How to Start Teaching English in Seoul: The Ultimate Guide

South Korea is one of the most popular destinations for English teachers, and Seoul is the crown jewel. High salaries, free housing, and a vibrant culture make it an excellent choice. Here's your complete guide to teaching in Seoul.

Why Seoul?

• Excellent compensation: Good salary PLUS free housing and flights
• Modern city: World-class technology, food, and entertainment
• K-culture hub: K-pop, K-drama, Korean cuisine at your doorstep
• Easy to save money: Free housing means most of your salary goes to savings
• Strong teaching infrastructure: Established systems for foreign teachers

Types of Teaching Jobs

EPIK (Public Schools)

The English Program in Korea places teachers in public schools nationwide. Pay: 2.0-2.7 million won/month plus free housing, flights, and severance. Apply through the official EPIK website.

Hagwons (Private Academies)

Private after-school academies for students of all ages. Pay: 2.1-2.5 million won/month plus housing. More varied schedules (afternoon/evening).

International Schools

Schools like Seoul Foreign School and Korea International School. Pay: 3-5 million won/month. Requires teaching license.

University Positions

Teaching at Korean universities. Pay: 2.5-3.5 million won/month with light hours and long vacations. Usually requires master's degree.

Job Websites

• Dave's ESL Cafe Korea: The classic ESL job board with extensive Korea listings
• Worknplay.co.kr: Popular Korea-specific job board
• KoreaJobFinder: Dedicated to teaching positions
• EPIK: Official government program website
• Craigslist Seoul: Sometimes has teaching positions

Recruiter vs. Direct Hire

Many teachers use recruiters to find hagwon jobs. Recruiters are free for teachers (schools pay them). Good recruiters help with paperwork and can warn you about problematic schools. Popular recruiters: Korvia, Reach to Teach, Aclipse.

Visa Requirements (E-2 Visa)

• Bachelor's degree (any field) from an accredited university
• Citizenship from an English-speaking country (US, UK, Canada, Australia, NZ, Ireland, South Africa)
• Clean criminal background check (FBI apostille for US citizens)
• Health check (done in Korea)
• TEFL not required but helpful for getting better positions

Salary and Benefits

Typical Package

• Salary: 2.0-2.7 million won/month
• Housing: Free furnished apartment OR housing allowance (300,000-500,000 won)
• Flights: Round-trip airfare paid
• Severance: One month's salary at end of contract
• Pension: Contributions matched by employer

Cost of Living

• Rent: Free (provided) or 400,000-800,000 won if finding your own
• Food: 300,000-500,000 won/month
• Transport: 50,000-100,000 won/month

With free housing, teachers often save 1-1.5 million won/month.

Living in Seoul

• Neighborhoods: Hongdae for nightlife, Gangnam for upscale, Itaewon for foreigners
• Language: You can survive without Korean but learning helps tremendously
• Food: Korean BBQ, fried chicken, street food—amazing and affordable
• Culture: Hierarchical but welcoming once you understand the norms

Tips for Success

• Research your hagwon carefully—check Blacklist Korea for reported issues
• EPIK is competitive but offers the most stability and support
• Bring original documents—Korea requires authenticated paperwork
• Start the visa process 2-3 months before your planned arrival
• Join Facebook groups like 'Expats in Korea' for community support