Comparison
Teach English in South Korea vs Japan
First-time teacher choosing between the two most structured ESL markets in the world.
The two most asked-about ESL destinations in East Asia. Korea pays better and has more housing support; Japan offers a longer-term career path and a quieter lifestyle. Both require a bachelor's degree and citizenship from one of the seven approved native-English countries.
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.
Japan
JET, eikaiwa chains, and ALT positions. Pay is steady, vacation is short.
Salary
JET: 4.02M JPY before tax for the first appointment, rising to 4.32M by the fourth. Eikaiwa: 250k to 280k JPY per month. ALT dispatch: 230k to 270k JPY per month. Cost of living outside Tokyo is reasonable.
Visa
Instructor visa or Specialist in Humanities visa. Bachelor's required. Since 15 April 2026 Japan's immigration agency also expects CEFR B2 in the working language for language-based jobs on the Specialist status (see our B2 rule explainer). Native English speaker preference for most roles. JET requires application by November for the following August start.
Best for
Teachers committed to staying multiple years and learning Japanese. The pay does not stretch as far as Korea, but career stability and quality of life are high.
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
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.
Japan
JET vs eikaiwa vs ALT dispatch — which should I apply to?
JET if you can wait 9 months for a placement and want a public school role with full benefits. Eikaiwa if you want to start within 60 days and are okay with evening hours. ALT dispatch is the fallback when you are already in Japan and need work.
Japan
Can I save money teaching in Japan?
Less than in Korea or the Gulf. Most teachers cover living costs comfortably and save 30k to 80k JPY per month outside Tokyo.
