ESL Korea – Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

All teachers in the public school sector (excluding Canadians) are exempt from paying income taxes during their first 2 years of employment in South Korea. In order to receive the income tax exemption teachers need to submit an official Residency Certificate from their country of citizenship. Teachers in the private sector are required to pay income taxes. Taxes in South Korea are quite minimal and will only account for 3.5 - 7% of your monthly income. The school you work for should automatically deduct the taxes from your salary; therefore, you don’t have to worry about filing paperwork with the Korean government. Note: The Gone2Korea staff are not tax professionals; therefore, speaking with a charted accountant or financial advisor before departing is recommended.

How much you can save obviously depends on your lifestyle. Day to day living expenses usually account for 35-50% of your income. Most teachers in Korea are able to save 8 -10 million won in their first year. Note: Western teachers in Korea are able to live a very high quality of life with the salaries they receive.

Many schools will offer overtime work which can help you bank some extra money. Note: It is illegal to work for multiple schools unless your contractual employer allows it and has your visa amended. Secondly, it is illegal to teach private lessons (tutoring) in Korea. Teachers who get involved with illegal employment do so at their own risk.

Where you can save the most depends on the sector and your habits. Private English schools in the larger cities usually offer slightly higher salaries; however, the cost of living is greater and there are more things to distract you into spending. Public schools on the other hand offer higher salaries for job vacancies in the smaller cities and rural areas. Note: If your primary objective is to save money but you’re easily distracted by shopping, nightlife, entertainment, etc. then living and working outside of the metropolitan areas is probably a wise choice.

Working hours vary between schools and sectors. The standard work week for private English schools is 28 - 30 hours of in-class teaching, although director's and school managers expect teachers to arrive 1 or 2 hours early in order to prepare for their classes. Jobs in the public sector require 20 – 24 hours of in-class teaching each week; the principal will also require teachers to complete 1-2 hours of lesson planning each day. Generally speaking, both sectors will require their teaching staff to be at the school for 7-9 hours a day – similar to teachers in the West.

Benefits include: 50/50 health insurance (medical plan), free airfare to and from Korea, furnished living accommodations (rent free apartment), visa sponsorship and a severance package (bonus) equal to 1 months salary at the end of your contract. For a detailed list of benefits please visit our benefits of teaching in Korea page.

Yes. A bachelors degree from an accredited school (any major or discipline) is mandatory for the programs we represent. Please visit our Application Requirements page for more details.

No. Although former teaching experience and related majors are an advantage, they are not a requirement for securing legitimate employment as an English teacher in Korea. If you want to make your self more appealing to employers you may want to get your teaching English as a foreign language (TEFL) diploma. Although completing one of these courses will not automatically gaurantee you a job, having this diploma certainly increases your chances of being considered. Gone2Korea recommends completing the 100 hour or the 120 hour diploma course offered through TEFL Online.

Officially sealed transcripts are often referred to as Academic Records or Academic Transcripts in countries outside of North America. Transcripts are paper documents which illustrate the courses and grades you obtained in college or university. In order to secure this document you will need to speak with your schools registrar’s office. Grades are not of importance, the transcripts are essentially needed to verify the authenticity of your actual degree. Officially sealed refers to the way your school seals the transcript. It’s extremely important for your school to place your transcripts in a university envelope, with letterhead, and seal the back flap (crease) with a proper school logo, stamp, sticker, embossment or raised seal. Gone2Korea strongly advises teachers to request a signature over the seal when possible. Note: If the envelope is not sealed properly then Korean immigration will reject your application and you will be required to submit them again.

Unlike many Asian countries, having an ESL teaching certification (i.e. TESOL, TEFL, CELTA, etc.) is not a mandatory requirement for teaching English in South Korea. Note: Having an ESL certificate will sometimes give you an edge when school directors are reviewing your profile. Additionally, some of the public school programs will offer you a higher salary if you have an ESL certificate comprised of 100, or more, course hours.

Your Korean employer will pay for your flight to and from Korea. In most cases, the school will provide you with a one way ticket to Korea at the start of your contracted term and another one way ticket back home at the end of your contract.

You will live in an apartment that’s being provided by your employer. Most apartments are located within walking distance of the school, although some apartments will require a short commute. Schools usually offer single studio style apartments. Please be advised: Apartments in Korea are quite small and utilities are the teachers responsibilities.

Monthly utilities will include; telephone, electricity, heating and a small apartment maintenance fee. The combined monthly cost of these bills usually equates to 60,000 – 120,000 Korean won per month.