Field Notes / Long Stay

Teaching English in South Korea: E-2 Visa, EPIK, Hagwons, and Salaries in 2026

2026-06 6 min read EN

At a glance — If you hold a passport from one of the seven E-2-eligible countries (US, UK, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, South Africa), teaching English in Korea is a clear, well-trodden path. You need a bachelor's degree, a clean criminal background check, and an apostilled diploma; expect EPIK, hagwon, or university work paying ₩2.1M–₩3.0M per month with housing usually included.

Who qualifies: the E-2 visa and the seven-country rule

The E-2 (Conversation Instruction / foreign language instructor) visa is the standard route for teaching English in Korean public schools, hagwons (private academies), and the EPIK program. Korean immigration limits the E-2 to citizens of seven countries deemed "native English-speaking": the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. The criterion is strictly citizenship, not language proficiency — a passport from one of these seven is the gatekeeping requirement.

If you hold one of those passports, the standard requirements are:

  • Bachelor's degree (any major), apostilled. The apostille is the Hague Convention authentication, obtained in your country of issue (US: state Secretary of State; UK: FCDO Legalisation Office; Canada/Australia/NZ: federal foreign-affairs department; Ireland: DFA; South Africa: DIRCO).
  • National criminal background check, apostilled, dated within the last six months. FBI check for US applicants; ACRO for the UK; RCMP for Canada; AFP for Australia; MOJ for NZ; Garda Vetting / police certificate for Ireland; SAPS for South Africa.
  • Passport from one of the seven eligible countries.
  • A signed contract with a Korean sponsor (school or hagwon) — they file the visa issuance number on your behalf.
  • TEFL or TESOL certificate of 100–120 hours is required in practice by EPIK and most hagwons, and strongly recommended elsewhere.
  • A bachelor's earned at a university in one of the seven countries also helps, and some schools require it.

Two notes:

  • EPIK also accepts Indian citizens under the Korea–India CEPA agreement, provided they hold a valid English-teaching certificate.
  • The TaLK program (Teach and Learn in Korea), still mentioned in older guides, was closed in July 2021 and has not been relaunched.

The four main pathways

1. EPIK (English Program in Korea). The government-run program places teachers in public elementary, middle, and high schools across the country. It offers centralized hiring twice a year (spring and fall intakes), structured benefits, and the most predictable contract of any route. Provincial postings are common; Seoul placements are competitive and pay slightly more.

2. GEPIK and SMOE. Regional public-school programs run by the Gyeonggi (GEPIK) and Seoul (SMOE) education offices. They follow a structure similar to EPIK but recruit directly through the local education office. Worth considering if you want to target a specific metropolitan area.

3. Hagwons (private academies). The largest employer of foreign English teachers. Year-round hiring, faster onboarding, generally higher base pay than EPIK, but contracts and working conditions vary enormously by chain and individual branch. Major chains include Chungdahm, Pagoda, YBM, ECC, Wall Street English, Avalon, Poly. Independent hagwons are everywhere — vet each one carefully.

4. Universities (E-1 or E-2 visa). These offer lower teaching hours (often 12–16 per week) and longer vacations, but they are harder to break into without a master's degree, prior university teaching experience in Korea, or both. Universities can sponsor E-1 (professor) visas for qualified academics regardless of the seven-country rule, though English instructor posts typically still default to E-2 hiring.

Salaries and contract terms in 2026

Rough order of magnitude for a first contract:

  • EPIK (public schools): ₩2.1M–₩3.0M per month (roughly $1,550–$2,200) depending on province, qualifications, and experience. Seoul sits at the top of the scale. 12-month contract, renewable. Single-occupancy furnished housing provided (or a stipend), about 18 days of paid leave, settlement allowance, round-trip airfare reimbursed, and severance equal to one month's salary at contract end.
  • Hagwons: typically ₩2.3M–₩3.0M per month ($1,700–$2,200) for a first contract. 12-month contract, housing usually included, about 10–11 days of paid leave (less than EPIK), and shifts that often skew to late afternoon and evening to catch after-school students. Severance equal to one month's salary after 12 months is legally required (Korean Labor Standards Act).
  • International schools (e.g., Seoul Foreign School, Korea International School, Dwight School Seoul, Yongsan International School of Seoul, Chadwick International): a different market — ₩3.5M–₩6M per month ($2,600–$4,400) depending on school, tenure, and role, with housing or stipend, flights, and sometimes dependent tuition. Requires a teaching license, typically 2–3 years of classroom experience, and often a master's. Recruitment runs through fairs like Search Associates, ISS-Schrole, and ISS and starts roughly a year before the school year.
  • Universities: variable; entry-level English instructor posts often land around ₩2.6M–₩3.5M plus housing, with significantly lighter teaching loads.

Figures vary by employer and should be confirmed in writing before you sign.

Realities and contract gotchas

  • Housing is normally included for EPIK and hagwon contracts — single-occupancy studio (officetel) within commuting distance of the school. If a contract offers a stipend instead, check that it covers Seoul-level rent (commonly ₩600,000–₩900,000/month plus a large key-money deposit).
  • Read the hagwon contract in full. Verify clauses on housing, overtime, sick days, contract termination, vacation timing (some hagwons restrict when you can take it), and severance pay. Severance is legally due after 12 months — some hagwons try to terminate just before the 12-month mark to avoid it.
  • Apostille and background checks take time. Plan for several weeks to a couple of months end to end, especially for FBI checks during high-demand periods. Start before you accept an offer.
  • Hagwon hours are not 9-to-5. Expect afternoon and evening shifts; Saturdays are sometimes part of the schedule.
  • The cost of living in Seoul has risen sharply in recent years. With housing provided, a hagwon or EPIK salary covers a comfortable lifestyle; without it, the math gets tight.
  • International school hiring is competitive and credential-driven. A passport alone won't open the door — the teaching license, experience, and references do.
  • Recruiters: reputable agencies that don't charge teachers include Korvia, Adventure Teaching, Reach to Teach, Teach Away, and Footprints Recruiting. Avoid any recruiter asking you for fees.

If you're not from one of the seven eligible countries

The E-2 citizenship rule is binary and strict — there is no case-by-case waiver. If you hold a passport from another English-fluent country (e.g., India, Singapore, the Philippines, much of the Caribbean), the standard E-2 route is closed except for the Indian-EPIK exception above. Realistic alternatives:

  • International schools on an E-7 visa if you have a teaching license and experience.
  • Universities on an E-1 visa for academic posts.
  • F-6 spouse visa (married to a Korean citizen) allows unrestricted work, including hagwon teaching.
  • F-4 overseas Korean visa for ethnic Koreans, also unrestricted.

Useful links

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