Teach English (ESL) in South Korea - Great Pay & Great Jobs

Earn a great salary while enjoying life teaching abroad in South Korea!

South Korea is an extremely popular destination for teaching ESL (English as a Second Language) in Asia. There are many reputable schools across the country providing jobs to bright, talented individuals to work as English instructors. All that is required is for you to be a native English speaker and have a 4 year degree. A valid passport from the USA, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa is also required. Your employers in South Korea will provide you with roundtrip airfare from your home country as well as provide you with free room and board for the duration of your contract. Being that the cost of living in Korea is so low, most teachers are able to save a significant amount of money over the course of their year. You may put this hard earned money to good use in a variety of ways: You may pay off student loans, travel or use it for whatever else you may choose!

The people of South Korea are also extremely hospitable. It is important for guests of Korea to leave with a good impression so you will find helpful and friendly people wherever you go. It is not unusual for someone to stop you on the street and engage you in conversation just to practice their English. No one can leave their year teaching English in Korea without the “Land of the Morning Calm” leaving a profound impact on their lives.

Teaching English at a South Korean 'Hagwon'

While there are opportunities to teach in public schools and universities, the majority of ESL jobs available are in private academies called “hagwons”. Hagwon is a term used for private schools which specialize in one or a variety of subjects. All of the schools we work with are English Hagwons. Students typically fall in the 8-15 year old age range although there are some opportunities for jobs teaching at kindergarten as well. The average class size is approximately 10 students. The work week generally consists of around 30-35 hours. Salaries generally range from between 1.8- 2.3 million won per month (approximately $1,950 US) but can vary depending on location and experience. Full health insurance is provided with 50% covered by the school. The remainder of your health insurance costs are deducted from your salary and amount to approximately 15US per month. Paid vacation and completion of contract bonuses are also part of your contract package. According to Korean law, schools must also offer a severance pay which is equal to one months pay upon completion of your one year contract. This bonus money will provide you with an excellent opportunity to travel after you have completed your contract. However, like many of our teachers, you may just find you enjoy your job so much that you decide to stay in this wonderful country for two, three or more years!

Exciting Job Opportunities to Live and Teach in South Korea!

This is an exciting opportunity to live in a developed and exciting country with opportunities to travel across Asia. Your flight and rent expense are completely paid for by your host school. Sound good to you!? What are you waiting for!? Fill out our South Korea ESL jobs Application to begin the process of your teaching abroad adventure.

If you have any questions at all, from your monthly salary to how spicy the Kimchee is, please contact our Director of Recruiting for Korea, Richard Jones. You can also always contact any of our Coordinators directly!

Get Advice from Experts Experienced in Teaching English Abroad

Remember, we here at Reach To Teach have all taught English abroad, so there is no such thing as a "bad" question. We want you to feel as comfortable as possible with your decision. Leaving your home country for a year is an exciting and adventurous choice. We want to be sure you have as much information as possible so you can concentrate on enjoying your year spent teaching English in South Korea.