TEFL Travel Guide: South Korea

Natural beauty of stunning mountains, clear waters, and splendid tranquillity make it easy to see why South Korea has got its name as the Land of Morning Calm. South Korea is an extraordinary country filled with beautiful beaches, thriving cities, ancient temples, remarkable natural scenery and most importantly, friendly people. It’s a hot spot for EFL teachers and we can see why. We’ll run you through how you can make South Korea your next teaching destination in this blog. 

TEFL Requirements 

You’ll need a bachelor’s degree to teach in South Korea and there isn’t really a way to work around this if you don’t have one. To work as an English teacher in South Korea you’ll need a E-2 Teaching Visa and a requirement of that is that you have a bachelor’s degree. Be wary of any potential employers that state they will recruit teachers without a degree - reputable companies will follow the rules of the E-2 Visa and require you to have all the correct documentation. The E-2 Teaching Visa also requires you to be a citizen of the US, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Australia, South Africa or New Zealand, pass a criminal background check, and have a clean bill of health. 

An accredited TEFL Certificate is a definite for those looking to pursue teaching opportunities in South Korea. Most teaching programmes will ask for an 100-Hour certificate as a minimum, but we always recommend having at least the industry standard of an 120-Hour certificate. 

Some employers do prefer applicants to have prior teaching experience, but this isn’t always necessary. If you don’t have any teaching experience, don’t worry, you can still apply for positions. We’d recommend additional TEFL training to make your application look more competitive. Consider a 150-Hour or 180-Hour certificate, or some specialist TEFL training. 

Teaching in South Korea

The demand for EFL teachers is high in South Korea, and there are endless opportunities from beginner teaching jobs to highly qualified roles. The money you can make depends on where you work and your experience level. Because the demand is high, a lot of jobs come with competitive packages that often include accommodation, free flights, and bonuses! 

An English teacher living and working in South Korea, with a bachelor’s degree in any field, can expect a basic monthly salary for a full-time position to be in the region of 2 million – 2.5 million won (£1,280 – £1,600 / $1,670 – $2,000) per month. Teaching jobs can vary but most employments take the form of:

• Private Academies (Hagwons). An excellent option if you’re looking for a year long placement and want to save money, private academies have a fast hiring turnaround and higher pay. Working hours are shorter than public schools, fewer overall (6 hours per day or 35 hours per week), and start later in the day (around 1 pm-9 pm).Most hagwons will also prepare the lessons on behalf of the teachers—ideal for most beginner teachers but less so for experienced teachers who prefer to have more control over their lesson plans. 

• Public schools. The most popular and preferred type of teaching job in South Korea is in a public school. You’ll have a regular 9-to-5 schedule where your actual teaching hours usually won’t exceed 22 per week. Pay scales and qualifications do vary, however, depending on the local office of education. Part of the package usually includes some annual leave, national holiday leave, national insurance, severance pay, and free or reduced housing costs. 

• Teaching programmes. One popular route for teaching English in South Korea is to join a government-sponsored English teaching programme. If you’re looking for job security, paid holidays, and fewer teaching hours, a job teaching at a South Korean public school might be the right choice for you.You’ll teach English alongside a South Korean co-teacher, coordinating classroom instruction times and creating lesson plans together. This is a great choice for any new EFL teachers. We recommend looking at EPIK (English Program in Korea), GEPIK (Gyeonggi English Program in Korea), and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE).

Life in South Korea

Don’t make the mistake of confusing South Korea with that of its controversial northern neighbours, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). South Korea – also known as the ROK (Republic of Korea), or often simply as Korea – occupies the Southern end of the Korean peninsula, separated from the DPRK by the Korean Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and offers an entirely different way of life. Tourists and teachers are very welcome in South Korea and locals are keen to share their culture. There’s estimated to be around 24,000 English teachers reported to be working in South Korea each year, so you’ll not be short of support and friends. 

The most popular places for English teaching jobs in South Korea are the country’s two biggest cities – Seoul and Busan. However, there are TEFL opportunities in all cities and many rural locations for those looking for a more laidback South Korea experience. South Korea is seen as an affordable place to live. Those who choose to live in the larger cities such as Seoul and Busan can expect a slightly higher cost of living, but the same usually goes for anywhere around the world.

Ready to immerse yourself in all South Korea has to offer? Get TEFL certified today!