Teaching English in Seoul
Seoul is a city of almost ten million people and the center of English teaching in Korea. Here is what the job and the city look like from the inside.
Why Seoul
More schools, more teachers, more to do. You can meet other teachers easily, find any food you miss from home, and reach the rest of Korea by train in a few hours. If you want your first year abroad to feel connected rather than isolated, Seoul is the safe bet.
The districts are not all the same
Seoul is split into 25 districts (gu), and where you work shapes your year. The south — Gangnam, Seocho and around — is busy, central and home to many of the city's most competitive study areas, so academies there often have small, motivated classes. The north and northwest are more residential, quieter, and full of families with younger learners. Neither is better; ask which one you'd be in before you sign.
Getting around
The subway reaches almost everywhere, signs are in English, and one transit card works on trains and buses. Most teachers live close to work and walk or take a few stops. A long commute across the river every day is the thing to avoid when you choose where to live.
A typical academy day
Private academies (hagwons) mostly teach after the regular school day, so work usually starts around lunchtime or later and runs into the evening. Mornings are yours. Classes are smaller than in public schools, and you usually teach the same students for months or years — which is the best part of the job.
Before you pick a school
- Ask who you are talking to — the school itself, or a recruiter.
- Ask to meet a teacher who already works there.
- Ask for the full contract in writing before you order your visa documents.
New to the process? Start with how to teach English in Korea.
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
Is it hard to find an English teaching job in Seoul?
Seoul has more academies than anywhere else in Korea, so there are always openings. The competition is for the good ones — apply directly to schools and ask to meet the team you would work with.
Should I teach in Seoul or somewhere else in Korea?
Seoul gives you the biggest social life, the most to do and easy travel everywhere else. Smaller cities are quieter and slower. If it's your first year abroad, many teachers find Seoul the easiest place to settle in.
Can I live in Seoul without a car?
Yes. The subway and buses cover the whole city and are cheap and reliable. Most teachers never drive.