EPIK and private school jobs, with free housing and severance pay
Free housing, a month's bonus pay when you finish and one of the safest, most connected countries in Asia. Here's what public and private school jobs pay, who can apply and how the E-2 visa works.
We recruit for Korea's government public school programme, EPIK, and for established private language schools. Every role comes with an E-2 visa and free housing, and our service is free for teachers.
Public schools · EPIK
Nationwide, 15+ regions incl. Busan, Daegu and Jeju · Primary and secondary
You'll need: a degree, a 100+ hour TEFL and a native English passport. No experience needed.
See the job and apply
Seoul public schools · EPIK Seoul
All 25 districts of Seoul · Mostly elementary
You'll need: a degree, a 100+ hour TEFL and a native English passport. Seoul places fill first.
See the job and apply
Private language schools · Hagwons
Greater Seoul, Incheon, Busan, Daejeon and more · Year-round starts
You'll need: a degree and fluent English. TEFL preferred but not essential.
See the job and applyNot ready for the next intake? EPIK places fill months ahead. Leave your email and we'll tell you when applications open.
Get Korea job alertsPay is similar, so the real choice is about your hours, your holidays and when you want to start. Here's how our three Korea routes compare.
| Feature | EPIK public schools | EPIK Seoul | Private language schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pay | KRW 2.1–2.8M a month | KRW 2.3–3.0M a month | Up to KRW 2.9M a month |
| Housing | Free apartment or rent subsidy | Free apartment or rent subsidy | Free single apartment |
| Flights | Up to KRW 1.8M entrance allowance | Entrance and exit allowances | One-way flight |
| Hours | Weekdays, up to 22 lessons a week | Weekdays, 8 hours a day, up to 22 lessons | Morning or afternoon-to-evening shifts |
| Students | Primary and secondary, with a co-teacher | Mostly elementary, with a co-teacher | Kindergarten to adults, smaller classes |
| Holidays | Paid summer and winter breaks | Paid summer and winter breaks | Paid vacation, usually shorter |
| Start dates | February–March or August–September | February–March or August–September | Year-round |
| TEFL | Required (100+ hours) | Required (100+ hours) | Preferred |
| Best for | Long holidays and a school routine | City life in the capital | Starting soon, or teaching adults |
Severance of one month's pay is included on all three routes. Figures are from our partners' current job details.
Korea takes English seriously. The government has placed native-speaking teachers in public schools through EPIK since 1995, and thousands of private language schools teach everyone from kindergarteners to office workers.
For teachers, the deal is unusually well organised: a legal E-2 visa, a free apartment, health insurance and a month's severance pay when you finish. Add fast trains, great food and one of the world's safest cities, and it's easy to see why so many teachers stay a second year.
New teachers trying on hanbok during their first weeks in Korea.
With no rent to pay and a severance bonus at the end, Korea is one of the best-value teaching packages in Asia, especially for first-year teachers.
Monthly salary on our Korea programmes
A free single apartment, or a rent subsidy, on every role
Severance bonus when you complete your 12-month contract
A filling lunch of bibimbap, kimbap or a noodle soup
A metro or bus ride, on some of the world's best transport
National health insurance, with half paid by your employer on EPIK
Here's an illustrative budget for a first-year EPIK teacher in free housing, after tax, pension and health insurance. Your numbers will depend on your city and how often you travel.
| Take-home pay, after deductions | about KRW 2,080,000 |
| Rent | KRW 0 |
| Utilities and building fees | KRW 100,000 |
| Phone and internet | KRW 50,000 |
| Groceries and eating out | KRW 600,000 |
| Transport | KRW 70,000 |
| Weekend trips and travel | KRW 200,000 |
| Going out, gym and hobbies | KRW 150,000 |
| Left to save | about KRW 910,000 |
That's roughly £500 a month, before your end-of-contract severance and flight allowances.
Free housing is what makes Korea work. Your biggest cost at home simply disappears, so even a starting salary leaves plenty to save or spend on travel.
Depending on your nationality, you may also be able to claim back your national pension contributions when you leave Korea, which can add a useful lump sum at the end of your contract.
Arrive with around £800–£1,000 to cover your first month until pay day. Some apartments ask for a small deposit or utility set-up costs.
The E-2 teaching visa sets most of the rules, so requirements are similar across employers. You'll need:
No Korean and no teaching experience needed. Not TEFL qualified yet? See the courses we recommend for Korea.
Allow three to six months for EPIK, less for private schools.
An online application and video interview. EPIK may also ask for a short lesson plan.
Your degree and criminal record check need apostilles. This takes the longest, so start as soon as you apply.
Once you accept, your employer applies for your visa issuance number with Korean immigration.
You collect your E-2 visa from the Korean embassy or consulate, or online where available.
After orientation and a health check, you apply for your residence card, which lets you open a bank account and get a phone contract.
EPIK requires a TEFL of at least 100 hours, completed before you arrive, and private schools prefer one. Most first jobs in Korea are with children, often alongside a Korean co-teacher. Book through ESLstarter for our discounted prices with partner TEFL UK.
£133£279
ESLstarter price, only when you book here
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ESLstarter price, only when you book here
Good to know: you can apply to EPIK while you're still studying your TEFL, as long as it's finished before you fly. Thinking about international schools or universities later? The Ofqual-regulated 168-hour Level 5 TEFL (£239) is at the same level as CELTA.
Korea is small and superbly connected, so wherever you're placed, Seoul or the coast is rarely more than a few hours away by fast train.
A megacity of palaces, mountains, food markets and nightlife, with the most jobs and the biggest international community.
Korea's second city, with beaches, seafood and a more laid-back pace on the south coast.
Commuter cities around Seoul, including Ilsan, with lower costs and the capital a subway ride away.
Big, friendly cities in the middle of the country, with lower costs and easy weekends anywhere.
A volcanic island of beaches and hiking trails, popular with teachers who want an outdoor life.
Where your salary goes furthest and you'll get to know your students and neighbours fastest.
Cherry blossom in spring, beaches in summer, autumn leaves in the mountains and snow on the palaces in winter. Add Korean barbecue, karaoke rooms and hiking trails at the end of the subway line, and weekends take care of themselves.
EPIK contracts are standard, but private school contracts vary. Wherever you apply, these are the questions we'd ask before saying yes.
Only an E-2 visa sponsored by your employer lets you teach English legally. Never start work on a tourist visa.
A 12-month contract should include severance of a month's pay and enrolment in national pension and health insurance.
Ask whether it's a single apartment, how far it is from school and whether you'll pay a deposit or building fees.
Check the number of teaching hours, the length of the working day and the overtime rate for extra classes.
Private schools often give fewer vacation days than EPIK. Make sure the number of paid days is written into the contract.
A good private school will happily put you in touch with a foreign teacher who works there now. Ask them what it's really like.
Not ready for this intake? Leave your email and we'll tell you when EPIK applications open and new Korea jobs come in, along with other well-paid roles we're recruiting for.
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English teachers in Korea typically earn KRW 2.1 to 2.9 million a month. EPIK public school teachers earn KRW 2.1 to 2.8 million depending on region and qualifications, Seoul public school teachers earn KRW 2.3 to 3.0 million, and private language school teachers earn up to KRW 2.9 million. Free housing and a month's severance pay at the end of the contract are standard on all of our Korea roles.
EPIK is the government programme that places English teachers in public schools, with weekday school hours, a Korean co-teacher and long paid holidays. Hagwons are private language schools with year-round starts, smaller classes and shift-based hours, often in the afternoon and evening. Pay is similar, and both normally include free housing. Compare them side by side.
No. The E-2 teaching visa requires a bachelor's degree in any subject, and your degree certificate has to be apostilled for the visa application. Every Korea job we recruit for asks for a degree.
For EPIK public school jobs, yes: you need a TEFL or TESOL of at least 100 hours unless you have an education degree or teaching licence, and it must be completed before you arrive. Private language schools prefer a TEFL but don't always require one. See the courses we recommend for Korea.
On all three of our Korea programmes, yes. EPIK provides a free furnished single apartment or a rent subsidy, and our private language school partners provide a single private apartment. This is the main reason teachers in Korea can save so much.
Yes. South Africa is one of the seven countries whose citizens can get an E-2 teaching visa, alongside the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.
EPIK has two intakes, in February to March and August to September. Places fill quickly, especially in Seoul and Busan, so apply several months ahead and start getting your degree and criminal record check apostilled early.
No. In public schools you teach alongside a Korean co-teacher, and private language schools want English-only classrooms. Learning to read Hangul takes only a few hours and makes daily life much easier.
Pick the route that suits you and apply in a few minutes. Our service is free.
We currently have the following programs available in Korea
