South Korea

Where does “Land of the Morning Calm” come from? There is a lot of debate on how the nickname for this beautiful country truly originated. However, the old name for Korea was Chosun 朝鮮 which roughly translates to morning calm or brightness — and the name has stuck ever since. While the South Korea that we know today has only been around since 1948, Korean history goes back to prehistoric times, boasting thousands of years of dynasties and culture. Despite experiencing two major wars back-to-back, World War II and the Korean War (Six-Two-Five in South Korea), South Korea has prospered by becoming the 11th largest economy in the world. It is also host to prominent visionaries in the technology and automobile industries and is the world leader in internet connectivity — a whopping 92% of the country’s population are internet users and it has the world’s fastest speeds. Game on! Climate South Korea is home to a temperate climate with four distinct seasons. You can experience the snow and the slopes of PyeongChang, which hosted the 2018 Winter Olympics; or live the hot and humid island life of Jeju. There is a little something for everyone, be it the big, bustling cities of Seoul, Busan, and Daegu, or the smaller cities and towns such as Jinju, Yeosu, and Guri. The South Korean teaching market has been around for a long time, and it’s possible to teach almost anywhere in this country. Festivals If festivals are your thing, you’re in luck! With 18 different festivals throughout the…

Each country has its own unique requirements and qualifications for foreign English teachers. Some require a bachelor’s degree in any field. In others, you’ll qualify with only a high school diploma and your TEFL certificate. Some countries have strict visa requirements that may disqualify you based on your citizenship or criminal background. Let’s take a look at the qualifications needed for teaching English in South Korea. Education You will need to possess a bachelor’s degree in any subject in order to receive your work visa to teach in South Korea. Citizenship You must be a citizen of the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa to work in South Korea. If you’re from Quebec, South Africa, or a US territory (Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, U.S. Virgin Islands, and North Mariana Islands) where significant portions of the population may not speak English as a primary language, you must provide proof that your schooling from 7th grade through university was conducted in English. Letters from the schools stating the dates you attended and that English was the language of instruction must be submitted with your initial application, and will be sufficient proof. Background Check You must have a 100% clean national-level criminal record check (CRC) from your home country in order to qualify for the E2 work visa. Any misdemeanors or felonies will disqualify you from teaching in South Korea. Minor offenses like parking infract…

South Korea has one of the largest English teaching markets in the world. Thanks in part to a competitive university admissions system, many South Korean students seek additional English practice outside of traditional school hours — in fact, some South Korean families opt to enroll their children in English classes before they even begin elementary school. You can find English teaching positions in private language institutes (hagwons) or public schools primarily through EPIK, which now manages placements for Seoul (formerly SMOE) and most other provinces. Both of these job types cater principally towards students from pre-K to high school, and you can secure positions for either in advance with the help of recruiters. Regardless of which job option you choose, it’s possible to find positions throughout the country in both larger cities and smaller towns — though it should be noted that teachers applying through public school programs will be placed wherever the demand is highest. Some ITA alumni teachers have found it difficult to be openly out at their school as LGBTQA+. You may want to be circumspect with being out publicly in South Korea, both on social media and at work. Keep in mind that if students and/or parents find you on social media, they may contact your school with any information they perceive as negative. “Having done my research on Korea, I found that there was still a lot of prejudice against the LGBTQ community and I didn’t want to reveal any information t…

Now that you’ve decided between hagwons and public schools (or both!) it’s time to start the application process. There are several steps to take to start the application process for South Korea. Heads up! The timelines for your job application process and for gathering documents for your visa may overlap. You’ll want to be working on both processes at roughly the same time. Be sure to check out our Teaching in South Korea Timeline, as well as the Applying for the Visa section for more information and to make sure you are staying on track with your documents while applying for teaching positions. *ITA does not review public school program applications, including EPIK, SMOE, GEPIK, etc. Please refer to the program’s website, and contact your recruiter for program application details and deadlines. Step 1: Prepare Your Initial Application Materials Resume & Cover Letter Your resume and cover letter are the keys to connecting with recruiters and beginning the application process. International employers look for specific elements in a resume that may differ from what you’re used to seeing domestically. Once you’ve updated your resume and cover letter to meet the recommended international standards, submit your drafts to your Student Affairs Advisor for review. Photos As part of the application process, the school may request photos from you. A headshot photo is typical, which you can send with your application, though some schools will also ask for a full-body shot. Don’t send…

Congratulations on your job offer(s)! If you’ve been offered a position through one of the public school programs like EPIK, there’s not much else to consider besides whether or not you’ll accept the offer. If you’ve applied to work at a hagwon, and you’ve followed our previous advice of going through any of our associated recruiters, you’re already off to a great start. We vouch for these recruiters as reputable companies, so you can rest assured that the offer you’re considering is a legitimate one. With that worry out of the way, you should focus on determining whether or not the offer is right for you. To help make this determination, follow the recommendations below by reviewing the basics — whether you have one offer or several, the key elements you’ll want to take note of are: salary, working hours, vacation days, sick days, housing, airfare, insurance, and bonuses. Let’s take a closer look at what to expect from each of these elements. Please note: Contracts anywhere are to be taken earnestly, but especially in South Korea. South Korea takes broken contracts very seriously. Therefore you mustn’t commit to anything until you are sure it’s the path you want to take. If you do need to break your contract, do so on good terms to obtain a letter of release. Review the Basics Salary The average starting salary for a first-year English teacher in South Korea is 2.3 — 2.5 million KRW per month. Anything significantly lower or higher should make you ask a few questions. If the…

The word “visa” tends to provoke daunting images of endless red tape and paperwork but we’re here to ease your anxiety and hopefully have you zipping through this visa process like a pro. Take it from ITA Alum Laura Kempton who taught in Incheon, “Through ITA’s job search resources, I found out about what the visa process was like which was helpful in understanding what I would need to do and have. My recruiter also told me exactly what I needed as far as documents. I just had to gather everything and send it to him, who forwarded it to my employer, and they took care of submitting it and actually applying.” Sounds straightforward enough, right? Let’s get started! Visa Types E2 Visa What is it? The E2 is the specific visa to work in South Korea legally as an English teacher. This is the visa that most English teachers in South Korea are eligible for whether they are teaching for a hagwon or for a public school. We will mainly be focusing on this visa option throughout this section. How do you get one? You must have sponsorship from a school or employer in order to apply for this visa. More details below. How long is it valid? The E2 visa is valid for one year with the possibility to renew at the end of your contract. F4 Visa What is it? The F4 is the specific visa for individuals who come from a South Korean background such as: A. A person with parents or grandparents who once held Korean nationality B. A person who held Korean nationality and acquired another nationality A p…

In the days, weeks, and months leading up to your move abroad, it’s more important than ever to stay organized and ask yourself: What are the logistics I have to consider and the loose ends I have to tie up in order to thrive in my new home? Do I have to worry about taxes? What about health insurance? And what the heck do I do about a cell phone? Fear not, TEFL teacher. In this section, you’ll find the tips, resources, and wisdom to tackle these questions and more! Review the Basics Health Insurance Although in a perfect world an apple a day would keep the doctor away, in reality, even teachers get sick. Cue health insurance. Regardless of the country you end up in, you should always inquire about health insurance before accepting a position. If health insurance is indeed provided by your employer, it’s imperative that the relevant details are outlined clearly in any contract you sign. More often than not in South Korea, basic health insurance is provided by the employer, and covered in part by the teacher. Check out the “Accepting the Right Offer” section to learn more! Savings & Banking Let’s face it: Money matters and banking abroad can feel like a daunting task! That being said, you have options. One possible route: Open up an account with an international bank that has ATMs and services across the globe. This way, transferring funds between your home country and South Korea isn’t such a headache, and you won’t have to worry about incurring pesky ATM fees while traveling.…

You have finally made it to the end of the South Korea section, no small feat! Here is all of that wonderful information from the previous section laid out step-by-step and month-by-month before your intended departure date for South Korea. This timeline is not only for the planners and check-list lovers (although you will love this too). It is strongly encouraged for anyone planning a move to South Korea to help keep you on track and organized as you make your way through the process. Finding a Job in a Hagwon Please keep in mind that start dates vary for hagwons as they hire and have start dates throughout the year. Take your desired start date and subtract from there. While it may be possible to move some parts of the process along quicker, follow this timeline as closely as possible . 6 months before departure: Begin your research ___ Decide to work with recruiters or apply directly ___ List out your preferences and priorities ___ Chat with ITA alumni and read about alumni experiences ___ Ensure your passport will be valid six months past your anticipated return date or order a new passport 4-6 months before departure: Begin compiling your documents ___ Finalize your international resume and cover letter ___ Order two copies of your Criminal Record Check (link to section with information) ___ Make a photocopy of your university diploma ___ Order two official sealed transcripts from your university (recommended but not required for hagwons) 4 months before departure: Begin…

Public transportation is amazing, both intra and inter-city. The bus/train/subway system is very well planned, and quick and easy to use. It costs about $1 a ride, and the average wait time is about 3-4 minutes. There are so many beautiful nature spots to visit, and tons of historical landmarks that are still preserved (palaces, fortresses, folk villages, etc.). You can take KTX to pretty much anywhere in the country, or if you have an International Driver's Permit, I recommend renting a car and driving to the more rural parts. Restaurants and cafes are so good here! Korean food is delicious and cheap, and they have the cutest themed or trendy coffee shops. However, Western food and produce are pretty expensive, so it's best to eat like a local to save the most money. There are also a lot of fancy cocktail or themed bars, which are fun to visit. There is a large number of expats here, especially in certain neighborhoods like Itaewon. You can also meet people through Facebook expat groups. Kimberly W. Seoul, South Korea Once you are accepted through EPIK and you have been given a placement, EPIK sends you all of the documents needed for your visa. My recruiter, Reach to Teach, sent me step by step info on how fill out the forms and how much time to allow for each step. I filled out the forms and dropped it off at the Korean consulate in Atlanta and picked up my visa five days later. Kim J. Daejon, South Korea I would definitely recommend South Korea for teachers over 40 as I h…