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.
Open positions in South Korea
30 active listings mentioning South Korea.
Great Positions All Over Korea
eslteachingjobinasia.com · Various · Full-time
Great Positions All Over Korea:
eslteachingjobinasia.com · Various · Full-time
Kindergarten & Elementary English Teacher
Hanmaeum English Academy · Seoul, South Korea · Full-time
Hagwons in & around Seoul, Private elementary school, Alternative International schools and various positions all over Korea!
SeoulESL - ESL Consulting · Yeoksam, Gangnam-gu, Seoul · Contract
We are looking for a dedicated and passionate native English teacher to work with us in Korea in 2026
VOU Agency · South Korea · Full-time
Teaching Jobs Korea || Ft Placement Options Nationwide Korea || 2026 Listings || Apply Today
Teaching JOBS Korea · South Korea · Full-time
ESL Teacher - Seoul and Busan
YBM PINE Division · South Korea · Contract
Direct Hire Full Time English Teacher
Mokdong English School · South Korea · Contract
High Paying Jobs Across Major Cities In South Korea. Honest, Experienced Recruiters You Can Rely On,
AMS Korea · South Korea · Contract
[NOW HIRING] Teach in Korea | Aug–Oct 2026 Openings | ASK-ETO
ASK-Now Inc. · South Korea · Contract
CREVERSE ESL Teachers | Seoul & Gyeonggi | August 31 Start | 2.5M+ and Housing
Creverse · South Korea · Full-time
English Teacher Positions in Various Locations in Korea! Competitive Salary! Prime Locations! Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Ulsan, All over Korea!
Julie's Esl Cafe · Various · Full-time
ESL Teaching Positions in South Korea! ASAP Starting Dates | Seoul, Gyeonggi-do and other locations available.
Motive Recruiting · South Korea · Full-time
Top Private Elementary School in Seoul
Young Hoon Elementary School · Seoul, Miasageori (line 4) · Contract
English Teacher position(Close to Seoul) We support E2 visa Cheolsan station, line7
WILLGROW CHOELSAN ENGLISH ACADEMY · Various · Full-time
Full-time Researcher (English Test Editor) in Seoul
Language Education Institute, Seoul National University · South Korea · Full-time
Native English Teacher Position – Wirye, Seongnam (Near Songpa, Seoul), South Korea
English Academy in Wirye · South Korea · Full-time
4 weeks paid vacation, 25hrs teaching/week, 2.8M won salary working at an international school in Gangnam, Seoul
PlanetESL Recruiting · South Korea · Contract
4 weeks paid vacation, 25hrs teaching/week, 2.8M won salary working at an international school in Gangnam, Seoul
PlanetESL Recrtuiting · South Korea · Contract
️ ️ ️ Diverse Teaching Positions In Seoul( Seodaemun, Mapo, Songpa) & Near Seoul,Gyeonggido,Busan, All Over Korea. Kinder~Adult ( F/T & P/T, On & Off) ️ ️ ️
ACE Career Consulting · Various · Full-time
Teaching English in Korea! Full - time Role at Francis Parker Guri - Beautiful Nature, Modern Housing, Easy Seoul Access
Francis Parker Guri · Various · Full-time
Native English Teacher Position at Pyeongtaek English Education Center
Pyeongtaek English Education Center · South Korea · Full-time
Native English Teachers & Bilingual Gyopo Teachers Wanted (Full-time & Part-time)
UCA Academy · South Korea · Full-time
[Direct Hire] Part-Time Native English ESL Teacher In Sejong
EiE · South Korea · Part-time
Part-Time English Teacher Wanted - Jongno (Seoul)
Wisnton English Academy · South Korea · Part-time
English Instructor Position in Ulsan
University of Ulsan · South Korea · Full-time
Escape the Ordinary: Join Twinkle English Academy and Experience Teaching Like Never Before!
Twinkle English · South Korea · Full-time
Native English Teacher for Kindergarten/Elementary Hagwon in Gwangju
Brighton Kindergarten (Gwangsan Branch) · South Korea · Full-time
ESL English Teaching Employment Vacancy in South Korea.
Myungkim Recruiters · South Korea · Contract
[ESL Instructor / English Teacher Job Opening]
Disney's World of English · South Korea · Full-time
Get new South Korea jobs by email
Fresh Asia roles sent weekly, filtered to your region. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
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.
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.
Tools for teachers
What you'll need to teach in South Korea
Curated partner tools that handle the practical side of moving here. Affiliate links fund the site at no cost to you.
ITTT
Get TEFL certified online in 2 to 12 weeks
- Recognized by thousands of schools
- Finish in 2 to 12 weeks, your pace
- Job placement help after you pass
Get certified→
SafetyWing
Health insurance built for teachers abroad
- Covers your home country visits
- Cancel any week, no contract
- From $45/month, built for nomads
Get covered→
Visa guides for South Korea
Read next on teaching in South Korea
How Much Do English Teachers Make in South Korea? (2026 Breakdown)
Real take-home pay for ESL teachers in Korea across hagwons, public schools, universities, and international schools. Includes monthly savings, what 'with housing' actually means, and how to negotiate.
EPIK Program 2026: Application Timeline, Eligibility, and How to Get In
A teacher's guide to applying for EPIK in 2026. Eligibility, timeline, the interview, what to expect after acceptance, and what to do if you don't get in.
Korea vs Japan for ESL Teachers: Pay, Hiring, and Quality of Life Compared
A direct comparison of teaching English in Korea and Japan in 2026. Pay, hiring speed, cost of living, visa requirements, and which one fits which kind of teacher.
The 10 Best Countries to Teach English Abroad in 2026
Discover the best countries to teach English abroad in 2026. Compare salaries, visa requirements, cost of living, and lifestyle for the top 10 destinations including South Korea, Japan, Vietnam, and more.
How Much Do ESL Teachers Make? (2026 Salary Guide)
A comprehensive guide to ESL teacher salaries in 2026. Compare earnings by country, teaching environment, and experience level. Learn what factors affect your pay and how to increase your rate.
Teach English Abroad Checklist: 30 Things to Decide Before You Apply
A practical pre-application checklist for first-time ESL teachers: countries, visa fit, savings, TEFL certificates, housing, contracts, documents, and red flags.
Teach English in specific cities in South Korea
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.
Teach in Cambodia
The easiest legal entry point in Asia. No degree required by law.