ESL Korea – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

This obviously depends on your lifestyle. Cost of living usually accounts for roughly 20-30% of your income. Most teachers average 8 -10 million Won a year in savings and live a very good quality of life which includes traveling, entertainment and shopping.

Many schools will offer overtime work which can help you bank some extra money. Note: It is illegal to work for anybody else other than your contractual employer.

Saving the most money depends on your habits. You can make more money teaching in a large city, however the cost of living is slightly higher and there are more things to distract you into spending. If you can avoid these distractions, than city living is the best option. However if you are the type of person with little self control (i.e. shopping, nightlife, spending) then living in a smaller city is definitely a more suitable place to save extra money.

Depends on the school you choose. The standard work week is between 28 - 30 hours of in class teaching. Although director's and school managers usually expect teachers to arrive 1 or 2 hours early in order to prepare for their classes. This is an industry standard and is not negotiable.

Benefits include 50% of health insurance, roughly 210,000 Won depending on the insurance company your school deals with. Free return flight to and from Korea, and furnished living accommodations (apartment). Complete visa sponsorship. Plus one month's 'bonus' salary at the end of your contract. Meaning if you make 2.0 million Won a month then your last paycheck will have the 2.0 million plus an additional 2.0 million bonus. Therefore, even if you save nothing during the entire year, you will still be bringing 4.0 million Won home when you finish. For a more complete list of the click benefits of teaching in Korea

Yes a university degree in any field is mandatory. You must have an undergraduate degree, or higher, in any field. Your degree must be from a University that resides in a native English speaking country. You will need to provide proof of this to obtain your E2 working visa. You will also need officially sealed transcripts to accompany your degree during processing. Please visit the Document Requirements to teach in Korea page of our site for more details.

No! Teaching experience is not required to teach in Korea. In fact, you are probably better off going in with little to no teaching experience at all. Why? Because teachers in western countries are used to teaching children of the same culture and same language which in reality is very different than teaching students of another culture who do not speak your language. Believe us, its fun learning how to teach and everyone develops their own teaching style built around their own character, strengths and weaknesses. However, it is important that the students learn from their teachers and therefore, and even more importantly, that teachers make a genuine effort in helping their students learn as much as possible.

You will need to speak to the registrar office of your graduated university and request a minimum of 2 copies of 'Officially Sealed' transcripts to support your application. Transcripts are the breakdown of your final marks towards your degree/diploma. Your grades are not of importance, rather the transcripts proove your degree/diploma is legit. Make sure to inform the university that you need the transcripts for employment purposes. It is extremely important that the university seals the envelope by placing their logo, stamp, crest, or official seal over the seal of the envelope. It is also strongly advised to ask them to place their signature over the seal to show that it has not been tampered with and that the contents within are genuine.

If the envelope is not properly sealed, Korean immigration will reject your application and you will have to submit another copy.

Please avoid this from happening! it will cause delays and you may loose the job you are after. If you are concerned with what the university has sent you, contact Gone2Korea and discuss things before mailing them to Korean Immigration.

You are not required to enroll and complete any formal ESL training courses in order to obtain a Conversational English Teaching position in South Korea. However, any formal training courses completed will give you an edge when school directors are reviewing your profile. We recommend the GLOBAL TESOL course if you are looking for an internationally recognized preparation course.

If you have any specific questions concerning training courses please contact the appropriate institution offering the course.

The school you choose to work at will pay for your flight to and from Korea. Typically you will be provided with a one way ticket from an international airport in your area to Korea. Once you have completed your contract, a one way return flight will be provided.

You will live in an apartment which is usually located within walking distance of the school. Some schools are 5 minutes away and others can be 20 minutes away. Your living arrangements will also depend on your school selection. Some schools offer 2 or 3 bedroom apartments that you share with other foreign teachers, while other schools will house you in your own studio apartment. This is something to consider before choosing the school. Do you prefer to have roommates or do you prefer to live alone?