It may be known as the Land of Morning Calm, but teaching English in South Korea can be a wild ride. A mix of modern cities, ancient temples and K-pop culture all rolled into one (not to mention some of the best food in the world), South Korea is a TEFL teacher's dream.

While English speakers aren't uncommon here, global commerce and tourism continue to drive huge demand for TEFL teachers (over 18 million tourists visited Korea in 2025 alone). If you're looking for your first - or next - teaching job abroad, South Korea is one of the best places to do it. Read on for The TEFL Org's guide to teaching English in South Korea, from the requirements and visas to salaries - and more.

Key Takeaways

• You'll need a bachelor's degree and at least 120 hours of TEFL training to teach English in South Korea.
• You need an E-2 Teaching Visa to legally teach English in South Korea.
• English teachers in South Korea often get benefits like paid accommodation and flights.
• The EPIK programme is South Korea's most popular teaching programme
• Public and private schools (AKA hagwons) offer different conditions and pay for teachers.
• The average monthly salary for English teachers ranges from ₩2.1 million–₩3.2 million ($1,390–$2,130 / £1,045–£1,600), or between ₩3.5 million–₩5 million+ ($3,065–$4,380 / £2,315–£3,310) for international school roles.

Requirements for Teaching English in South Korea

With a high standard of education, there are a number of requirements to meet for teaching in Korean schools.

Do I need a TEFL certificate to teach English in Korea?

TEFL certification isn't a legal requirement to teach in Korea, but it's highly recommended. Teaching in Korea is a competitive market, and most teachers have a 120-hour TEFL certificate at minimum.

With a 120-hour TEFL course, you'll learn about the fundamentals of teaching English as a foreign language, from lesson planning, classroom management, teaching grammar, and much more.

Can I teach English in Korea without a degree?

You can't teach in South Korea without a degree. You'll need the E-2 Teaching Visa to work as an English teacher in South Korea, and a bachelor's degree is listed as an essential requirement. But you can still teach English abroad without a degree in other Asian countries.

Do I need teaching experience to teach English in Korea?

You can teach English without experience in Korea. While the teaching market is competitive, the demand for English is high enough that entry-level jobs are common in Korea. However, you'll need a TEFL certificate to make up for your lack of teaching experience.

Visa Requirements for Teaching English in Korea

Most foreigners who teach in public or private schools enter Korea on a school-sponsored E-2 Visa, allowing them to teach for one year (or longer if extended). To qualify for the E-2 Visa, you'll need to meet the following requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in any field
• Clear criminal record and background check
• Native English speaker; or passport from the US, UK, Canada, Ireland, Australia, South Africa or New Zealand. There are exceptions to this rule if you hold a teaching licence in English.
• Clean drug test and a completed E2 health statement

Your school will advise you and provide necessary documents for the application. You'll need to submit your paperwork to your nearest South Korean embassy. Once you find a teaching job in Korea, you'll have to provide the following to get your visa finalised:

• Degree certificates and academic transcripts
• A copy of your job contract
• A valid passport and passport photos
• A copy of your (clean) background check

Check out our guide to visa requirements to learn more.

Important: Immigration rules can change; be sure to check the official Korean embassy or government website in your region for updated visa rules. The information above is not intended as legal advice.

Salary and Cost of Living

Will you save money teaching English in South Korea? It depends. Factors like your teaching job, location, and lifestyle will determine how much you can save while living in Korea.

How much can you earn teaching English in South Korea?

You'll likely receive benefits such as accommodation, reimbursed airfare, and completion bonuses when you teach English in South Korea. To find out more, check out our Teaching English in South Korea salary guide.

How much does it cost to live in South Korea?

The average monthly expenditure in South Korea ranges from ₩1.2 million–₩1.5 million ($790–$1,305 / £595–£980) excluding rent. Here's a quick breakdown of everyday costs in Korea.

English Teaching Jobs in South Korea

English teaching jobs in South Korea exist in both public and private sectors. Each caters to different teachers depending on qualifications, teaching style, and career goals.

Public schools

Teachers at Korean public schools work a regular 8am–4pm schedule, with around 20–25 teaching hours per week and the rest for planning lessons or marking work. At a public school, you'll often work alongside a Korean co-teacher. Most teachers find public school teaching jobs through the EPIK teaching programme.

What to expect in a public school in South Korea:

• Working a typical schedule of 8am–4pm, Monday to Friday
• Teaching general English to larger classrooms
• Working alongside a local Korean co-teacher
• A monthly salary of around ₩2.1 million–₩2.8 million ($1,400–$1,855 / £1,050–£1,395)
• Benefits like health insurance and 18 days of paid vacation

Private schools / Hagwons

Private language schools — or hagwons — offer entry-level roles for teachers and hire year-round, making it the most common job for English teachers in Korea. Students go to hagwons after school for supplementary education, and teachers typically work from around 2pm–10pm.

Teachers report different experiences at hagwons, and while most teachers have a pleasant experience, the online TEFL community maintains a list of blacklisted hagwons to help other teachers. Because they are private and result-driven, it's more fast-paced than at public schools.

What to expect in a private school / hagwon:

• Teaching schedule from around 1pm–10pm
• Prepared lesson materials for English teachers
• Faster pace and more results driven than public schools
• A monthly salary of around ₩2.3 million–₩3 million ($1,525–$1,990 / £1,145–£1,495)

International schools

Teachers with advanced degrees, teaching certificates, and prior teaching experience can find work at international schools in Korea. International schools offer the highest salary and benefits, but the requirements and expectations are also incredibly high.

Teachers deliver lessons from an international curriculum to multilingual students from all over the world. Class sizes are smaller, and English language levels are typically higher as wealthier Korean and expatriate families send their children to learn at the best schools.

What to expect in an international school:

• Teaching smaller classrooms; students of different nationalities
• Better classroom facilities and materials
• Higher requirements, such as a master's degree, teaching licence and/or prior teaching experience
• Monthly salary upwards of ₩3.5 million–₩5 million+ ($3,065–$4,380 / £2,315–£3,310)

TEFL Recruiters in South Korea

Not sure where to start? Consider a teaching recruiter to help you find teaching jobs in Korea.

• OK Recruiting is a government-certified agency placing native English teachers in hagwons, public schools, and private academies across Korea since 2006. The service is free for teachers, with full E-2 visa support.
• Korvia Consulting have over 20 years of experience in securing teaching placements for English teachers in Korea.
• Aclipse has 10,000+ teachers across Korea, with connections to schools in over 200 placements.
• Flying Cows is a UK-based recruiter that helps teachers find work in Korea and other Asian countries.
• Gone2Korea supports graduates primarily from the US, Canada, UK, and Australia to find jobs in Korea.
• Travel & Teach Recruiting Inc specialise in connecting teachers with jobs across Asia, including Korea.
• GEPIK focuses on placing teachers in the Gyeonggi province surrounding Seoul; the programme is sponsored by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education.
• Appletree Edu connects foreign teachers with employers across Korea and China.

Teaching Programmes in South Korea

South Korea's teaching programmes offer a way for TEFL teachers to get in-country support and help finding their feet from day one. Here's what to know about the most popular programme for TEFL teachers in South Korea - the EPIK programme.

What is the EPIK programme?

EPIK — or English Programme in Korea — is a teaching programme sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Education. To encourage language learning and cultural exchange, this teaching in South Korea programme offers 1-year placements for teachers at public schools in South Korea.

Teachers can expect a salary ranging from ₩2.3 million–₩3 million ($1,525–$1,990 / £1,145–£1,495) depending on your qualifications and experience. Additionally, EPIK teachers receive benefits such as:

• A one-time settlement allowance of ₩300,000 ($200 / £150)
• Accommodation provided
• Reimbursed airfare
• Contract completion bonus
• Medical insurance

Eligibility Requirements for the EPIK Programme

To be eligible for the EPIK programme, you'll need to meet the following requirements:

• Be a citizen of one of the following countries: Australia, Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, United Kingdom, United States, or South Africa, or have studied in these countries from high school level
• Hold a bachelor's degree from an accredited university
• Be mentally and physically healthy
• Show willingness and an interest in adapting to Korean culture

Read more: How to Find Teaching Jobs Abroad Without Experience

Teaching English in Major Cities

South Korea is home to many amazing cities, from Seoul, Busan, Jeju, Gyeongju, and more. Here are some of the most popular cities for teaching English in Korea.

Seoul

Seoul is one of the most popular cities in the world, not just Korea; it oozes style, modern infrastructure, convenience, and royal history. In a single day, you can trek to Baegundae Peak, visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, and watch Itaewon come alive at night.

There's a bustling TEFL market for English teachers in Seoul, with many EPIK placements and even more hagwons throughout the city. It's estimated that there are over 24,000 hagwons in Seoul alone, and with a 'hyper-competitive' education environment, there's no shortage of opportunities for teachers. Wages in Seoul tend to be higher than the rest of the country, and while the cost of living is too, most teachers have housing covered in their teaching contract.

With the KTX high-speed rail and the Seoul Subway, the metropolis has one of the best modern transport systems in the world. Even if you're in the heart of the city, you're only a short commute from national parks and a day-trip away from the DMZ and Suwon Hwaseong Fortress.

To learn more, check out our guide on How to Teach English in Seoul.

Busan

If you want to breathe the coastal air and teach in a city that feels more laid back than the capital, Busan is an excellent option. The second most populous city in South Korea, Busan lies on the southeast coast, but is still only 2–3 hours away from Seoul by train. In Busan, you're always near a waterfront or a sandy beach, hikeable mountains, and street food markets.

TEFL jobs exist all over the city, from public schools, hagwons, and international schools, and while salaries are lower, teachers generally spend less living in Busan. While teachers often receive free housing, some opt for a housing allowance instead, and Busan's average rent is around 30–40% lower than in Seoul.

Beyond teaching, Busan offers a range of cultural and leisurely activities for teachers and travellers. The colourful Gamcheon Culture Village attracts people from all over the world, and on a sunny day you can venture to Haeundae and Gwangalli beaches.

TEFL Org Teacher Stories

Still not sure if teaching in South Korea is right for you? Have a look at how Sarah and her husband — two of our TEFL Org graduates — used their TEFL certification to embrace a life-changing experience.

Sarah, Gwangju

"We have such an amazing job and I love our school and all the little munchkins we're lucky enough to teach.

In my previous job as an administration manager for a health care company, I was under a massive amount of stress that was really affecting my mood. I was working long hours with barely any time or energy left over to spend time with my husband.

My schedule couldn't be more different now, especially as we are the only native teachers at our school so we spend pretty much all of our time together!

My working day starts at 8am when we arrive at school after walking through our neighbourhood. I enjoy a coffee in my classroom and get ready for the day. First up is my 'morning class'; a group of 10 third and fourth graders of mixed ability. I teach these guys four mornings a week for 50 minutes, and it's an elective based on teaching English through science.

We do a lot of experiments and games as well as teach vocabulary and quizzes to check their understanding of the material. The textbook we're using for this semester comes with a teacher's guide so the lessons are really easy to plan, but I can also add in any extra activities or materials that I think would be of benefit to the kids."

Learn from other TEFL Org graduates' experiences in our Student Stories blog.

Ready to Teach English Abroad? Get TEFL Certified!

Before you book your flights to Seoul, don't forget to get your TEFL certificate - a TEFL qualification will pay dividends to your application process and teaching abroad experience. Not only will it teach you the complexities of classroom management, teaching techniques, and language acquisition, it'll help you feel more confident in the classroom. Get started with our 120-hour TEFL course now.