How to Get a Teaching Job in South Korea
Teaching English in the Republic of Korea (also referred to as South Korea) can be both rewarding and eye-opening, but the application process can be complicated. The following tips will help you obtain a teaching job in Korea.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Passport
- Resume
- Passport photo
- Official, sealed college transcript
- Original college diploma
- Criminal-background check
Instructions
-
-
1
Despite what English teachers in other countries might tell you, you don't need an English degree, teaching license or teaching experience to teach English in Korea. Some applicants choose to get certified in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) or Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL), but it is not necessary for Korea. However, you do need to be a native English-speaker and hold at least a bachelor's degree.
-
2
Decide on a type of school. You can teach at a traditional public school or at a hogwan. Public schools are much like schools in the United States. Hours are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and most teachers teach multiple classes a day. Hogwans are private, after-school institutes where children and adults take English lessons. They have afternoon and evening classes, and some have Saturday classes.
-
-
3
Decide where you would like to live. Seoul and Busan are the largest cities in the Republic of Korea. They have lots of museums, markets beautiful parks and English speakers. If you're interested in living off the beaten path, check out rural Gunsan or the island of Jeju. Both are more remote, yet the majority of people still live in major urban centers. These smaller cities have much to offer in cultural experiences, but it might be more challenging to get around because fewer people speak English.
-
4
Get a recruiter. This is standard procedure for the majority of Korean schools hiring foreigners. A recruiter is a person or company that sets you up with a teaching job in Korea and acts as a liaison between you and the school. A recruiter can help narrow your search and offer advice.
-
5
Gather your passport, an updated resume, four passport-style photos, official sealed college transcripts, original college diploma (yes, the one hanging in a frame on your wall) and a criminal-background check. Although it might seem odd, the Korean government requires your original college diploma to complete your visa application. You can obtain a criminal-background check from your local police station. You may incur some costs in collecting these documents, but they are part of the job search. Most schools will not reimburse you for these expenses.
-
6
As you negotiate a contract with a school, keep in mind that most offer several incentives. It is standard for a school to offer you single or shared housing in an apartment as well as reimbursement for airfare to and from Seoul Incheon Airport. They also will handle your visa paperwork. If you are in Korea at the time of your application, they will pay for a trip out of country to complete the visa properly--usually to Osaka, Japan. This is because you cannot be in a host country while applying for a visa.
Expect to sign a one-year contract. Be very clear on your number of work hours per week and your expected salary. Salaries are negotiated by month. As per Korean law, you also will get a bonus of one month's salary after completing one year of your contract.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Ask your recruiter or potential school to put you in contact with another foreign, English-speaking teacher at the school before you sign a contract. The teacher can provide a candid view of what it is like to work there. It is normal for schools or recruiters to ask for a photograph of you. Some schools specifically ask for a "young male teacher" or "young female teacher." Although this might raise legal flags in other countries, it is customary in Korea.
Korea is very safe, but use common sense when traveling. Familiarize yourself with your new city in daylight hours, and learn a few phrases of the Koreanlanguage to help you get around. There are always risks associated with transferring personal information over the Internet or through the mail. Make copies of all documents before mailing originals to Korea for visa paperwork, and send it by overnight or registered mail.
Never pay a recruiter or a school. Recruiters get paid by schools, not potential teachers.
