How to immigrate to South Korea as an English teacher?

Are you an English teacher and want to immigrate and work in South Korea? This page of the Visa Library will bring you every bit of information you need. You will learn about the required items, the eligibility principles, and the process you have to follow to immigrate and work in South Korea as an English teacher.

Table of Contents

Requirements to immigrate to South Korea as a teacher

South Korea is one of the easy options if you want to immigrate to South Korea as a teacher. You just need to meet the eligibility principles and meet them. Not every teacher can immigrate and work in South Korea. You need to know and fulfill the requirements set by Korean officials.

Be a national of the approved countries.

The first requirement you need to fulfill to teach in Korea is your nationality. You must be a national of one of these countries;

US,
Canada,
the UK,
Ireland,
South Africa,
Australia,
New Zealand,
India*

This is an item not in your control. You must be a national of one of these countries and have a passport from them. You can only immigrate to South Korea as a teacher if you a national of one of them.

You must be a native English speaker of one of the above list of countries. If not, you must have studied from the junior high level (7th grade) in one of the above countries and have lived there for at least 10 years or more. The primary language of the country you have lived in must be English in the past 10 years.

Having an education degree.

You must have a university degree from an approved university or education center. It can be BA or MA. The subject doesn’t matter and can be in any major. You don’t have to study education or teach at a university or college.

Remember that the degree must be from an approved center in your home country or a foreign one, and you must have received your degree. You must be able to provide the certificate as well.

Teaching language certificate

It’s necessary to have a teaching certificate. You must have an international teaching certificate like;

TEFL
TESOL
CELTA

It doesn’t matter which one of the above certificates you get. You just need to achieve one of them and submit it to the officials.

If there is another international certificate that is equivalent to the above items, you might be able to provide it.

Fulfill the age requirements

The age requirement is that you cannot be older than 62 years old to immigrate to South Korea as a teacher. The application for older applicants will get rejected. Also, you should be at least 18 years old.

Being able to get a work visa and gather the documents.

After you gate a job offer as a teacher in South Korea, you need a work visa to enter the country. You have to submit some supporting documents to the Korean embassy in your home country to get a work visa. You must be able to gather the documents and submit them.

One of the essential documents is a clean record certificate. You have to get it from the police or related officials in your home country and submit it to the embassy. The officials are strict about it, and you might have to get it verified through other organizations as well. This requirement is with the Korean embassy in your home country.

See the below section to know the work visa requirements and supporting documents.

Work experience as a teacher

You need to find an employer willing to hire you as a foreign teacher. One of the essential items the employees look at is your work experience. Do you have enough work experience as a teacher to satisfy the employer’s needs? You must be able to prove your work experience as a teacher to the embassy and Korean employer. There are various documents that can prove your work experience;

Pay slips
Employment contract
Insurance plans
Paid tax certificate

Pass a clean health exam & drug test

You might have to pass a clean health and drug test to be qualified for teaching in Korea. This requirement is often with the Korean school, and they require you to pass a medical test with a verified center in your home country.

Also, the Korean embassy could ask for this medical test. You’d better ask them in advance about it to ensure the process.

Note; the above requirements are a general list of requirements. If an employer or private school wants to hire you, they might have other requirements and eligibility principles. It’s up to their decision, standards, and requirements.

What visa do you need to immigrate and work as an English teacher in South Korea?

The visa you need to work as an English teacher in South Korea is an E-2 visa. This is specially designed for foreigners who want to work in Korea as a teacher teaching their native language.

Remember that the visa you need to work in other positions is different. If you are a university professor, you need an E-1 visa.

See the above section to know how you can apply for and receive an E-2 visa.

English teachers’ salaries in South Korea

Your salary as an English teacher in South Korea is up to various factors. But your income is high enough to have a good life with approved standards.

Among the determining factors, the place you teach is important as the program you have entered Korea through it. If you teach in the EPIK program, you will earn about $1,680 per month, but a university position could pay you about $1,800 to $2,800 a month.

The mentioned figures might not sound too much. But there are other benefits with it as well;

Housing.
Flight reimbursement
Bonus.
Health insurance
Medical coverage
Etc.

You can live well and save money to have a trip to a neighboring country as well.

Different sources have indicated various figures for your salary as an English teacher in South Korea. Salary Expert says the average salary is about ₩59,434,320 ($45.000) per year. You can also expect to earn about ₩1,604,727 ($12.000) as a bonus. The same source mentions that a teacher with 1-3 years of work experience gets about ₩42,300,469 ($32.238), while a teacher with +8 years of work experience gets about ₩73,965,045 ($56.370).

According to Indeed, the average salary of an English teacher in South Korea is about $22,865 per year.

Where can immigrate and work as a teacher in South Korea?

There are various places where you can work as an English teacher in South Korea. Look at the below section to know them.

Private schools.

This is one of the easy options you can get in Korea. The salary is good, the application process is easy, and the lessons are preplanned. The working days are not that long either.

The private schools in Korea get called Hagwons, and they are a wonderful option for teachers who want to see the country or save money.

Public schools.

The other option you can work as an English teacher is in public schools. These are the schools sponsored by the Korean government or local officials, and they recruit directly or through teaching programs. You can find a sample of these programs in the above section.

South Korean Universities.

You might get a teaching position after working for some time as an English teacher or directly if you have a profound resume. If you have a MA degree, it’s likely that you can get a teaching position at a Korean university.

You might not get the benefits of working in s school for a university position. For instance, you might have to find your worn apartment.

Best cities to teach English in Korea

Writing for this section is a bit hard. Everyone’s tastes and preferences are different in living conditions. One might prefer a large crowded city, while another one might like a small city with good weather conditions and landscape. It’s up to you to pick the Korean city you want to immigrate to South Korea as a teacher.

This section tells you about some of the Korean cities and features.

Busan.

There are 3.4 million people living in it, and it’s great if you are a fan of outdoor activities. You will find most of the Western leisure activities in this city.

If you like warm weather, Busan doesn’t get so cold in winter. It’s one of the most popular cities for foreign teachers, so you can find other teachers and interact with them.

Daegu.

There are 2.4 million people living here. It’s perfect if you are looking for a small charming city. It takes 40 minutes to get to Daegu from Busan by train. There are a lot of things you can do and enjoy as well.

If you are into nightlife activities, Daegu is the perfect option, and it’s famous for these activities.

Suwon.

There are 1.2 million people living in Suwon. There is a UNESCO World Heritage Center and so many other places to see and enjoy. Royal tombs are one of them that is amazing to enjoy in every season. Finding a teaching job here is easy as well.

Gwangju.

There are 634.000 people living in this city. It’s like living in Hawaii in the US. It’s famous as a vacation destination so you will never get bored here. There are endless beaches to enjoy and have fun at. There is so much delicious seafood to enjoy that you never get to try all of them. You can find UNESCO World Heritage Sites and a variety of other places to visit. The biggest Koran island has the perfect weather too. Mild winters and summers make it a perfect holiday destination.

Seoul.

There is no need to talk about the most famous city in Korea, with 9.7 million population. The teaching market is competitive, but you can get it if you are qualified.

Don’t worry about being the capital city and a crowded one. There is always something to do and enjoy. Cafes, restaurants with amazing food, and cultural events are just some of the activities you can enjoy.

Don’t worry about the cost of living and leisure activities. You can save money to have a trip to a foreign country or visit another part of the country.

How to immigrate to South Korea as a teacher?

These are the steps you have to follow to immigrate and work in South Korea as an English teacher. You’d better read the entire stages at least twice and learn what you have to do in each one of them.

There are details in each step and documents you have to gather and submit. So you need to find out whether you can complete the process or not.

Determine if you are eligible or not.

Not every English teacher from every country can immigrate to South Korea as a teacher. There are limits and eligibility principles. Read the above section at least twice to know if you are eligible or not. If yes, what can you do about it, and how can you get the principles? Even if you are not eligible, you’d better read the below section once to know the procedure you have to do.

If you are eligible, go through the below section carefully and determine your actions in every move.

For instance, if you do not have an international teaching certificate like TEFL or TESOL, you need to take it and it could take up to a year or more.

Find a job offer with a Korean employer.

The first step you have to pass to immigrate and work in South Korea as an English teacher is to find a job as a teacher. It’s a must to find a job, and there is no way to skip this stage.

There are various ways you can try to find a job in Korea. It’s up to your conditions to use one or all of them to get the teaching job.

Websites to find a job in Korea.

The first way you can use to find a job in Korea is to look for a position through websites that advertise job positions in Korea. This is a list of websites that offer jobs in Korea. You should prepare a resume and apply for teaching positions in them;

Job Korea
Saramin 사람인
Career 커리어
Incruit 인크루트
KOTRA Job Fair 코트라 글로벌일자리사업단
Seoul Global Center
Worknet 워크넷

The above list of websites is just a sample, and you might be able to find other websites.

Employment agencies in Korea.

Ok recruiting
Energy resourcing.
Reed
Robert Walters.
Ajeets South Korea.
KOISRA UP.
Bengal Crewing.
UNICO SEARCH INC.
INITIATIVE CO. Ltd.
WOOIL MARINE CO. Ltd.

The above list is a sample of the recruiters or employment agencies in Korea that can help you find a job in the country. Visit their website to find out more information or know if they have a position for you as a teacher.

English Program in Korea

The other way you can use to get a teaching job in South Korea is to apply through the teaching programs in the country. There are various programs introduced by the officials, and you should find out which one is appropriate for you.

These programs are provided by the government to improve the English language and learning opportunities for students and learners.

This is a list of the most famous and popular teaching programs in South Korea;

The EPIK Program

It stands for “English Program in Korea.” you can say it’s the most famous teaching program in South Korea. The Ministry of Education is the responsible organization behind it. If you get admission to this program, you can work in elementary and middle schools all over South Korea.

There are so many benefits to this program, and some of them are as follows;

furnished housing,
roundtrip airfare,
medical insurance,
paid vacation days
A paid 9-day orientation.

The GEPIK Program

The name stands for “Gyeonggi English Program in Korea.” If you get admitted to this program, you can teach in Gyeonggi province, which is around Seoul, the capital city. Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education is the sponsor behind this program. You will be the only native English speaker in the school if you get admission to GEPIK.

The SMOE Program

It stands for “Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.” The government of Seoul City is the responsible authority for this program. They recruit English teachers to work in Seoul and the surrounding district.

Some of the benefits of SMOE include;

urban lifestyle,
choosing your school-level preference,
furnished housing,
roundtrip airfare,
medical insurance,

It’s your responsibility to find more information about the above programs, determine if you are eligible or not, and apply for them. You can find their Website by searching the names.

The above list is not a definite or ultimate list of programs. You can find other programs as well. It’s up to you to search and find the program that suits your conditions, and you can get admission to it.

Sign an employment contract

After you find the teaching position, you need to sign an employment contract with a Korean employer. If you apply through one of the teaching programs, you might not need the contact, and the program officials will guide you on the stages you have to follow. But a contract is often needed.

These are some of the items that must be included in the contract;

Job title
Job description
Role and skill requirements
Education requirements.
Annual salary
Raises, bonuses, incentive opportunities
Health benefits (medical, dental, eye care, etc.)

Read the contract carefully and determine the terms and obligations. You can find samples of employment contracts on the Internet as well. Also, you can get help from a lawyer to understand it. After you agree to the contract, the two sides need to sign it.

Gathering the documents for a Korea Visa Issuance Number

After you sign the employment contract with the employer, you need to gather the supporting documents and send them to the Korean employer or school. They have to apply for the Korea Visa Issuance Number to the related officials.

You need a Korean official’s approval to work in the country as a foreigner. The employer or school can apply for permission to work in Korea. In other countries, this permission gets called a work permit or Certificate of Eligibility In Japan and a Work Permit Notice in China.

After this number is issued, you can continue the rest of the process.

You have to submit this sample list of the document to the employee so he/she can apply for a Korea Visa Issuance Number;

A copy of your educational degree.
Your university transcripts.
Clean record certificate
Photocopy of the first page of your passport.
A signed copy of the contract.
Two passport-sized photos.
Medical check-up certificate
TESOL or TEFL certificate
CV/Resume.
Etc.

This is not an ultimate list of documents, and you might have to submit further documents. The Korean school or employer informs you of the complete list that you have to gather and submit. Also, Korean officials could ask for further documents to issue the Korea Visa Issuance Number.

The other thing you need to determine is how you must send the documents to your employer. Ask them how they receive it and send them the documents that way.

After the Korea Visa Issuance Number is issued, the employer will send it to you, and you can continue the rest of the process with the Korean embassy/consulate.

Work visa documents and Korean embassy meeting

At this stage, you need to gather the other supporting documents to submit them to the Korean embassy. This is a list of the documents you have to gather;

E-2 application form, get it from the embassy in your home country.
Passport.
Photo. Two recent photos in 2X2 inches
Transcripts.
Education degree.
CV/Resume.
Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number, you have to write it at the top of your application form.
Apostilled National-Level Criminal Background Check.
Employment contract.
The checklist for E-2 applicants, you will find it on the embassy website.
Clean record certificate.
Etc.

You’d better check the full list of documents with the Korean embassy in your home country. They might ask for further supporting documents.

After you have collected the documents, schedule a meeting with the Korean embassy/consulate in your home country. Visit them in person and bring all the gathered documents. Submit them to the officials, answer their questions, and pay the fees for the visa process processing.

The average fee for an E-2 visa is $45, but you might have to pay more on your nationality and embassy services.

The procedure with the Korean embassy might be different. For instance, you might have to send the documents to them, and then they grant you a date for an interview or schedule the meeting yourself after sending the documents. You have to figure it out yourself.

The processing time is with the embassy. It’s different for each one. You might have to wait from one week to a few months. After your visa is issued, the Korean embassy informs you to pick it up and immigrate to South Korea as a teacher. Now you can begin your work as a teacher and stay as long as you have an employment contract with the Korean school or employer.

Let’s sum up…

You learned how to immigrate and work in South Korea as an English teacher through this page of the Visa Library.

We covered the requirements and eligibility principles. Also, you learned about the process you have to follow to land as an English teacher in the country.

If you have questions, write them down in the comment section. The Visa Library team will answer the.