ESL Teaching in Korea: The Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about teaching English as a foreign language in South Korea, from qualifications to daily life.
4 sections|3 FAQs
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Kang & Kriel Recruitment
Expert-written guides covering everything you need to know about teaching English in South Korea. From getting started to thriving in your career.
Everything you need to know about teaching English as a foreign language in South Korea, from qualifications to daily life.
Step-by-step guide to obtaining an E-2 teaching visa for South Korea, including requirements, documents, and processing times.
Comprehensive analysis of ESL teacher compensation in South Korea, including salary ranges, benefits, and cost of living.
Practical guide for ESL teachers on daily life in South Korea, including housing, transportation, food, culture, and social life.
Complete guide to preparing for ESL teaching job interviews in Korea, including common questions, demo lessons, and tips.
A complete guide to reviewing your Korean ESL teaching contract — key clauses, red flags, legal protections, and what to do if the school breaches the agreement.
Everything foreign ESL teachers in Korea need to know about their legal rights — working hours, annual leave, severance pay, public holidays, and how to file a complaint.
How Korea's National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) works for foreign ESL teachers — enrollment, premiums, coverage, using clinics, and what supplemental insurance you need.
A complete comparison of teaching at a Korean hagwon versus a public school program (EPIK/GEPIK/SMOE) — salary, schedule, vacation, job security, and which fits your lifestyle.
Everything ESL teachers need to know about living and working in Seoul — salary expectations, best neighborhoods, cost of living, transport, and navigating Korea's largest expat community.
Everything you need to know about living and teaching English in Busan — Korea's second city with beaches, mountains, and a vibrant expat scene.
A practical, numbers-first guide to budgeting and saving money as an ESL teacher in Korea — covering monthly costs, the housing advantage, pension refunds, and money traps to avoid.
Everything ESL teachers need to know about renewing a Korean teaching contract, negotiating salary increases, resigning properly, and the consequences of early termination.
A complete guide to Korean income tax, national pension contributions, pension refund on departure, and double taxation treaties for foreign ESL teachers.
A complete guide to the Korean housing system for ESL teachers — understanding jeonse vs wolse, finding apartments on Naver and Zigbang, working with real estate agents, and protecting your deposit.
A week-by-week checklist for new ESL teachers arriving in South Korea — covering housing setup, banking, phone, transportation, work orientation, and social integration during your first month.
How to open a Korean bank account as a foreign ESL teacher, compare major banks, set up international money transfers through Wise and Remitly, and manage your finances effectively.
Country-by-country guide to apostilling your documents for a Korean E-2 teaching visa. Covers the US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, and Ireland with costs, timelines, and step-by-step instructions.
Complete guide to applying for the EPIK (English Program in Korea) public school teaching program — application timeline, required documents, interview preparation, placement process, and how EPIK compares to GEPIK and SMOE.
How to write an effective ESL teaching resume for Korean schools — format, key sections, common mistakes, and a section-by-section breakdown tailored to hagwon and public school hiring managers.
How to get a Korean phone number and mobile plan as a foreign ESL teacher — SIM card options, major carriers (SKT, KT, LG U+), prepaid vs postpaid, eSIM availability, and staying connected internationally.
What to pack (and what not to pack) when moving to Korea to teach English — organized by category: documents, clothing, electronics, personal items, and things to buy in Korea instead.
A bilingual guide for Korean school owners and HR managers on hiring foreign ESL teachers — visa sponsorship process, job posting best practices, interview and selection, contract setup, and onboarding. 한국 학교 운영자와 인사담당자를 위한 외국인 ESL 교사 채용 가이드.
Navigate Korean workplace culture as a foreign ESL teacher — understanding hierarchy, office etiquette, the co-teacher dynamic, hweshik (work dinners), and common friction points between Western and Korean work expectations.