Teaching English Abroad In South Korea

South Korea was voted to be the world’s most wanted travel destination for three consecutive years due to their entertainment products: K-Pop and K-Drama. The capital city of this well-developed country is Seoul, and the total population for the whole country is 50 million people. It is such an exhilarating country with various places to visit, and there are so many job opportunities here as well, especially for teaching English abroad.

This article elaborates everything that you need to know about teaching English abroad in South Korea, such as:

1. Get Your TEFL or TESOL Certificate

Previous teaching experience may be required as well, depending on the level of the English class. Usually, you only need a bachelor’s degree in education or apply for a TEFL or TESOL certificate if you do not have a major in education. Having a TEFL or TESOL certificate also can escalate your salary, and you can get a better position as an English teacher candidate in South Korea.

2. Use a Recruitment Agency

Teaching a private class is considered illegal in South Korea. However, you have two options for teaching the English language in this country, either you can choose a public school (EPIK) or a private school (Hagwon). You could be an individual teacher in a public school, but the application standards are stringent and rigorous. You need to prepare all documents properly to apply for the position. For private schools, their priorities are unique, and some of them have a terrible reputation for the way they treat their teachers.

Therefore, the recruitment agency will know what works best for you, and they will guide you through the application process to save your time and effort. Their assistance can increase your chances of getting hired by the school. You also can seek help from us to find an English teaching job in South Korea!

You might also check out:

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3. Korean Students Are Very Outgoing

Korean students are often afraid of speaking out at first because most of them are very quiet and timid. However, they will show their outgoing personalities once you create a bond with them, and this relationship can help them understand your lessons easily. Students are usually depressed to succeed in academics because it is part of their culture to work extremely hard in everything. They are often given a lot of homework from the teachers until they cannot rest at home. The level of students in a class may differ significantly, and it can be a little bit challenging to handle them at the beginning, but you will get used to it when you know each student’s potential.

4. The Payment is Immense

South Korea is one of the perfect places to earn money as an English teacher! It costs around 2.00 to 2.70 million Korean Won (KRW), equivalent to approximately $1,750 to $2,500.

Some companies also provide an airfare allowance and a free shelter (a fully furnished single studio apartment). You only have to pay for your utilities such as electricity, internet access, television cable, etc. Upon expiration of the contract, you will get an exit fare allowance and a mandatory installment payment which is required by the school for all employees who complete a 12-month contract in South Korea. The allowance that you will receive is equal to one month’s full salary.

You are required to donate 9% of your salary as a national pension unless you are a South African, and the school you work for will pay 50% of this amount. If you are from United States, Canada, or Australia, you can get the full 9% back after completing your contract. You need to visit the local pension office and prepare proof to confirm that you will be leaving South Korea. Another mandatory deduction from your monthly salary is Medical Insurance. It will subtract about 7% of your paycheck, and the employer is responsible for half of it.

5. You Will Get a Lot of PTOs

You will be given a minimum of ten working days off, exclude Saturday and Sunday. The majority of public schools allow the teachers to have at least eighteen vacation days, and there are fifteen national holidays each year in this country. Based on the South Korean culture, the employees still have to work even when they are sick, except if they have a severe illness until they cannot perform their duties properly. However, public schools supply eleven paid days off for the teachers. Are you interested in teaching English in South Korea? Check out our Facebook page “Teach English Abroad” for daily job listings.