Who is eligible to teach English in South Korea?

To be eligible, applicants generally need a Bachelor’s degree, a 120- or 140-hour TEFL certificate, citizenship from an eligible English-speaking country, a clean national criminal background check, and a valid passport.

Teach English in South Korea | Free Job Placement Program | myTEFL

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Teach English in South Korea | Korea TEFL Overview | myTEFL

Teach English in South Korea: Overview

South Korea is one of the top destinations for English teachers, offering competitive pay, free furnished housing, and employer-sponsored E-2 work visas through public schools and private academies (hagwons).

Why Teachers Choose South Korea

Incredible Savings

Many teachers save $800–$1,200 USD per month thanks to free housing, flight reimbursement, and relatively low taxes.

Safest Cities in Asia

South Korea is widely known for being safe and well-organized, with low crime in major cities like Seoul and Busan.

Fast Internet

South Korea is known for fast, reliable internet, making it easy to stay connected with family and friends.

Foodie Paradise

From BBQ to Kimchi, Korean cuisine is healthy, affordable, and world-famous. Dining out is a major part of the social culture.

English teacher leading an interactive classroom lesson with students in South Korea

Life in South Korea | Teach English in Korea | myTEFL

Life in South Korea for English Teachers

South Korea city street scene at sunset—modern lifestyle for TEFL teachers living in Korea — City street scene in South Korea showing everyday lifestyle for teachers living abroad.

Teaching English in a South Korea classroom—typical TEFL teaching environment — Classroom scene representing teaching English in South Korea.

Korean BBQ and local dining culture in South Korea—food lifestyle for teachers abroad — Korean food and dining culture that TEFL teachers experience in South Korea.

Traditional Korean palace architecture in South Korea—culture and travel on weekends — Historic Korean architecture highlighting culture and sightseeing in South Korea.

South Korea mountain landscape in autumn—outdoor travel and hiking while teaching abroad — Mountain scenery in South Korea showing outdoor activities available to teachers abroad.

Korea Job Placement Process

We Don’t Just Teach You.
We Help You Get Hired in South Korea.

From eligibility screening to E-2 visa guidance, myTEFL supports you through each step of teaching English in Korea.

1. Eligibility Screening

We review your degree, nationality, background check, and E-2 visa eligibility for South Korea.

2. CV & Document Prep

We optimize your resume and documents to meet Korean school and immigration standards.

3. School Matching

We match you with vetted public school and private academy roles in Korea and coordinate interviews.

4. E-2 Visa & Arrival

Contract review, E-2 visa guidance, and pre-departure support so you arrive confident and prepared.

Trusted by World-Leading Programs

Teach English in South Korea | Benefits & Requirements | myTEFL

South Korea Teaching Package

What You Get — and What’s Required

Transparent benefits and eligibility requirements for teaching English in South Korea, including E-2 visa basics.

₩2.1–2.7M KRW Salary

Approx. $1,450–$1,850 USD/month (varies by school and role)

Free Furnished Housing

Furnished studio or single apartment

Airfare Support

Airfare support on arrival or completion (varies by school)

Completion Bonus

End-of-contract severance (per contract terms)

Visa Sponsorship

E-2 visa document guidance and employer sponsorship process

Healthcare + Pension

National health insurance + pension contributions (standard)

Paid Vacation

Paid vacation plus national holidays (varies by employer)

On-the-Ground Support

Pre-departure guidance + arrival support in-country

Who This Program Is For

120- or 140-hour myTEFL Certificate
Bachelor’s degree (any subject)
Eligible for the South Korea E-2 visa (approved countries)
Clean national criminal record
Ready for 12-month contract
Valid passport (12mo+ validity)

Check Your Eligibility

Verify requirements and outline your next steps.

Citizenship: Must hold a passport from the USA, Canada, the UK, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, or New Zealand (E-2 eligibility).
Education: Bachelor's degree (3 or 4 year) from an accredited university.
Age: Typically between 21 and 57 years old (visa regulations).
Criminal Record: Must provide a clean national-level background check (FBI/RCMP/DBS/etc) apostilled or legalized.
Health: Must pass a general health check upon arrival in Korea.
Documents: Must have original degree and transcripts available.
TEFL: A 120-hour TEFL certificate is commonly required for E-2 teaching roles (public school and hagwon requirements vary).

120-Hour TEFL for Teaching English in South Korea | myTEFL

Don’t Have a TEFL Yet for South Korea?

A 120-hour myTEFL certificate is required to teach English in South Korea. Complete it with myTEFL and qualify for free Korea job placement support.

View 120-Hour TEFL Course Browse All TEFL Courses

Korea Reassurance Note

Already TEFL-certified with myTEFL? You can apply directly for Korea placement — no additional course required.

Stories from our Community

Real myTEFL graduates currently teaching across South Korea.

Gabrielle G teaching English in Chungnam South Korea with myTEFL

Gabrielle G. Teaching in Chungnam, South Korea

★★★★★

"After thorough research, I chose myTEFL’s 120-hour TEFL course and felt fully prepared to teach abroad. The support was outstanding, and I’m now heading to Korea to teach—thanks to myTEFL."

Miguel Walker teaching English in Daejeon South Korea with myTEFL

Miguel W. Teaching in Daejeon, South Korea

★★★★★

"I’ve been teaching in South Korea for six months and it’s been an amazing experience. Living and working in Daejeon has been rewarding, and I’m very grateful to myTEFL for helping place me here."

Hailey teaching English in Seoul South Korea with myTEFL

Hailey O. Teaching in Seoul, South Korea

★★★★★

"Teaching in Korea has been an incredible experience. I work at a school in Seoul that truly supports student growth, and outside the classroom I’ve explored mountains, food, and life along the Han River."

Korea FAQ Section

Teaching English in South Korea: FAQs

Answers about visas, salary, housing, and requirements.

Yes — most English teaching jobs in South Korea require a 120-hour (or 140-hour) TEFL certificate. In many cases, TEFL certification is used by employers as part of the eligibility standard for E-2 visa teaching roles.

Most teachers work on an employer-sponsored E-2 teaching visa. E-2 roles are commonly offered through public schools and private academies (hagwons), with jobs in major cities like Seoul, Busan, and Incheon.

English teachers in South Korea typically earn ₩2.1–2.7 million KRW per month (about $1,425–$1,830 USD, depending on the exchange rate). Most contracts also include free furnished housing, which can significantly increase savings.

Not for legal E-2 teaching positions. A Bachelor’s degree (any subject) is required to obtain an E-2 teaching visa in South Korea, and this requirement is set by Korean immigration.

Yes — housing is commonly included. Most teaching contracts in South Korea provide free, furnished housing, typically a studio or private single apartment arranged by the school.

To be eligible, applicants generally need:

A Bachelor’s degree
A 120- or 140-hour TEFL certificate
Citizenship from an eligible English-speaking country
A clean national criminal background check
A valid passport

South Korea typically accepts teachers from the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa for E-2 visa teaching positions.

Most teachers start within 6–10 weeks from application to arrival. Timing depends on document readiness, interview scheduling, and E-2 visa processing.

Often, no — many entry-level roles do not require prior teaching experience. Schools typically focus on visa eligibility, qualifications, and professionalism, with TEFL certification providing practical classroom preparation.

It depends on your schedule preference and teaching style. Public school roles are often more structured with daytime hours, while hagwons (private academies) may offer higher flexibility in location but frequently include afternoon/evening teaching hours.

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Korea Application Step 1 Popup

Name*

Email*

Are you a myTEFL graduate?*

Yes — I already completed a myTEFL course Not yet — I’m planning to enroll No — I’m TEFL-certified elsewhere

Nationality (passport country)* This helps us confirm visa eligibility.

Do you have a Bachelor’s degree?*

Yes No In progress

Preferred start date*

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Live & Teach in Korea