Why Korea? 10 Reasons We Teach Here
So you’re excited by the idea of getting paid to live abroad and teach English, but you’re overwhelmed by all of the options. Europe is glamorous, South America is caliente, Japan is from the future, China is fascinating, Thailand is a tropical paradise… so, why choose South Korea? We at Teach Korea Tips believe that Korea’s charm as a fascinating place to live and visit is vastly underrated. For whatever reason, Korea just doesn’t have the same romance in the imaginations of most Westerners as some of its neighbors, and we think that is a big oversight. Here, in no particular order, are our…
Top 10 Reasons to “Teach Korea”
1. Food Lindsey and I fell hard for the unique blend of spicy, tangy, and savory that is Korean cuisine and now we can’t get enough of it. Some love it, some hate it. But almost everyone agrees on the barbeque.
2. “Jeong” Wikipedia devines ‘jeong’ as, “a combination of compassion, empathy, and bond on a very soulful level.” For Koreans, it is a hard-to-define, but foundational concept that runs through every aspect of life. You’ll find it in simple acts of kindness, such as sharing a snack in the office, to the deep connections you can make with your friends and coworkers.
3. Travel When you move to Korea, Asia becomes your new backyard. Ever dreamed of taking a weekend jaunt to Tokyo or Halong Bay? Well, you can here.
4. Internet Fastest. In. The. World.
5. Culture Korean culture is a living, vibrant part of dialy life that just happens to be thousands of years old. Check out a “pungmul” performance for some awesome drumming and gymastic feats. Plus, whether you love to hate it, or just plain love it, “K-Pop” is here to stay.
6. Health care The Korean health care system is top notch, and cheap! Last year I paid $4 for a visit to the doctor when I had the flu.
7. Your fellow expats Today, there are over 22,000 foreign English teachers living in South Korea. And while moving abroad to teach English is certainly for people who enjoy being pushed outside of their comfort zone, it is nice to have neighbors who share your background and are in the same boat as you.
8. A place to pursue your passions Lindsey and I both have very strong interests, and we were a little apprehensive before we came that we would have to put them on hold while we lived in Korea and work full time. In fact, we found the opposite to be true. Lindsey contributed to couple of great ex-pat publications, Seoul Eats and Groove Magazine, and I played in a folk band (Bridget and the Puppycats) and studied Korean drumming. The truth is that Korea is full of native English speakers who suddenly find themselves with the time and disposable income to follow their bliss. No matter what how obscure your cup of tea may be, there’s a community here pursuing it passionately.
9. English-friendly As I discussed at greater length before, both the people and the infrastructure of Korea a very English-friendly. Getting around your town and getting along with your coworkers are both possible without knowing a word of Korean.
10. Money Korea is simply the best place for new English teachers to make a lot of money and live on a little. I know that’s a big claim to make, but read my post about saving $10,000/year and I think you’ll agree that it’s true.
Is South Korea heaven on Earth? Definitely not. Like anywhere, it’s got its fair share of injustices and frustrating foibles. But it’s a great place to get a job teaching English, and with a positive attitude it can be a deeply rewarding and seriously fun place to live.
Don't waste valuable suitcase space on common items like shampoo and soap. What, you think they ain't got that stuff in Korea?
Great website! I have one question I haven't seen addressed elsewhere. I'm an American woman in my late 50's. Within a year I'll have all the prerequisites for applying for a job teaching English in Korea, which I am highly motivated to do. I'm very active, lively, outgoing, friendly, etc etc. Do you anticipate that I'll encounter age bias? Thanks so much.
Thank you, Amanda! I will be retiring from a school system next year and was very concerned about age bias. I’m so glad to hear from someone around my age who plans to be over there and hoping there will be many more!
Hi Amanda, thanks for your kind words. In a word: yes, you will face age bias. As a person over 50 in Korea you will be treated with more respect than a younger person, however, you will find that most employers are looking for teachers under 40. The extent to which this affects your job prospects depends on your qualifications (teaching experience?) and flexibility (are you OK with teaching in the countryside?). This is just a guess, but you may find more success in the public schools where the hiring is more systematic and (hopefully) less influenced by prejudice.
All the best.
What a wonderful website! Amanda has asked about the age factor. What about the race factor? On one of the recruiting websites a picture is required. Have you noticed people (particularly Americans) of different ethnicities teaching English in Korea? Or have your heard of any biases? Kim
I have known English teachers of every ethnicity teaching in Korea. You should have no problem getting job offers because of your race, especially in the major cities where people tend to be more metropolitan.
Hey,
I taught in Korea for 2 years. They’re highly racist when it comes to non-whites. They tend to hire Caucasians first and formost in Seoul. Not to say they won’t hire other ethnicities, but there is a strong preference for white individuals. There is a concentration of African Americans in central S.Korea. That could be beneficial in some ways?
Just thought I’d tell it to you strait,
Adam
What is "Anti English Spectrum?"
Hi Jon, I have no idea! There used to be a major website for English teachers in Korea called "English Spectrum."
Hi, I am finding your website helpful. I have been considering teaching in South Korea and I was also concerned about age. I have had my bachelor's for about a year and am currently working on my master's online. I will be 39 in a month and a half. Although most people do not realize I am that old but I have definitely passed my partying phase. I have read a lot of sites where it seems there is a lot of partying and drinking and I was wondering if this is expected and would it be offensive if I were to decline offers to do such things. Thanks for any info because I have become extremely confused trying to decide what to do.
Toni
Hi Toni,
I understand your concern, but the truth is that many people over 40 teach in Korea and enjoy the lifestyle they want. Partying is a huge part of Korean culture, but the pressure to drink too much is usually reserved for younger people. As a person who's past their 20's, you will receive less pressure and more respect for how you wish to handle yourself. That's just one of the facts of the age-hierarchical structure of Korean society.
Best of luck with your decision.
Thank you so much. That does make me feel better. I think it will be a great experience to have. I am definitely leaning toward going. Thanks again for the info.
Toni
Hi there! Great site. I just have one question. I noticed that a lot of teaching jobs in Korea only last a year long. Is it possible to make teaching English in Korea a career? Could I keep going after my year is complete?
Thank you!
Kellie
Hi Kellie,
Many people decide to teach a few years abroad and either sign a new contract or renew their current contract. It is definitely something you can make into a career if you like. Having a master's degree in ESL definitely helps the opportunity for growth and the ability to teach at a university level.
Great site! I am extremely interested in teaching English in Korea but I was at a loss as to where to begin. This site has really helped show me where I need to start. One question: I am applying to law schools at the moment for the Fall 2012 school year. If I did teach English in Korea, I would need to come back to the States sometime before next Fall. Is that possible? Can I only teach for ~6 months? Or is it one year minimum?
Hi Danny,
Thanks for the kind words! Unfortunately, most employers are looking for at least a one year commitment.
Hi there,
I’m researching teaching English in Korea. I have a BA and an MA (and am from the UK) but I’ve never taught or studied Education before – do you think that taking a CELTA actually IN Korea would be the best way for me to do this? Also, what would be the best time of year to be out there having finished the course and looking for a job?
Thanks so much for your help – I’ve only known about your website for about 10 minutes and I’m already finding it incredibly helpful!
Thanks you!
Thanks, Sasperella!
With your advanced degree, there’s no need to take a CELTA to get a job in Korea. However, if you would feel more comfortable having done some training before searching for a job, some of the best certifications are offered in the UK.
Did you find our posts about TEFL certifications and when to apply?
http://www.teachkoreatips.com/199/should-i-take-a-tefl-course/
http://www.teachkoreatips.com/229/when-should-i-appl/
Hello. I am strongly considering doing this. I have some questions:
1) How do Koreans view Americans? Will it be hard for me to meet people and make friends?
2) What about dating? Just curious as to how their cultural view differ on dating?
3)Would I have to pay income tax in the US? If I do this I wont be back in the US until my contract is over. Those flights are expensive haha
4)As for recruiters how what are good ones? Currently I am looking at footprints (though I think I wont use them since they only reimburse you for your flight with first paycheck), say kimchi, and Morgan (leaning towards Morgan since they give you their own week long training course, pay for your flight, and give you a book about learning Korean, plus other stuff).
5) When I start to apply is it better to apply to many jobs at once or one at a time?
6)Whats it like teaching in a public school? Id like the vacation days of a public but having 30 kids per class sounds nerve wrecking. While in a private is less kids, korean income tax, and less vacation time. Now sure which route I should go.
7) I have 2 degrees: An AA and a BA. Would that enable me to get a higher paygrade?
Thats all for now. Thank you!
Hi Kerry! In answer to your questions:
1) This depends completely on you. Some foreigners in Korea look for opportunities to feel slighted and excluded, others take the good with the bad and make life-long Korean friends.
2) There could be, and probably are, books written on this! In short, dating among younger people is much like in the West: some people see dating as casual and fun, others see it as a way to find a husband or wife as quickly as possible! Either way, dating between Koreans and foreigners is very common and socially accepted.
3)Nope.
4)Use all three! Honestly, those all have very good reputations and there’s nothing wrong with using more than one recruiter.
5) As many as it takes all at once.
6)You nailed it, it’s pretty much 6 one way and half dozen the other.
7) Possibly, but probably not.
More questions haha
1) I will be 28 when I go there (turning 29 a a few months after my arrival) will it be hard to fit in? I plan on drinking and having a good time while im there. Will this portray me in a bad light? Also I shave my head. How will this be viewed by Koreans?
2) I am 5’9and about 210. I plan on being between 180-190 when I get there. I am husky with broad shoulders and my shoes size is 12-13 and wide. Will I find it hard to shop there? I am hoping to live in a city like souhel.
3 I am not a big fan of fish or spicy food. Would I be able to find food that suites my tastes?
4) Will my credit cards work in Korea? Also I like to order from amazon. Is there an amazon site that delivers to Korea?
5) What do I need to do to get my electronic gadgets to work? I plan on bringing my us xbox360, laptop, tablet, and some electronic razors. Will I be able to buy games for my us360 in Korea?
1) You are definitely not too old to fit in, if that’s what you’re asking. Same with partying–are you kidding me?! Koreans from age 18-80 put Western college kids to shame. You will get some curious glances from older Koreans and some rude comments (both intentional and unintentional) from your students because of your hair, but it won’t affect your ability to make friends or get around in general.
2) You will find it almost impossible to shop for clothes in Korea. Bring as much as you can with you!
3) Yes, most Koreans believe the stereotype that Westerners cannot handle their spicy food and will cook accordingly. Surprisingly, it can actually be difficult to get a restaurant to make food very spicy for you as a foreigner.
4) I’m not sure about Amazon, but in Korea there is english.gmarket.co.kr which will deliver almost anything the same day you order it! Your credit cards will work in most places, but make sure to call your bank in advance to tell them you will be traveling.
5) You might be able to find pirated US360 games, not sure about that. You need to check on your electronic devices whether they can accept 230v. Many things, like laptops, will, others will not. If they DO you just need a little plug adapter that you can find for $.40 in any Korean dollar store. If they don’t, you’ll need a power transformer which will be more expensive, but still widely available.
Hi there!
I’m 25 years old lady but i look younger than my age, if i do consider applying will i not come across any disadvantages due to my appearance? (small bodied).
Hi Busi,
Don’t worry! You’ll find that looking “younger than your age” and being “small bodied” make you fit in perfectly in Korea.
Hi,
I have a couple questions in regards to teaching in Korea.
I’m a 26 year old Korean-American who is very interested in returning to my “motherland” to reconnect with my culture, visit distant families, and to save some money to pay off my school debts. I have a Master’s Degree in Educational Counseling, and got a bachelor’s degree in Women’s Studies, but do not have a TESL certificate. Will this be an issue or even with a Masters Degree, would it still be recommendable that I get a TESL certificate?
Also, I was informed by some people that being Korean-American and not a Caucasian, it may be more difficult for me to get hired. Is that true?
Hope to hear back soon!
Oh, I forgot to add, I don’t speak Korean very well at all.
English is my first language.
Hi,
I am 20 year old Chinese- American considering doing ESL in Korea, and I was wondering if this would be detrimental to getting a job back in the USA once I return. Is it possible to permanently teach ESL in Korea?
I was considering pursuing a degree in Business, but am afraid of lowered job opportunities after ESL. Is it possible to find a career in Business in Korea?
Do you think it is better to pursue a degree in something that is more applicable to ESL? Like getting a teaching degree, so that the time spent teaching in Korea applies to future jobs back home?
Thanks