Hi Tom,

I am from the UK and i'm thinking about becoming a teacher in Korea. It's a big step for me so I would like to find out a little more before I commit to it. Looking at what you do everyday perhaps you are the ideal person to ask!

My main concerns and questions are:

I have a degree in English but no experience, will this be a problem when looking for a job?

How much can I expect to earn as a teacher in Korea? will it be enough to live on and also put a little aside as savings?

What are the working hours like, will I still have time for a social life?

Are there many other expats over there to socialise with?

Thank You - I hope you can help!!!! Gem

Hello Gem,

Thank you for your post.

Let me try to answer all your questions

There are many teaching jobs here in Korea and most schools will accept teachers with little experience providing that they meet the visa requirements. If this is something which really worries you, perhaps look at getting some voluntary experience before you leave. A degree in English should give you a small advantage in finding a position although it is not a necessary requirement.

The pay that you will receive in your first year really depends on where you decide you would like to teach. There are two kinds of institutions over here, public and private. Public schools pay according to qualifications and experience; you would probably start on around 2.0 million won (one thousand pounds per month). You would probably be expected to teach 22 hours per week usually between 9am and 5pm Monday - Friday. The holiday allowance in a public school will be higher than in a private hagwon.

If you choose a private institute/hagwon your pay may be higher perhaps around 2.2 million won (an extra hundred pounds per month) but you would be likely to receive less holidays. The working and teaching hours would also be different as hagwons usually operate between 2pm and 10pm.

In both cases you would be provided with accommodation (usually a small furnished studio flat close to school). How much you save depends on your lifestyle here, but I know teachers who are able to have a full social life and still save around 1million won per month.

There are many, many foreign teachers over here from all over the world and the social life is brilliant. Teachers tend to hang out together and if you visit a location like Itaewon or Hongdae you will meet some really cool people in no time. Your spare time is really what you make it and depends on what you enjoy. There are amazing places to party here in Seoul and fantastic shops. If you are more of the outdoors kind of girl there are also brilliant hiking and skiing spots. Check out the rest of the site for information on this.
Korea has a lot of foreigner teachers and i am sure you will find others here with same interests.

I hope that I have answered all of your questions!

If you need any more help let me know. Just a final tip - make sure that you have all your documentation in order at the time that you start to apply.

Good Luck!!! Tom

Hi Tom,

I have been teaching for a Hagwon in Seoul for 8 months and am now in the process of looking for a new position. I must say this blog has been very informative, it gives me a better idea of what i can expect from a public school as opposed to my current position. Many thanks for this!

I do have one additional question;

Do public school positions hire all year or only at certain times through the year?


Best regards, Keith