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. Most recent posted October 15, 2026.
English Teacher Position Available
EVERENGLISH CENTER · South Korea · Contract
[Now Hiring] Teach English In Korea | Seoul, Busan & Nationwide | 2.6m+ Krw | Oct 2026–Mar 2027
ASK-Now Inc. · South Korea · Full-time
Great Positions All Over Korea
http://www.eslteachingjobinasia.com. · Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea · Full-time
Instructor Position in Seoul
Language Scholars Inc. · South Korea · Full-time
Great Positions All Over Korea
eslteachingjobinasia.com · Seongdong-gu, Seoul, South Korea · Full-time
English Teaching Jobs Across Korea | October 2026–March 2027 Starts | Apply Now
ASK-Now Inc. · South Korea · Full-time
March position! Busan Gwanganli Beach kindy job!
NamcheonWonderland · Busan (Gwanganli Beach) · Contract
Teaching Position Near Beautiful Dadaepo Beach in Busan
Huston Academy · Dadaepo, Saha-gu, Busan, South Korea · Full-time
[DIRECT HIRE] Now Hiring in Pohang! | K-12 English Teacher | F-Visa & E-2 Transfers Welcome
eSOL Education · South Korea · Full-time
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
2026 Global Vision Christian School Recruits New Teachers
Global Vision Christian School · South Korea · Full-time
*(ASAP) Native English Teacher needed at DYB
DYB Choisun · South Korea · Full-time
2027 Global Vision Christian School Recruits New Teachers
Global Vision Christian School · South Korea · Full-time
Wanted : Teachers for the 2027 Spring Semester
Haven Christian School · South Korea · Full-time
[Direct Hire] Dongtan | Dec 2026 | 2.7M KRW+ (Incl. 400K Housing Allowance) | Elem–Middle | 1–8 PM
키움어학원 · Dongtan 2, Hwaseong-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea · Contract
Direct Hire Full Time English Teacher
Mokdong English School · South Korea · Contract
English Teachers wanted in BUNDANG!
AKADEMIA · South Korea · Full-time
Teaching Jobs Korea || Ft Placement Options Nationwide Korea || 2026 & 2027 Listings || Apply Today
Teaching JOBS Korea · Seoul / Gyeonggi · Full-time
4 weeks paid vacation, 25hrs teaching/week, 2.8M won salary working at an international school in Gangnam, Seoul
PlanetESL Recruiting · Gangnam, Seoul · Contract
Teach in S. Korea! Work w/an expat owned/run recruitment company! No B.S./No Drama! w/150+ jobs all over Korea!
teachenglishinkorea.org · South Korea · Part-time
Native English Instructor - Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
Pyeongtaek English Education Center · South Korea · Contract
ASAP to 2027 Starts | Multiple Locations, Competitive Salaries & Financial Stability
Korea Global Connections · South Korea · Full-time
Escape the Ordinary: Join Twinkle English Academy and Experience Teaching Like Never Before!
Twinkle English · South Korea · Contract
English Teacher - Suwon - February/ March start
gatp · South Korea · Full-time
LANPUS Kindergarten Songpa&Hanam Campus. 2.6-3.0KRW. Direct Hire.
DYB Recruitment · South Korea · Contract
[Direct Hire] Hiring Teachers and R&D Memeber
SPARK Education · South Korea · Full-time
New ESL Teaching Jobs – Seoul & Nationwide ,ASAP to Next Year
Korea Global Connections · Seoul (Daechi-dong ) · Full-time
Job Openings at Korea Defense Language Institute(KDLI)
Korea Defense Language Institute(KDLI) · South Korea · Part-time
Native English Instructor ASAP
Swaton Proud7 · South Korea · Full-time
2026 Winter English Camp Teachers Wanted
SSU English Camp · South Korea · Full-time
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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.
Moving to South Korea? Visa and cost guide →
Check the visa rules at the source
Visa requirements and fees change, and the right category depends on your passport and your employer. Confirm the current rules on the official sites before you pay for documents or book anything.
Links last checked 11 October 2026.
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 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.
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 and around 30 teaching hours per week. Airfare, severance and health insurance terms vary by employer, so get them in writing before you sign.
Tools for teachers
What you'll need to teach in South Korea
Things teachers usually sort out before moving here. Affiliate links: we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
ITTT
Most schools abroad ask for a TEFL certificate. Get yours online.
Offer: 10% off with code ETUNU2026K
- Self-paced, 120 to 550 hour courses
- Lifetime job guidance for graduates
See ITTT courses →
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
SafetyWing
Health cover for the gap before your school insurance starts
- Medical cover while you live abroad
- From about $63 per 4 weeks (ages 18-39)
Get a SafetyWing quote →
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Wise
Paid in one currency, need money in another? Skip the bank markup
- Real exchange rate, fee shown up front
- Hold and convert 40+ currencies
See Wise fees and rates →
Affiliate link: we may earn a commission at no cost to you.
Get ready to teach in South Korea
Courses for ESL teachers
Ready-to-teach lesson courses with exercises and teacher notes.
Ready-to-teach lesson packs
Prepared lessons for your first weeks in the classroom.
South Korea vs Japan
First-time teacher choosing between the two most structured ESL markets in the world.
South Korea vs China
New teacher debating starting in Korea vs. getting qualified first for higher pay in China.
South Korea vs Vietnam
Teacher weighing structured contract income against lifestyle and flexibility.
South Korea vs United Arab Emirates
Teacher comparing entry into ESL (Korea) against the high-credential, high-pay Gulf market.
Browse all ESL jobs
Every current opening, worldwide.
Visa guides for South Korea
Your CV for South Korea
South Korea expects a different CV from the one a US resume builder produces. The layout, the photo, the paper size and which documents get attested are all country-specific, and getting them wrong is a common reason applications are set aside.
See the South Korea CV rulesRead 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 Application Guide: Eligibility, Steps, Visa (2026)
How to apply to EPIK, Korea's public school program, from EPIK's own pages: who is eligible, the three ways to apply, interview, documents, E-2 visa and orientation.
EPIK Pay Scale and Allowances: Levels 1+ to 3 Explained
EPIK's pay scale for the Fall 2026 intake: how you qualify for each level, the range of monthly pay across offices, and the allowances, bonuses and insurance in the contract.
EPIK Documents: Apostille, Transcripts and Letters
What EPIK asks for after you pass the interview, with its own rules on the apostilled degree and police check, sealed transcripts, recommendation letters and TEFL proof.
EPIK Application Dates: Spring and Fall Intakes
EPIK opens Spring applications on 1 August and Fall on 1 February. The month-by-month calendar for each term, late intakes, and where you are if you apply now.
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.
Teach English in specific cities in South Korea
Sister site · Weightless
Prefer to work remotely from South Korea? Browse remote jobs you can do from anywhere on our sister site Weightless.
Find remote jobs →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.