Teaching in South Korea
South Korea combines strong compensation packages with excellent infrastructure and a high quality of life. International schools in Seoul and Busan compete for licensed teachers.
How to use this guide: Salary ranges mix published market guidance with teacher-reported international-school packages. Prefer reports that show year, role, housing, and school type (international vs hagwon), and weigh sample size before treating a median as definitive. How we handle data.
Teacher salaries in South Korea, from real reports
Based on 8 anonymous teacher salary reports across 11 international schools in South Korea. Figures are monthly base pay in US Dollar, with the top and bottom 5% trimmed. Compare housing, flights, tax context, and estimated savings on each school page before treating a median as the full picture.
Sourced from teachers who worked at these schools. Medians are base pay only. Per-report breakdowns (housing, flights, estimated savings, tax) are on each school's page. How we handle data.
Why teach in South Korea
- Strong salary packages with housing typically included
- Excellent infrastructure—transport, healthcare, safety
- High quality of life with modern amenities
- Established expat teaching community
- Efficient public transport and walkable cities
Salary, package, and savings
Base salary alone is misleading across countries. Housing, tax, flights, insurance, and estimated savings change which offer is actually better.
Who this is for: A solid savings posting at licensed international schools when housing is included. Base of roughly $2,200–3,800/month plus housing, flights, insurance, and legal severance is the package this guide covers. Hagwons are a different job with different pay and hours.
Teacher-reported / market estimate, not a guarantee
- Housing or housing allowance
- Annual flights
- Health insurance
- Severance pay (required by law after 1 year)
- Pension contributions
- Base salary (international schools)
- $2,200–3,800/mo
- Housing
- Provided or allowance (typical)
- Flights
- Annual flights (common)
- Health insurance
- Employer-supported / national system
- Severance
- Required by law after 1 year
- Pension
- Contributions common on international contracts
South Korea taxes employment income. Ask whether an offer is gross or net, and how national health insurance and pension contributions are handled. Housing provided vs allowance, plus Seoul vs Busan rent, usually moves take-home more than a small base bump.
A teacher on about $3,000/month with housing provided, spending moderately in Seoul, often estimates $1,000–2,000/month in savings. Without housing, Seoul rent of roughly ₩800,000–1,500,000 can cut that sharply. Hagwon packages usually save less. Savings figures are estimates, not guarantees.
- 1-bedroom apartment (Seoul, if not provided)
- ₩800,000–1,500,000 (~$600–1,100/mo)
- Meal at local restaurant
- ₩8,000–15,000 (~$6–11)
- Monthly metro pass
- ₩60,000 (~$45)
- Utilities
- ₩80,000–120,000 (~$60–90)
Workplace reality to research
Compensation decides whether an offer works financially. These factors decide whether it works day to day. Check school pages for teacher-reported details.
- International schools and hagwons are different workplaces; hours, prep load, and after-school expectations can diverge a lot.
- Some international schools run long days; ask about teaching periods, meetings, and evening or Saturday duties before signing.
- Leadership culture and class sizes vary by campus; Seoul packages may look stronger on paper while Busan often costs less to live.
Requirements
- Teaching license from home country
- Bachelor's degree (minimum)
- 2+ years experience preferred for international schools
- Clean criminal record; apostilled degree required
Common curricula
IB, AP, British (IGCSE, A-Levels), American. Schools specify their curriculum in job postings.
Main cities for teaching
Seoul, Busan, Incheon, Daegu. Hiring season: October–March for March or August start.
Featured schools in South Korea
Schools with the most salary data from teachers
NLCS Jeju
Busan Foreign School
Chadwick I.S.
Korea International School
International School Busan (ISB)
Dwight School Seoul
Seoul Foreign School
SJA
Branksome Hall Asia
BHA
Decline to name
Things to know
- Work hours can be long; research school culture before accepting
- Hagwons (academies) are different from international schools—different pay and benefits
- Seoul is expensive; Busan and smaller cities have lower costs
Frequently asked questions
- Do South Korean schools require a teaching license?
- International schools do. Hagwons (private academies) often accept TEFL + degree. This guide focuses on international schools.
- Should I compare the complete package or just base salary in South Korea?
- Compare the complete package. Base of $2,200–3,800/month is only one line. Housing, flights, insurance, severance after one year, and pension contributions change what you keep. Do not mix hagwon offers with international-school packages when comparing base pay alone.
- What should teachers check about workplace and workload in South Korea?
- Confirm whether the role is an international school or a hagwon. Ask about teaching periods, preparations, after-school or Saturday duties, and meeting load. Read reviews for leadership culture and class sizes. Hours can be long even at strong schools, so verify the daily timetable before accepting.
- What's the work culture like at Korean international schools?
- Varies by school. Hours can be long. Research individual schools—reviews from current teachers help.
- Can I save money teaching in South Korea?
- Yes. With housing provided and moderate living costs, many teachers save $1,000–2,000 per month.
- Seoul vs Busan for teaching?
- Seoul has more schools and higher salaries. Busan has a lower cost of living and a more relaxed pace. Both are popular.
- When should I apply for South Korea teaching jobs?
- October–March for March or August start dates. Apply 4–6 months before your target start.
Research schools before you accept
Compare teacher-reported packages, estimated savings, and workplace notes at international schools in South Korea.