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: 2.0M to 2.7M KRW per month with housing. 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 120-hour TEFL certificate is standard, sometimes required.
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: 3.36M JPY for first year, scales up year over year. 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. 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
Kindergarten & Elementary English Teacher
Hanmaeum English Academy · Seoul, South Korea
Teach English Abroad 2026 – Paid Jobs in Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Indonesia & More | Housing + Visa Support
TEFL UK · Various
**ASAP**Elementary English Teacher | Daechi| E-2 Sponsorship | Max 6 Students
Milestone Institute · South Korea
Kindergarten English Teacher / 12pm - 6pm / Jamsil, Seoul / ￦3.2M
Creverse · Jamsil, Seoul
English Part-time positions in Yongsan, Seoul
Yongsan Global Language Center · South Korea
ESL Teaching Positions | Seoul & Nationwide | Start ASAP /August/September/October
Korea Global Connections · South Korea
Japan
English Instructor (Eikaiwa)
Sakura English Studio · Tokyo, Japan
Gottschalk Teacher of English at Kobe College High School in Nishinomiya, Japan
Kobe College Corporation · JP
Teach English Abroad 2026 – Paid Jobs in Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Indonesia & More | Housing + Visa Support
TEFL UK · Various
Assistant Language Teachers in Japan
Interac · Across Japan, Japan
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 main intakes for March and September starts. 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.