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What It's Like to Be a Teacher in South Korea

In South Korea, you’ll be teaching English in a society where academics are highly valued. Positions are available with KG and elementary students, so if you’re excited to be a language and cultural ambassador for South Korea’s youngest learners, you’re on the right track!

Most Korean students attend public school during the day, then private academies called hagwons in the afternoon or evening, to help them meet high expectations for educational achievement. Each type of teaching job has its pros and cons. Keep in mind, you can only apply for one school type at a time. Still not sure which school is right for you?

If you choose to apply for private schools (hagwons), you have much more influence over location, and you will likely have other expat teachers at your school. It’s the best approach for friends and couples seeking placement together, too. Our program will guide you with documents and the visa and arrange video interviews with reputable employers.

If you choose to apply for public school jobs, CIEE’s program will provide guidance on how to make a strong application with EPIK, the Korean public school program for foreign teachers. EPIK is competitive, and offers little to no control over location, but has longer vacations and Korean co-teachers.

Compensation & Benefits

Regardless of the type of school, teaching in Korea offers an outstanding package when it comes to salary and benefits. You can live comfortably and still save money each month, and use it for travel, student loans, or whatever you want!

Private Schools pay 2.3 to 3.0 million won/month, plus rent-free housing. The highest salaries typically correspond to a heavier workload.

EPIK Public Schools pay 2.1 to 2.4 million won/month, plus rent-free housing. Salary depends on credentials and province assignment.

You’ll have a small deduction each month for Korean taxes, but you’ll be enrolled in Korea’s National Health Insurance which delivers excellent care at very low prices. There’s also a contract completion bonus equal to one month’s salary at the end of your program.

All teachers receive rent-free housing from their employer, in the form of a small studio apartment with necessary furnishings.

Schools & Locations

Private schools are concentrated in cities and urban areas, where there are lots of customers! It’s rare for a first-time teacher to get a job in central Seoul, but there are lots of opportunities nearby in Incheon, Gyeonggido, and Suwon, as well as other cities and urban districts throughout Korea. We’ll do our best to follow your preferences when arranging interviews!

The EPIK Public School program places teachers nationwide, based on each area’s needs. You’ll be able to list a single province or city as a preferred location, but there’s no guarantee, and the major cities are highly competitive. EPIK candidates must be flexible about location since province assignments are only announced about 5 weeks before departure.

Workload

Participants at private schools are solo lead teachers with full responsibility for their classes. Class sizes are small (5-12 students), but the overall workload is fairly heavy: typically 30-33 classroom teaching hours* each week. 9-10 paid school vacation days (fixed schedule), plus 10-15 .

Participants at public schools have Korean co-teachers with them most of the time, but should be ready to take the lead on lesson planning. Expect 20-30 students per class, and 20-25 teaching hours* per week. 24-26 paid school vacation days (fixed schedule), plus 10-15 .

*Outside of teaching hours, other obligations including meetings, free periods, assemblies, and lunch supervision.