $2,650 USD per month. Housing and airfare are typically provided.

ITA's South Korea Insights

• English is first taught in elementary school in South Korea and can begin in kindergarten.
• Government programs like EPIK provide a multitude of opportunities for prospective teachers.
• Speaking English is still a desired skill for children and job seekers, and Korea has even introduced English-medium education at universities, according to the British Council. 
• Korea is hoping to increase the amount of South Korean college students studying abroad in English-speaking programs.

The job market for teaching English in South Korea is currently one of the largest and strongest in the world. Those looking to teach English in Korea can find teaching opportunities year-round, and interviews are conducted in advance over the phone and via Zoom. In most cases, those teaching English in Korea receive free or reimbursed airfare, and South Korean schools typically provide free housing. A typical contract for an English teacher in Korea offers a free return flight, paid vacation and a 1-month salary bonus (around $ 2,000 USD after 12 months).

The capital, Seoul, is one of the largest and most cosmopolitan cities in the world with approximately 25 million people and over 1,000 English language schools. There are an estimated 25,000 English teachers in South Korea working each year and demand shows no signs of slowing. Many English teachers in South Korea work in major government public school programs while others teach in private schools known as hagwons.

Other major cities for teaching English in South Korea include Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Ulsan, Gwangju, Daejeon, and Daegu.

For those looking to get TEFL certified onsite in South Korea, International TEFL Academy offers a course in Incheon. 

How to Teach English in South Korea: Requirements

TEFL Certification

A TEFL certification is required to teach English in South Korea. You do not need professional teaching experience but earning your TEFL certification will provide you with the training and qualification you do need to get hired. Because schools and recruiters interview prospective teachers in advance from their home country, most Americans and Canadians take one of our TEFL course options listed below.

Read More: What are the Basic Requirements to Teach English in Korea in 2020?

Native English-Speaking Proficiency

You will need to be a native-English speaker to teach English in South Korea. This means you must be a citizen from a recognized English-speaking nation: U.S., U.K., Ireland, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.

Bachelor's Degree

English teachers must have a bachelor's degree to teach English in South Korea. Please note, your bachelor's degree does not need to be in education, it can be in any field.

FBI Background Check

You will need a clean FBI background check as well as a clean health check and drug test.

How to Find TEFL Jobs in South Korea

English teaching Jobs in Korea

There are several job opportunities to explore as an English teacher in South Korea. The most common are:

• Teaching children at a private language school known as a hagwon.
• Teaching children at a public school as part of a government program such as EPIK.
• Providing private tutoring lessons or teaching business English at a workplace.

Finding a TEFL Job in Korea: Hiring & Visa

Unlike some other popular TEFL destinations, there is no peak hiring season in South Korea - hiring usually happens year-round. Interviews are conducted via phone/Skype in advance of your arrival to South Korea.

You enter Korea on a work visa that you obtain from your home country prior to your departure.

Teaching English in Korea: Hours

Language schools in Korea typically require 25 to 30 hours of teaching per week plus prep time, leaving plenty of time to travel and explore.

Teaching Korean Students

It is most common that your students will be school-aged children but depending on your job, you may find yourself teaching business professionals.

TEFL Korea Salary & Cost of Living

Start-up Costs

Start-up costs will range from $1,000 - $2,000 USD. These are expenses you will incur from your arrival in South Korea until you receive your first paycheck and may include things like transport, groceries, getting your new local cell phone number set up, etc. 

Salary & Bonuses

A generous salary of $1,850 - $2,500 a month (depending on qualifications and exchange rates)  with only 5% taxes enables English teachers in Korea to enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. It is common to also be offered a contract completion bonus. This means if you fulfill your 12-month teaching contract, you will receive a bonus at the end which may look something like one months pay! 

It should also be noted that your employer will provide you with either a round-trip or one-way flight reimbursement!

Cost of Living & Savings

The cost of living typically ranges between $650-$900 USD per month. Housing is provided/or subsidized so no rent expense is incurred - this provides an opportunity to save up to $1,600 USD per month after expenses.

Vacation Time

English teachers in Korea also receive 10-20 days of paid vacation per year in addition to 15-18 national holidays.