Loading...
Loading...
Kang & Kriel Recruitment
Everything ESL teachers need to know about renewing a Korean teaching contract, negotiating salary increases, resigning properly, and the consequences of early termination.
Start renewal talks 2–3 months before your end date. To leave, give 30 days written notice. Early termination risks losing your completion bonus and may cause visa complications.
Start renewal discussions 2–3 months before your contract ends; most teachers who renew receive a salary increase of 100,000–300,000 KRW per month.
Korean hagwons typically expect renewal discussions to begin 2–3 months before the contract end date — leaving it later reduces your negotiating leverage. When negotiating, come prepared with a short record of your performance: student retention, positive parent feedback, or additional responsibilities. Standard renewal raises run 100,000–200,000 KRW for solid performers, with strong teachers achieving 200,000–300,000 KRW increases. Beyond salary, renewals are the right moment to negotiate updated housing, an extra paid vacation day, or expanded benefits. Get all agreed terms in writing before signing.
Korean labor law requires 30 days' written notice of resignation; providing this correctly protects your severance pay entitlement and future visa applications.
Submit your resignation in writing — email is acceptable but a signed letter is better — clearly stating your last working date. During your notice period, complete handover documentation, maintain your teaching schedule, and avoid conflict. Before your final day, ensure you receive a work experience certificate (경력증명서) and confirm the return process for your Residence Card (formerly ARC) (ARC). You are entitled to severance pay (퇴직금) equivalent to one month's salary for every full year worked — this applies even if you simply do not renew at contract end.
Breaking a contract early typically forfeits your completion bonus and may require repaying airfare; however, harassment, non-payment, or unsafe conditions are legitimate grounds to leave.
Leaving a Korean teaching contract early without mutual agreement has real financial and legal consequences. Most contracts include a completion bonus equivalent to one month's salary, which is forfeited upon early termination. Your school may also seek reimbursement of the return airfare. On the visa side, your E-2 is sponsored by your employer — early resignation without a new job lined up means you have approximately 30 days to find a new sponsor or leave Korea. Legitimate grounds for immediate departure without penalty include documented wage theft, written harassment, unsafe conditions, or material misrepresentation in your contract.
If you want to change employers while remaining in Korea on an E-2 visa, your current employer must issue a Letter of Release — most schools provide this if given proper notice.
The Letter of Release (LOR) is a document from your current employer confirming they release you from your E-2 visa sponsorship, allowing another school to sponsor you without you leaving Korea. Most professional schools provide an LOR if you give adequate notice and leave on good terms — typically 30–45 days is sufficient. Schools are not legally obligated to provide an LOR, which is why maintaining a professional relationship matters greatly. The immigration process for transferring to a new employer with an LOR typically takes 2–4 weeks.
Make your decision about whether to renew, change schools, or leave Korea by the 3-month mark before your contract ends. This gives you time for negotiations or a job search.
Duration: 1 week decisionIf renewing, request a meeting with your director to discuss terms. If leaving, inform your director professionally and follow up with written notice.
Duration: 2–3 months before end datePut all agreed renewal terms in an email or addendum before signing. Include salary, housing, vacation days, and start date of renewed contract.
Duration: 1–2 weeks negotiationSend a written resignation letter or email stating your final working date clearly. Keep a copy. This starts the clock on your notice period.
Duration: 30 days notice periodAsk for your LOR in writing at least 4 weeks before you need it. Be specific about the date you need it by.
Duration: 2–4 weeks processingConfirm with your employer that your 퇴직금 (severance pay) will be paid within 14 days of your final working day — this is a legal requirement.
Duration: Final week of contractImmigration Specialist & HR Consultant
6+ years of experience
Yes. Korean labor law entitles any employee who has worked for one continuous year to severance pay (퇴직금) equal to one month's average salary per year worked. This applies whether you are not renewed, choose not to renew, or resign with proper notice.
Your E-2 visa is tied to your employer. If your employment ends before the visa expiry, you have approximately 30 days to find a new E-2 sponsor, change to another visa status, or depart Korea.
Schools are not legally required to issue an LOR, so technically yes. However, most reputable schools cooperate if given proper notice. If a school refuses, your main alternative is departing Korea and applying for a new visa from abroad.
Document everything with screenshots, bank records, and written communications. You can file a complaint with the local Labor Standards Office (고용노동부). In extreme cases, contact your country's embassy in Seoul.
Most hagwon contracts include a completion bonus of one month's salary (typically 2.0–2.5M KRW) paid at the successful conclusion of the full contract year.
Michael Park. (2026, March 17). Renewing or Ending Your ESL Contract in Korea: Complete Guide. ESL365. https://esl365.com /knowledge-hub/renewal-resignation-guide