Comparison
Teach English in South Korea vs China
New teacher debating starting in Korea vs. getting qualified first for higher pay in China.
Korea is the most beginner-friendly market in Asia; China pays the most for experienced teachers. Korea takes new graduates through public school programs like EPIK. China expects language-teaching experience or a teaching certificate and rewards it with significantly higher pay, especially at international schools.
South Korea
EPIK, hagwons, and university roles. E-2 visa support is standard.
Salary
Public schools (EPIK): roughly 2.2M to 2.8M KRW per month with housing provided by the office of education (Seoul has its own scale; source: EPIK pay page, checked 6 Oct 2026). Hagwons: 2.1M to 2.8M KRW with housing or stipend. Universities: 2.3M to 3.5M KRW with shorter contact hours.
Visa
E-2 visa for most roles. Requires a bachelor's degree, a clean criminal record check, and citizenship from one of seven approved countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa). A TEFL certificate of 100 hours or more is the usual expectation (EPIK's minimum is 100 real-time hours, and it is waived for a teaching licence or an education degree).
Best for
First-time teachers who want a structured contract with housing handled. Korea's system is the most beginner-friendly path into ESL.
China
International schools, training centers, and universities. Pay is the highest in Asia.
Salary
International schools: 25k to 45k RMB per month. Training centers: 18k to 30k RMB. Public schools: 12k to 22k RMB. Universities: 10k to 20k RMB with long vacations. Most contracts include housing or stipend.
Visa
Z visa. Requires a bachelor's degree and a criminal record check (notarized and apostilled). Foreign language teachers also need more than two years of language-education experience, which is waived with a bachelor's in education or language, a teaching certificate from your own country, or a qualified international language teaching certificate (the standard published by the Beijing government). Many schools also ask for a 120-hour TEFL. Applicants are usually citizens of countries where English is the national language. Age cap of 60 is typical.
Best for
Experienced teachers who want to maximize savings. Two years of teaching in China can clear 30k USD in savings if you live carefully.
Open positions, side by side
South Korea
English Teacher Position Available
EVERENGLISH CENTER · South Korea
[Now Hiring] Teach English In Korea | Seoul, Busan & Nationwide | 2.6m+ Krw | Oct 2026–Mar 2027
ASK-Now Inc. · South Korea
Great Positions All Over Korea
http://www.eslteachingjobinasia.com. · Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
Instructor Position in Seoul
Language Scholars Inc. · South Korea
Great Positions All Over Korea
eslteachingjobinasia.com · Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
English Teaching Jobs Across Korea | October 2026–March 2027 Starts | Apply Now
ASK-Now Inc. · South Korea
China
ESL Teachers Needed in Different Cities Around China Now ASAP
Cheyenne's TESOL Recruitment Center · China
University EAP Lecturers Needed Across China (Spring / Feb 2027 Start)
shanghaiyucui · China
University+Primary English teacher needed in Beijing
Xinbaide HR · China
Kindergarten teacher positions in top Chinese cities - Beijing, Shanghai, Nanjing, Xiamen, Chongqing, Chengdu, Qingdao, Dalian, Hangzhou, Suzhou
Discover universe · China
ASAP 17-24k Shenzhen kindergarten homeroom and Shenzhen public school/kindergarten positions Feb 2027
SDE · Futian, Nanshan, Bao'an Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
LIVE WELL AND SAVE MONEY in Shenyang! Paid Training, Western Managed + 16,000RMB Bonus, 42 days paid holiday, 20 hrs a week, No boring admin work!
Joy Education · China
Common questions
South Korea
Do I need to speak Korean to teach in Korea?
No. Most schools want monolingual English in the classroom. Picking up basics for daily life helps but is not a hiring requirement.
South Korea
When is hiring season?
Public schools (EPIK) recruit in two terms: Spring applications open 1 August for a late-February start, Fall applications open 1 February for a late-August start. Hagwons hire year-round but the biggest wave is February to April.
China
Is online teaching of Chinese students still possible?
Not for K-9 students inside China. Adult-focused online teaching to Chinese learners through global platforms is allowed but pays much less than the old VIPKid era.
China
What's the salary difference between Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities?
Tier 1 (Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Guangzhou) pays 30 to 50 percent more, but cost of living absorbs much of that. Tier 2 cities often have better savings rates.
