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
29 active listings mentioning South Korea.
Kindergarten & Elementary English Teacher
Hanmaeum English Academy · Seoul, South Korea · Full-time
Teach English Abroad 2026 – Paid Jobs in Japan, Korea, China, Vietnam, Uzbekistan, Indonesia & More | Housing + Visa Support
TEFL UK · Various · Full-time
**ASAP**Elementary English Teacher | Daechi| E-2 Sponsorship | Max 6 Students
Milestone Institute · South Korea · Full-time
Kindergarten English Teacher / 12pm - 6pm / Jamsil, Seoul / ￦3.2M
Creverse · Jamsil, Seoul · Full-time
English Part-time positions in Yongsan, Seoul
Yongsan Global Language Center · South Korea · Part-time
ESL Teaching Positions | Seoul & Nationwide | Start ASAP /August/September/October
Korea Global Connections · South Korea · Full-time
3.6mil for 3weeks Summer English Camp at international school
Eicoedu · South Korea · Full-time
2026 Summer English Camp Teachers Wanted
SSU Camp · South Korea · Full-time
ESL Discussion & Critical Thinking Instructors (Massive Nationwide Network)
Creverse · South Korea · Full-time
Teaching English in Korea! Full - time Role at Francis Parker Guri - Beautiful Nature, Modern Housing, Easy Seoul Access
Francis Parker Guri Branch · Various · Full-time
English Kindergarten Teachers /Seoul(Gangnam or Songpa, Seoul)/Housing/2.6M~3.2M/11days PTO/M-F/09:00~18:00
K Recruiter · South Korea · Full-time
Private Elementary School in Seoul-Full Time English Teacher Directly Hired
Seoul Sahmyook Elementary School · South Korea · Full-time
Native English Instructor Needed for University in Gyeonggi-do
DAELIM UNIVERSITY · South Korea · Full-time
Non-tenure Track Teaching Professor – English Language Teaching, DGIST
DGIST · South Korea · Full-time
English Instructor Needed in ILSAN, South Korea
Wisepen Language Institute · Various · Full-time
[WINI PLAY] Easy & Fun Play-Based English Center Hiring Native Teachers (Jamsil)
WINI PLAY · South Korea · Full-time
Full time ESL teaching positions in South Korea! Seoul, Gyeonggi and other locations available.
Motive Recruiting · South Korea · Full-time
Join Our Team as a Native English Teacher
PRIME Edu · South Korea · Full-time
Looking for an awesome full-time English teacher!
LN'L English · South Korea · Full-time
Native English Teacher Wanted in Busan
Dadae EiE Language Institute · South Korea · Full-time
Seoul, Gangnam & Nationwide ESL Jobs | Up to 2.9M KRW | ASAP,July,Aug,Sept,Oct
Korea Global Connections · 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
2026 Summer English Camp Teachers & Native English Teachers at UCA
UCA Academy · Seongbuk-gu, Seoul (near Hansung University & Sungshin Women's University Stations, Line 4) · Full-time
Direct Hire Full Time English Hagwon Teacher
MB English · Yangcheon-gu, Seoul (near Mokdong) · Full-time
BCM Educational Group is looking for a Business English Teacher
BCM Educational Group · South Korea · Full-time
Direct Hire (Seoul) | Full-Time Kindergarten English Teacher (Direct Hire) – Join Our Fun, Story-Based Learning Academy!
Badanamu · Seoul, South Korea (Gangdong-gu | · Full-time
Substitute Native English Instructor (Maternity Leave Cover) for Daeil Foreign Language High School in Seoul
Daeil Foreign Language High School · South Korea · Full-time
Direct Hire (Seoul) | Full-Time Kindergarten English Teacher (Direct Hire) – Join Our Fun, Story-Based Learning Academy!
Badanamu Academy · Seoul, South Korea (Gangdong-gu | · Full-time
Come Work With Us, Not For Us – ESL Position at Ron English (Incheon) | August Start | ₩2.6M+ | Direct Hire
Ron English · Various · 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.
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.
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Visa guides for South Korea
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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.