Country guide
Teach English in South Korea
EPIK, hagwons, and university roles. E-2 visa support is standard.
South Korea hires more new ESL teachers per year than almost anywhere else. The market splits roughly into three tracks. Public school programs like EPIK and GEPIK place teachers in elementary and middle schools with a stable schedule and predictable pay. Hagwons (private academies) hire year-round and cover airfare and housing, with afternoon and evening hours. University positions pay less per hour but offer long vacations and lighter teaching loads, and almost always require a master's.
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.
Open positions in South Korea
30 active listings mentioning South Korea.
HOT JOBS- Positions all over Korea
Embark Recruiting · > · Full-time
TEACHING JOBS KOREA || FT PLACEMENT OPTIONS NATIONWIDE KOREA || 2026 LISTINGS || APPLY TODAY
Teaching JOBS Korea · South Korea · Full-time
ESL Teaching Positions in South Korea! ASAP ~ September 2026 Starting Dates | Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and other locations available.
Motive Recruiting · South Korea · Full-time
Multiple ESL Teaching Positions Available ASAP ~ September (Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Suwon, Dongtan ,Jeonju,Osan & More)
Korea Global Connections · South Korea · Full-time
Direct Hire Top Pay At least 3.6 million won in prime Central Seoul with Korea’s Largest & Most RELIABLE ESL employer founded in 1961. Long session breaks with paid days off compliant with Korean Labo
YBM PINE Division · South Korea · Full-time
Work with People Who Actually Understand You
www.Korvisionllc.com · South Korea · Full-time
Elementary Homeroom Teacher | Seocho-gu, Seoul | Aug 2026 Start | Housing + Vacation + PD
ACA International · > · Full-time
1.7M Won for 8 days - Nowon Children’s English Camp is looking for teachers to teach at Sahmyook University this summer vacation! (This position is only for foreign teachers currently teaching in Kore
Nowon Children's English Camp · South Korea · Full-time
Talkn’Learn Korea: Prime 2026 Teaching Vacancies Since 2010, Talkn’Learn Korea has established itself as one of the most trusted and respected recruiting agencies, bridging the gap between passionate
Talkn'Learn Korea · Seoul, South Korea · Full-time
Passionate English Teachers (Phonics, Writing, Reading, Grammar)
애플어학원 · South Korea · Full-time
jobs for Seoul, Busan, Incheon and all over Korea
One Esl recruitment · South Korea · Full-time
Full-Time Native English ESL Teacher
TLBU Global School · South Korea · Full-time
Korea teaching positions- Diverse jobs in All areas- ASAP-September start ! - Looking for enthusiastic teachers- APPLY NOW !
Cube Recruiting · South Korea · Full-time
2.9~3.1 Mil WON, GREAT WORKING HOURS, LUXURY HOUSING, NICE STAFF, WONDERFUL LOCATION 15 MINS FROM GANGNAM SEOUL
Bestkids English School · South Korea · Full-time
FULL TIME AND PART TIME ESL TEACHER REPUTABLE SCHOOLS ALL AROUND KOREA (Seoul, Busan, Gyeonggido, Incheon, Cheoan, Gyeonggsangdo, Jeolado and etc.) ASAP – Mar. 2027 FULL BENEFITS ALL AGES GROUP
ASK-Now Inc. · South Korea · Full-time
August and September Start Positions at Academies based all over Korea!
Embark Recruiting · > · Full-time
A1 Recruiting | Post for 2026 MAY ~ AUGUST Openings Only | Full-Time ESL Teaching Positions In Seoul, Gyeonggi, And Other Major & Minor Cities in Korea | Fast, Experienced, Native English-Speaking Rec
A1 Recruiting · : Eunpyeong-gu, Seoul · Full-time
Direct Hire: DYB (Do Your Best) and CREO JOBS. Teaching positions available in our non-franchised campuses. Contact me today to set up an interview.
DYB Education Group · South Korea · Full-time
APPLY NOW ! Round-trip Flight ticket Pay 2.7~3.3million won High Salary Good Working Conditions Gyeonggi-do position Easy teaching Job
Great English Institute · South Korea · Full-time
🇰🇷 Teach English in South Korea | EPIK & Hagwon Jobs Open for Summer/Fall 2026
Korvia Consulting · South Korea · Full-time
Apply Now for Immediate Starts (May-July) or Fall (August-September) 2026!
Workaway Recruitment · South Korea · Full-time
Visiting Professor in Ulsan
Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology(UNIST) · South Korea · Full-time
2026 Summer English Camp Teachers Wanted
SSU Camp · South Korea · Full-time
HIGH PAYING JOBS ACROSS MAJOR CITIES IN SOUTH KOREA. HONEST, EXPERIENCED RECRUITERS YOU CAN RELY ON,
AMS Korea · South Korea · Full-time
Hot, Brilliant, and Trustworthy Positions! Seoul, Gyeonggi, Incheon, Busan, Cheongju and all other cities! Various Positions! Work with a relialbe agency!
EnglishWork · South Korea · Full-time
Various Entry Level + Experienced positions in Central Seoul Around Seoul Busan/Daegu/Ulsan Coastal/Rural/Mountainous areas
Park English Recruiting · South Korea · Full-time
ASAP / June 1st / August 2026 / March 2027 *. Kindy / Elem OR Elementary
Seoul 2 Teach · South Korea · Full-time
️ ️Direct Hire - Native English Teacher ️ ️
AAC - All About Children · South Korea · Full-time
Great Positions All Over Korea
http://www.eslteachingjobinasia.com · South Korea · Full-time
Christian Teachers Needed in Busan
Segero Unam Christian Academy · South Korea · Full-time
Common questions about teaching in 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.
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.
Is housing really included?
Yes for most contracts. Schools either provide a furnished apartment or pay a housing allowance. Apartments are small by Western standards but serviceable.
What does a hagwon contract look like?
Typically one year, 30 teaching hours per week, paid airfare both ways, severance equal to one month's pay at contract end, and national health insurance.
Other countries in Asia
Teach in Japan
JET, eikaiwa chains, and ALT positions. Pay is steady, vacation is short.
Teach in China
International schools, training centers, and universities. Pay is the highest in Asia.
Teach in Vietnam
Booming demand, low cost of living, and flexible hours.
Teach in Thailand
Lifestyle-first teaching with lower pay and lots of vacation.
Teach in Taiwan
Buxiban (cram school) work plus growing public school programs.