Teach English in Korea
Korea is one of the most common first stops for native English teachers, and Seoul is where most of the jobs are. This guide covers what you need, in the order you need it.
1. Check you qualify for the E-2 visa
Almost every English teaching job in Korea runs on the E-2 (foreign language instructor) visa. You need:
- A passport from an E-2 country — United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa.
- A four-year bachelor's degree, any major, with an apostille.
- A clean national criminal background check, apostilled and issued within the last six months.
2. Start the documents first
The apostilles are the slow part — usually 8–12 weeks. Order your background check and get your degree apostilled as soon as you decide Korea is the plan. Interviews can happen while you wait; the visa cannot.
3. Academy or public school?
Private academies (hagwons) hire all year round, mostly teach after-school classes, and you deal directly with the school that employs you. Public schools hire through government programs on a fixed intake calendar and place you wherever there is an opening. If you want to choose your city and start sooner, academies are usually the faster route.
Watch for one thing: whether you are talking to the school or to a recruiter. With a recruiter, you often learn the school, the neighborhood and the contract late in the process. Ask early.
4. From offer to first class
Once you sign, your employer applies for a visa issuance number with Korean immigration. You take that number to a Korean consulate to get the visa in your passport, then fly in. After you arrive you do a health check and register for your residence card.
5. Living in Seoul
Seoul is big, safe and easy to get around on the subway. Most teachers rent a small studio near work. Neighborhoods vary a lot — the southern districts around Gangnam and Seocho are busy and central, while the north and northwest are quieter and more residential.
Teaching with us
Teach Seoul is the hiring page of our own academies — not an agency. Right now that means KRW 3,200,000 a month with housing money already included, and a four-day week on site at our Seocho branch with one day from home. We sponsor the E-2 visa and walk you through the paperwork. Hours, holidays and the rest of the contract are agreed in writing before you sign.
FAQ
Do I need a teaching degree to teach English in Korea?
No. The E-2 visa asks for a four-year bachelor's degree in any major. A TEFL certificate or classroom experience helps you stand out, but it is not a visa requirement.
Which passports qualify for the E-2 visa?
Seven countries: United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa.
How long does the whole process take?
Plan for about three months. Apostilled documents usually take 8–12 weeks, and that is almost always the slowest part — so start them before you even interview.
Do I need to speak Korean?
No. Classes are taught in English. Some Korean makes daily life in Seoul easier, but nobody expects it on day one.