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Your Guide to Teaching English in South Korea
When you decide to teach in South Korea, you step into one of the most exciting and dynamic countries in the world. South Korea blends high tech cities, peaceful mountain trails, neon nightlife, centuries-old palaces and a pop culture scene that influences the globe. Teachers come for adventure, financial stability, and cultural immersion! Many stay because life here feels vibrant and welcoming.
South Korea’s compact size lets you explore easily. You can spend your weekends hiking famous peaks, relaxing in coastal towns, shopping in trendy districts, or visiting UNESCO sites without long travel times. Teaching in South Korea gives you the chance to grow professionally while experiencing a rich and endlessly fascinating culture.
Read on to learn more and apply today to teach in South Korea.
Salary and Benefits for Teachers in South Korea
Teaching English in South Korea offers one of the strongest financial packages in the ESL world. Teachers usually earn between two thousand and twenty five hundred dollars per month. Because schools provide free housing, this income stretches further than it would in many other countries.
Benefits for teachers often include:
• Free, furnished housing
• Reimbursed airfare
• Health insurance
• Paid vacation
• A completion bonus equal to one month’s salary
This combination of salary and benefits allows most teachers to save money, pay off student loans and still enjoy the incredible opportunities that South Korea offers.
What to Expect When You Teach English in South Korea
Most teachers work at private academies known as hagwons. These schools hire year round, offer structured schedules and provide steady income. Hagwons welcome new teachers, provide training and support you as you adjust to life in South Korea.
Public school positions through programs like EPIK still exist, although competition has increased over the years because of government budget changes and stricter hiring requirements. Your Footprints recruiter can help you understand your options and find a role that fits your goals.
Teaching jobs appear in every major city, including Seoul, Busan, and Daegu, and in smaller towns where the cost of living is lower and the pace feels slower. No matter where you teach, you will meet motivated students and supportive coworkers.
Qualifications for Teaching in South Korea
You need a few essentials before you qualify for South Korea teaching jobs. Schools look for:
• A bachelor’s degree in any field
• A passport from an approved English-speaking country
• A clean background check
• A TEFL certificate is recommended but not required
Lifestyle for Teachers in South Korea
South Korea has a huge international community. After you land, you will quickly meet other teachers and travelers who are experiencing the same adventure. Cafés, gyms, social groups, festivals, sports clubs, dance studios, and language exchanges give you endless ways to meet people. Daily life feels comfortable and convenient. Public transit runs everywhere, food is fantastic and affordable, and WiFi is faster than almost anywhere else in the world. As you explore, you will meet Koreans who show warmth, curiosity and incredible hospitality once they get to know you.
Visa Process – E2 Visa Guide Available!
You will need to apply for a visa yourself, but Footprints Recruiting can make the process painless to make sure you get to South Korea without any snags. Korean consulates are widespread – it’s a good idea to locate your nearest one as you’ll be dealing with them often.
We have created the ultimate E2 Visa Guide to help you through the process so that you can start teaching in South Korea as soon as possible.
Ready to get started? Apply now to teach English in South Korea!
Useful Resources for Teaching Abroad
We want you to succeed. We want you to have the experience of a lifetime, teaching in places around the world! To help you along your journey, we have curated some helpful resources below: