Teach English in South Korea

There are two types of English teaching jobs available in South Korea: public and private school teaching positions. Each type of job offers certain advantages and, both are suitable for first-time teachers. Here’s a breakdown of the differences between public and private school teaching jobs to help you decide which is a better fit for you: Our Teach in Korea programs can help you apply for either type! 

Private Schools – These after-school academies, also known as Hagwons, offer you more control over placement location, and the possibility of being placed alongside a friend, a partner, or other expat instructors. CIEE can get you ready and conduct a job search for you. 

Public Schools – CIEE is an official partner of the Korean government’s EPIK program offering placements in public schools nationwide. These positions have longer vacations, a lighter workload, and Korean co-teachers in most classrooms. Applications are competitive, but CIEE guides applicants through the process and provides expert advice to help them maximize their chances of successful placement. 

CIEE will help you secure a job with either public or private schools.  If you’re not sure which type of school you want to apply to, CIEE’s Teach Abroad advisors can discuss the pros and cons of each with you.

Read More: Detailed Comparison of Public School and Private School Teaching Jobs in South Korea 

English teaching positions are available throughout South Korea. Private school jobs tend to cluster in cities and suburban areas while public school jobs are located throughout the country, including in rural locations.  

If you want to teach English in an urban setting, including in the greater Seoul area, you should consider applying for private school positions. English teaching jobs in the center of Seoul are extremely competitive for both public and private school positions and it is more likely that you will find a job in one of the suburbs around Seoul. 

Keep an open mind about location as this allows for a wider job search and foreign English teachers in South Korea have positive experiences in all types of locations. 

Yes! South Korea has one of the highest starting salaries for entry-level English teachers, when you consider that rent-free housing is already provided.  Private schools pay 2.3-3.0 million Korean won per month while public schools pay 2.1-2.4 million Korean won per month.  Teachers also receive a contract completion bonus of one month’s salary at the end of the program 

If you’re living like a local, other costs of living are significantly lower than in the US. This means that you can take care of meals, groceries, utilities, internet, cell phone, and local transportation, and still have plenty of money left over each month. You can use it to plan amazing trips, make student loan payments, or just save it up and bring it back with you! 

We get this question a lot: Can couples teach in South Korea together? Can friends teach in South Korea together? With private school jobs, it’s pretty easy to do, since many of them are hiring two or more teachers simultaneously. Both people should apply to CIEE’s program at the same time, and communicate their request clearly in conversations about placement preferences. It's important to note that arranging joint placement may require flexibility in terms of preferences for location or age group.

On the other hand, EPIK will only consider requests for joint placement from married couples.

As long as you meet the eligibility requirements, CIEE has a high acceptance rate. We want to help as many people teach abroad as possible! 

Public school positions are competitive, but CIEE’s guidance through the application process will help you be successful. For private schools, it’s easier to get a job, and we have a strong track record of successful placement outcomes.  

There are video interviews for both school types, and these are very important. Candidates should be energetic and professional, and demonstrate enthusiasm for teaching, not just travelling. We share additional tips with our candidates when they get to this phase of the process! 

Wherever you are placed, expect to have the role of a full-time, lead English teacher. Working hours will vary slightly from school to school, but a typical assignment for public schools is 20-25 classroom hours per week, with the rest of your schedule available for planning. The typical workload in a private school is 30-34 classroom hours per week, plus other duties like greeting students, lunch supervision, staff meetings, and special events. 

In the beginning, as you are still getting comfortable with the curriculum and the students’ levels, you will spend more hours planning lessons outside of working hours. You’ll get faster as you go! 

At a public school you will often have a Korean co-teacher to help with classroom management, as those classes are usually around 30 students. Private schools have smaller classes, usually around 5-12 students, but no co-teacher. 

In addition to the monthly salary, all public and private schools will arrange safe, comfortable housing for teachers, rent-free! Housing provided by schools is usually a studio or a one-bedroom apartment with a simple kitchen and basic furnishings. 

No, you don’t need to speak Korean to teach English in South Korea.  In fact, you’ll be expected to only speak English with your students to help them learn the language and to create an English immersion environment.  

Although learning Korean is not required, you will want to learn at least some basic Korean phrases to help you navigate daily life.  Koreans love to practice their English and you will find people are eager to help if you encounter difficulty communicating. 

Yes, South Korea is generally considered a safe country for foreign English teachers.  

South Korea periodically finds itself in the headlines because of posturing by its northern neighbor, but in reality it has enjoyed peace and stability for over 65 years since fighting ended in the Korean war.  

At CIEE, we use our international connections and resources to monitor safety and security in all of our destinations, relying on public and non-public information sources. At this time, we are confident that South Korea is a safe country in which to live and teach, and will remain so for the foreseeable future.  

No place is completely risk-free, whether at home or abroad, and it’s important to follow common sense practices, such as not walking alone after dark, keeping your passport in a safe place, and being careful around roadways and motor vehicles. 

For more information about safety in South Korea, please consult the State Department’s country page, and consider enrolling in the STEP program, which can be helpful for concerned family members as well! 

Read More: CIEE’s Approach to Health, Safety, and Security