The best pay in Asia — and students who will genuinely inspire you
South Korea offers the most teacher-friendly package in Asia. Housing is provided, flights are covered, and salaries are strong. The E-2 visa process is well-established, the students are highly motivated, and the food is extraordinary. This is often where teachers come for one year and stay for five.
The E-2 visa is the standard work visa for ESL teachers. You'll need a degree from an accredited university, a criminal background check (FBI-level for Americans), an apostilled degree certificate, and a signed contract. Processing takes approximately 4–8 weeks. The EPIK programme handles most of this for you if you go the government school route.
Public school EPIK positions pay ₩2.5M–2.9M/month. Private hagwons pay ₩2.0M–2.8M. International schools pay ₩3.0M–3.5M+ for experienced teachers. Housing is provided in almost all positions. Seoul is the most expensive city but still very manageable on a teacher's salary.
EPIK (government public schools) offers the best work-life balance and job security. Hagwons pay more but hours can be longer and some are poorly managed — research carefully. International schools require teaching qualifications but offer the best career development and highest salaries.
Apostilled degree certificate, apostilled criminal background check (FBI for US, ACRO for UK), sealed university transcripts, TEFL/CELTA certificate, passport-sized photos, medical check (done in Korea). Start the apostille process early — it takes weeks.
Korea surprised me more than anywhere. I expected efficiency and got warmth. Students here work harder than anywhere I've taught, and the sense of reward when they progress is immense. Seoul is electric but can feel overwhelming. I'd recommend Busan or Jeonju for a first posting — better quality of life, friendly communities, and genuinely beautiful cities.