Should You Teach English In Korea? How Korea Compares

When I was younger, before I became an English teacher and world traveler, I always thought about going to Japan to teach English. The option to teach English in Korea never crossed my mind. But, things have changed quite a bit, and nowadays Korea may be a better deal than most people realize.

Teaching Opportunities Are Everywhere

First off, Korea has the highest demand for English teachers than anywhere else in Asia. New schools are popping up all the time, and they are always looking for teachers. Seoul is pretty crowded with foreign English teachers, but in cities like Pusan that are rapidly developing, you can pretty much walk into a good teaching job.

Korea is attractive to lots of people because they offer free airfare and accommodation deals. This used to be common practice in Japan, but the money for all that just isn’t there anymore. To go to Korea and teach, you don’t have to save up the bundle of money you need before you head to Japan or Taiwan.

You Might Actually Save Money!

Most people will tell you that Japan is where the big money for teaching is, but Japan is also the most expensive country in Asia to live in. I’m sure you’ve heard stories about people teaching in Japan and having to live in a shoebox-sized apartment in Tokyo.

The Korean Won is not as valuable as the Japanese Yen, but you it’s still pretty viable. Korea is not like China or Thailand, where you can teach English and live like a king, but your whopping salary is just peanuts outside of the country.

In Korea, you can make a decent wage that will allow you to have a bigger house. You can go out to eat, hit the local clubs, and do some traveling. You can do all of this, and even save some money to take home with you. Many would say that Korea is the best deal going.

Beware Of Rip-Offs

One big drawback to teaching in Korea is that there are lots of scams and rip-offs. It is pretty common for schools to hire teachers illegally, or use fake documents. There have been cases where teachers have not been paid, or forced to work ridiculous hours.

It’s really important that you check out the company before you take a job in Korea. Use the Internet and the ESL forums and talk to people who have gone there. There is legal help available, of course. Make sure that everything is legit so you don’t get ripped off.

It’s important everywhere to read your contract carefully and ask all the questions you need answered before taking a job. But, this is especially important in Korea.

Finally, most people who teach English in Korea find Korean people to be very warm and friendly. It is easy to make friends, and major cities have lots of clubs, restaurants and other fun things to do. In Korea, you can teach English, live well, enjoy what the country has to offer, and save a bit to take home with you.