TYPES OF TEACHING POSITIONS IN SOUTH KOREA

HAGWONS
The term “hagwon” means “after school program” in Korean.  Millions of hagwons exist in South Korea offering countless subjects to all ages.  There are math hagwons, dance hagwons, taekwondo hagwons, art hagwons, sport hagwons, foreign language hagwons etc.   Korean Student will typically attend several different hagwons throughout the week.  The most popular hagwons are English Hagwons, Taekwondo, and Math hagwons.  Many of the English hagwons employ foreign English instructors.  The majority of foreign teachers In Korea work in Hagwons.

KINDERGARTENS
Kindergartens have several different formats and schedules.  Some kindergartens conduct different classes such as phonics, math, reading, gym, arts and crafts etc all in English.  Others are simply Korean kindergartens that offer an English class.  Kindergartens typically operate during normal workday hours (9:00-5:00 or 10:00-6:00).  The format of classes and schedules varies according to different schools and programs.
Kindergarten, or younger children typically attend classes in the morning, where as elementary and middle school children come in the afternoon.  In Korea, kindergarten is considered the three years before children attend the first grade when they are 8 years old.  Students attending the morning classes are usually between the Korean ages of 4-7 (which means 3-6 years old in western age).
Kindergartens usually offer the typical benefits: airfare, health insurance split 50/50 with the employer, 10 days paid vacation and national holidays, housing or housing allowance and severance bonus.
 
AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAMS
Elementary and Middle school students usually make up the student body of these institutions.  Students usually attend between 1 and 5 classes per week.  Class times usually vary between 45 minutes and 3 hours.  The format of classes and schedules varies according to different schools and programs that the institution offers.  Students usually attend these institutions after attending their public or private elementary school or middle school.  After school programs typically operate between the hours of (1:00-9:00, 3:00-10:00, or 4:00-12:00).  The majority of English teachers working in hagwons, work in this type of school.  After school programs usually offer the typical benefits: airfare, health insurance split 50/50 with the employer, 10 days paid vacation and national holidays, housing or housing allowance and severance bonus.

ADULT ENGLISH
Some hagwons offer classes for conversation, business, or travel English to adults.  The format of these institutions varies greatly from one institution to the next.  Teachers will typically teach classes early in the morning, in the evening, and sometimes during the lunch hour.  The schedules vary according to the schedules of the students, who are mostly working adults.   These teaching positions are often split shifts where the teacher will work early in the morning, have a long break, and return to work for a few hours in the evening.  The advantages of these positions are that the teacher is working with adults, and usually works fewer hours than other jobs.   Adult Hagwons usually offer the typical benefits: airfare, health insurance split 50/50 with the employer, 10 days paid vacation and national holidays, housing or housing allowance and severance bonus. 

PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Many public elementary, middle, and high schools now have foreign English teachers.  The public school schools usually operate from 8:00-4:00 or 9:00-5:00.  Public school teaching and living conditions vary greatly from one school to the next.  Teachers at public schools are usually the only foreign teacher working at the school.  Public schools often offer less working hours and more vacation time than hagwons.  The salary for public schools is set according tot a teacher’s experience.  Any entry level teacher without experience and a degree in anything other than English or Education can expect to make 2.0-2.1 million won.  The salary can reach a max of 2.3 million won for a person who has 2-3 years of documented teaching experience and a degree in education or English.  Airfare, medical insurance (50/50), 10 or more days vacation, severance bonus, and Housing, or a housing allowance is usually provided by public schools. 
Although we have some public school positions available, Adventure Teaching concentrates mostly on placing teachers in hagwons.  We have known several teachers who were upset with their public school contracts, working conditions, and locations.  It is often difficult for inexperienced teachers to find public school jobs in good locations or big cities as these jobs are usually filled by veteran teachers.  Public school teachers are typically the only foreign teacher at the school or possibly in the area, which can make it very difficult for them to adjust to living in a foreign country.  Many school representatives do not speak English which often makes communication difficult and frustrating.  We recommend that teachers look into public school positions after they have completed a contract at another school in Korea, so that they can check the school out in person before signing the contract.
 
UNIVERSITY TEACHING
Most Universities employ full time English professors.  University classes are usually very large.  Universities usually require applicants to have a master’s degree or Doctorate to be considered for staff positions.  University positions usually offer a low number of teaching hours and greater amounts of vacation time.  The salary is typically 2.1-2.2 million won and housing is not always provided.  
University positions are usually quite difficult to get unless you have the right qualifications.  Universities do not use recruiters, as the positions are easily filled by veteran teachers. 

PRIVATE TUTORING
It is illegal for teachers who are living and working in Korea on E-2 Teaching Visas to teach private lessons.  Although many private tutoring opportunities are available and the compensations for these lessons are quite high, a teacher caught doing lessons may be fined, asked to leave the country, or both.

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