Finding a Teaching Job in Korea - Where to Apply

While there are many websites online for job seekers to post their resum's and employers to post job openings, you may have to perform some painstaking research on each of the employers to make sure they represent a legitimate institution. As any employer can post an opening on these sites it is not unlikely to find a scam. If you do not want to go through the trouble of sorting through the job openings, a better bet may be to find a reputable recruiter or an organized program to set you up with a teaching job in Korea. Keep in mind that not all recruiters are reputable and will be unable to aid you in conflicts with the institution they set you up with. Below we list some of the more widely known and reputable recruiters and organizations.

Reputable English Teaching Recruiters and Organizations: 

EPIK:  http://epik.knue.ac.kr/index.asp

-One of the most popular choices for teaching English in Korea is EPIK, or the English Program in Korea. EPIK is a government sponsored program that employs native English-speakers to teach on a 1-year contract, renewable for up to 3 years. Your estimated salary is about $2000USD a month and you are provided with a rent-free furnished apartment.  At arrival, employers are give a 10-day orientation which include crash-course training for teaching English in Korea, workshops, and short trips with other new employees. Your preferred location within Korea can be specified on your application but no guarantee is made on the province of education (POE) that you will be assigned to, and you will only be informed at the end of your orientation. Participants work at schools, training centers, and/or any other educational institutions located within your host POE.

Eligibility:

1.       Be a citizen of a country where English is the primary language. (Applicants of Korean heritage who have permanent residency in a country where English is the primary language must have studied from the junior high level (7^th grade) and resided for at least 10 years or more in the country where English is the primary language.

2.       Hold at least a Bachelor's degree

3.       Be mentally and physically healthy

4.       Have a good command of the English language

5.       Have the ability and willingness to adapt to Korean culture and living

6.       If you are a male citizen of the Republic of Korea under the age of 35, you must have either completed mandatory military service or have received an official waiver.

GEPIK: http://gepik.ken.go.kr/

GEPIK is another government supported organization that recruits teachers for public school positions in Gyeonggi province. Salary ranges from approximately US $1,700 to $2,300 a month depending on qualifications and experience. Benefits include free furnished housing, round trip air fare, 50% coverage of health insurance, and severance pay.

ETIS: http://etis.sen.go.kr/

ETIS (English Teachers in Seoul) is an organization created by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) that sets up English teachers at elementary and middle schools within Seoul, or less commonly at other educational facilities within the SMOE system. Pay ranges from US $1900 to $2900 per month depending on your credentials, with a basic bachelor's degree from an English-speaking university being the lowest. Benefits include a single leased house with basic household items, one-way flight to Korea with return airgare provided upon completion of the contract, 21 working days of paid leave, tax exemption (except Canadians who will pay a 2-4% income tax), and severance pay.

ATC: http://www.atcjob.com/index.php

ATC (Avail Teachers Consulting) is a teacher recruiting firm in Korea.  They provide a salary of around US $1900-$2100, and provide free round trip air fare upon completion of contract, paid vacation, medical insurance, and severance pay.

Job Pagoda: http://www.jobpagoda.com/

Job Pagoda provides a monthly salary from US $2200-$3000 as well as a one way trip to Seoul or Busan, various accommodation options, and severance pay.

Park English Recruitment Agency Inc.: http://www.parkenglish.com/

Park English is a Korean-American company based in Seoul, founded by two ESL teachers. You will be provided an annual salary of US $24-35K at 30 hrs/wk with free furnished housing, free round-trip airfare, paid holidays, and health insurance coverage.

WRP Consulting: http://www.worknplay.co.kr/recruitings/recruitings.htm

WRP Consulting places employees

Eligibility:

1.       At least a Bachelor's degree from an accredited university in the U.S, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Great Britain or Ireland

2.       Citizen of one of the above mentioned countries

3.       Native English Speaker

4.       Good physical and mental health

5.       No criminal record

If you are willing to do the research in contacting an institution directly instead of going through a recruiterhttp://jobs.seoul.go.kr/ has a lot of job offers in the Seoul area. This method may allow you to find higher salaries and jobs that suit your interests. http://www.worknplay.co.kr/recruitings/recruitings.htm is a recruiting firm but also lists open positions at public schools as well as reputable private schools across Korea.