If you are thinking about teaching in Korea, are about to move to Korea, or are currently teaching in South Korea, this blog is for you. This is the holy grail of all things teaching and living in South Korea.
Check out the table of contents below to jump to your question.
THINGS I WILL NOT COVER: I do not go over the hiring process (interview tips/resume help), how to choose between a hagwon and public school, tips on which city to move to, and the visa process. If you are looking for all that information, check out How to Teach English in South Korea!
About Me
What educational background do you have?
I have a Bachelor’s degree in Human Resource Management and a minor in Counseling from The University of Iowa. I also have my Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certificate from International TEFL Academy (ITA). I am also Reiki II certified and Zumba Certified.
Click here for my full story and how I ended up in Korea.
What is your teaching experience?
I taught dance to kids in college. I also taught English in Santa Marta, Colombia for one month. Lastly, I was an online English teacher with QKids for 3 months before moving to Korea.
No, I did not feel prepared to teach English in Korea. (lol)
How long have you been teaching in Korea?
8 months.
April 2020 update: I left Korea a bit early, for more information check out COVID in Korea, April 2020 Update, and My Midnight Run Story: Escaping South Korea.
Why did you choose to teach in Korea?
I choose Korea for a multitude of reasons.
A small list of why I chose Busan, South Korea:
- Warm winters (in Busan)
- Nature (hiking + beaches)
- To travel
- To save money
- For a unique experience
I mention many times that I never thought I would be a teacher in general. I have a lot of ESL teachers in my family and cousins who’ve taught abroad. I never thought it was something I could do. I preferred saving up money, then long-term backpacking and volunteering.
What changed my mind? I volunteered at a school in Santa Marta, Colombia, and I really enjoyed it.
A few months later, I came home and got my TEFL certification. I researched many countries and determined teaching in Korea would be the smartest decision. I also got an Astro travel reading that affirmed my decision. So, I went for it.
Related articles: My Astro Travel Reading That Made Me Come to Korea, Teaching in Santa Marta, Colombia, How I Afford to Travel
Pre-Korea Questions
I want to teach in Korea. Where do I start?
Where did you get your TEFL?
International TEFL Academy. I absolutely LOVED their program and they helped me find a job quickly. The staff is amazing! I cannot recommend them enough.
Don’t want to invest in an accredited TEFL course? There are TEFL courses on Groupon for like $30.
What do I pack?
If you are moving to Busan (or Seoul), you really don’t need much. They have everything here and if you can’t find it, you can find it online and get it easily shipped to your apartment. I recommend bringing enough toiletries to last you a month or so, after you will be accustomed to your neighborhood to buy things at Daiso or Emart or you can order specialty items online.
A Few Packing Tips
- If you’re tall (and/or curvy), bring ALL the pants! You won’t be able to find any here.
- American snacks (GOSH I MISS CLIFF BARS)
- Adapter/voltage converter (for things like hairdryers, straighteners, and electronics like XBOX/PS4)
- Towels (it’s hard to find large towels/beach towels)
- Deodorant (I make my own, linked is the recipe)
- Toothpaste (if you prefer fluoride toothpaste, they only have fluoride-free)
- Bed linen (it’s hard to find fitted sheets)
- Basic medication (if you use anything on a regular basis. Birth control is cheap and easy to get here.)
- Makeup (for darker skin tones) or hair products for curly hair
For more packing information and a list of everything I bought, check out Moving to South Korea Guide + Packing List!
Apps to download before your move
- KakoaMap (navigation)
- Naver Map (navigation)
- KakoaTalk (the way everyone communicates)
- Subway Korea (metro system)
- Learn Korean (key phrases and words)
- Yogiyo (food delivery app)
Things to do before your move
- Open up a Citibank bank account (in the USA and Korea for easy transfers)
- Unlock your phone
- Preorder a sim card and pick up at the airport
- Tell your bank you’re leaving
- Join Facebook groups
- Expat Women in Korea
- LOFT: Legal Office For Foreign Teachers (for legal advice)
- Edgy Korea Memes for Korean and Expat Drama Queens (for a laugh)
- Vegan Korea
- Expats in Busan
- English Teachers in Busan
- Busan Hiking Club (weekly/biweekly hikes)
- Get an international driver’s license
- Watch a k-drama, listen to some k-pop, learn a couple Korean phrases
- get a VPN (I recommend Express VPN)
My School
What school do you work for?
I never mention what school I work for and that is so I can be 100% honest about my experience. Korea has strict defamation laws, so to protect myself, I will not mention what hagwon I work for.
If you’re curious about what hagwon I work for, you can always e-mail me at he***@co*****************.com or DM @courtneytheexplorer and I will tell you. ALSO! If you are interviewing or applying with certain companies and want to know whether they have a good or bad reputation, I’m more than happy to share my knowledge!
What was your training like?
My training started the day I flew to Korea. Yes, you heard right. I got to Korea on a Tuesday morning after almost an entire day of traveling and starting work that afternoon.
I had (almost) 2 weeks of training (9 days total) where I observed current teachers and trained with my supervisor on school policies and procedures. I taught my first class on day 7 of training.
Was training helpful? Yes and no. It helped observing teachers and seeing their different styles. On the other hand, it was repetitive and quite frankly, super fricking boring to sit in a classroom for 8 hours/day. I needed more time to prep for all my classes and some more guidance on classroom management. But, I’m grateful to be given any kind of training. I know some teachers are thrown into the classroom with little training or guidance.
Were you paid for training? I was paid 50% of my pay during training, but was given a little extra because I had to take over one kindergarten class before my official schedule started.
After training, my supervisors observed my classes and gave me feedback. As a new teacher, I appreciated the feedback.
Related article: First Week Teaching and Living in Busan, South Korea
What is your schedule like?
My schedule slightly changes every month.
At the start of my contract, I had a fairly easy schedule. But months in, I was given more classes. Now, my schedule is about 26 teaching hours a week (sometimes more if I sub a class). It’s A LOT of teaching hours in my opinion, especially with the amount of administrative work we do. I find myself working overtime to prep for my classes and get everything done. As I gain experience, I’m sure I will get faster at some of the admin things and at prepping for my classes.
Every teacher’s schedule can range from 9:30am to 7pm with a 40 minute lunch break. Most teachers teach from 9:50am-5:35pm (with a lunch and possibly a 40-80 minute prep period).
Most of my classes are 80 minutes. I arrive at school at 9:20am (sometimes 9:29am lol) to teach my 9:30 class. I have a 20 minute “warm-up class” with kindergarteners where I teach out of a phonics book.
I have 2 kindergarten classes in the morning Monday through Friday that start at 9:50am. Right after, I eat lunch with my students. (Update: recently I started eating lunch at home for a necessary break.) Then, I teach two 30 minute activity classes (science, reading, art, etc.) After, the kindergarteners leave and elementary students arrive.
On MWF, I have an 80 minute elementary class after my activity classes. Then, I have two back to back 40 minute elementary classes. Both groups are just starting to learn English and communication is limited. My day ends at 5:30pm on MWF.
On TTH, I have a 40 minute phonics class. On TH, I have an 80 minute class with incoming students. It’s a class to get the students ready for regular classes at my hagwon.
Once a week, we are required to do a “morning greet” where two teachers arrive at 9:15am to greet students as they enter the school. There are also occasional events after school that we are required to attend as well as phone teaching and field trips. We are asked to sub classes when teachers are ill or on vacation and do seasonal intensives (ex: summer camps) where we have extra afternoon/evening classes.
If I teach anything over 21 classes (28 teaching hours) in a week, I receive overtime. My first week of training was during intensives and I noticed most of the teachers were working overtime.
How many kids are in your classes?
I have anywhere between 3 and 12 students in my classes. Both of my kindergarten classes have 8 students.
How old are your students?
My youngest are around 4 years old. My oldest are around 8 or 9.
How much do you get paid?
If you are a new teacher, it’s normal to be paid about 2.1-2.3 Korean won. Some schools (like Poly) pay more (2.3-2.7 Korean won), because they require more hours/work load from teachers.
You can be paid more based on experience and education.
Is lunch provided?
Yes. But, the catch is if you eat the provided lunch, it’s expected that you sit with your kids for lunch. So, if I need a mental break (most days), I just eat at home.
What’s for lunch? Typical Korean food. Always rice, some sort of meat protein, kimchi, and soup. Every day is different.
Can I teach in Korea if I have tattoos? Do I have to hide them?
Yes, you can have tattoos! At my school, I do not have to hide my tattoos. I think Korea used to be more conservative about tattoos, but in recent years it’s more relaxed. But, every school is different.
Note: I have visible tattoos on my arms, shoulder, and ankle area. I did not tell my recruiter about my tattoos, nor was I asked. During my interview, I asked about the dress code and he (the head teacher) said business casual is appropriate and that tattoos are fine. (I didn’t ask about tattoos, but maybe he wanted to reassure me that the school was relaxed?)
Do you like your school?
There are pros and cons to every school. I will say, I don’t LOVE my hagwon. I work for a notorious hagwon in Korea known for overworking their employees. Some days I love it (mostly because of the children), other days I question all of my life choices.
Pros
- I’m always paid on time
- I have resources to teach
- Other foreign teachers (14 of us)
- The kids are wonderful
- I like my coworkers
- Prep periods
- My hours (9:30am-5:30pm)
- My apartment is right next to my school
Cons
- Administrative work (phone teaching, syllabus, and time sheets)
- Extra Activities: open classes, monthly birthday party, graduation play
- Overtime
- Being exhausted, living for the weekend
- Lack of communication and support at work
Administrative work and extra activities take away from your prep periods and sometimes (most of the time) require overtime to get everything done. From what I’ve heard, I think it’s somewhat similar to being a teacher in the US. Being a teacher sometimes requires you give everything. Some days it feels like my whole life is dedicated to this school and I have nothing left to give to other parts of my life.
The lack of communication and support has been hard to deal with as well. (I will make a separate in-depth post about all this after I leave Korea.)
Disclaimer: There are people who LOVE teaching in Korea and LOVE their school. Every experience is different. Just know that there are bad situations as well. There are many unhappy teachers counting down the days until they leave Korea. I think it depends on the person and your boss/coworkers. Be picky about what school you choose and shop around until you find the best offer.
Related article: Pros and Cons of Teaching Abroad
How many foreign teachers are there?
There are 11 foreign teachers at my school from United States, England, South Africa, and Canada. For kindergarten classes, the students have a Korean teacher and an International teacher. Legally the Korean teacher is suppose to teach grammar and the technical side of English. The foreign teacher is suppose to teach conversational English.
There are also helper teachers in all kindergarten classes. They are life savers. I LOVE MY HELPER TEACHERS! The Korean helper teacher organizes all the books, tells the kids to STFU in Korean, and helps with snacks and lunch.
How many people are in your classroom? What do Korean helper teachers do?
I teach by myself and have a Korean helper teacher to help with classroom management, translation, injuries/health, and lunch/snacks. You are there to teach, she’s there for anything else. I could not teach kindergarten without my helper teacher. If a student has a bloody nose or throws up all over himself, she takes care of it (yes, this has happened). If you’re class doesn’t speak a lick of English, your helper teacher will translate to help you. If your student gets up out of his seat and stands on his desk and starts screams, she’ll be there to yell at him in Korean and call his mom. These things really happen. You’ll have no idea what to do, but your Korean helper teacher will be there to save your life.
Note: In Korea, you are never alone, because there is CCTV. Your supervisor or parents might be watching while you teach.
Is there a dress code for teachers?
I’m not really sure? (lol) My advice would be to “dress up” on your first couple of weeks then adjust accordingly.
Some teachers at my school wear dress pants, collared shirt, and tie (the male head teacher). Other teachers wear cut-off shorts and t-shirts. I think it’s expected that the male teachers dress up (no shorts or t-shirts) and the female teachers can wear whatever as long as your shoulders are covered. I’m sure every school is different.
Six months in, I wear yoga pants and hoodies to work most days while other teachers continue to dress up everyday. For me, it’s most important to be comfortable while running around with little children.
Note: I do not wear makeup to work (except for picture day and graduation). There’s a HUGE emphasis on beauty in Korea and it’s my little act of protest against beauty norms. (Also, kids don’t care how you look + it’s a money saver.)
Teaching in Korea
Do you speak Korean? How do you communicate with your students?
I’ve got to be honest. Korean children are not like American children. They are way ahead of us. In 80% of my classes, the children understand me and speak a good amount of English. I only have two class where they are just starting out. You’d be surprised how much you can get by without speaking the same language. I use a lot of hand gestures and repeat the same style of activities everyday.
There are also Korean helper teachers in the classroom to help you translate or help with classroom management (daily temper tantrums lol). Both of my Korean helper teachers fortunately speak pretty good English and are able to help me translate rules, games, activities, etc. Some helper teachers cannot speak English.
Advice for classroom management?
Classroom management is a hard skill to master and after 6 months, I still have little control over my classroom (lol). But, I work with some great teachers who’ve shown me their ways.
I heard from almost every teacher, you need to start strong. Go into the classroom the first day, strict and organized. Then as time goes on, relax and bend a bit. If you go into the classroom the first day relaxed, they will walk all over you.
I recommend sticker charts, point system (500 points = movie day or snack party or something that they choose. Give 20 points a day, more or less based on behavior), and weekly or monthly rewards. I also give random stickers for good behavior.
Pinterest is a great resource for classroom management props and visuals.
How are the kids?
Everyone said Korean kids are SoOoO WeLl BeHaVeD. It’s a lie. They are children. Some kids are wild, others are quiet. You will get all kinds. The older kids are potentially more behaved because they’ve had years of strict Korean teacher experiences under their belt.
Note: Many Korean parents don’t recognize autism. Korean culture may make it more difficult for parents to accept and acknowledge autism. (source: reuters.com)
I have classes where there are children with (obvious) learning disabilities and behavioral issues. Although, I am not a doctor and cannot diagnose children, it is rather obvious when one child is unable to grasp new concepts or cannot focus like the other children. I do not have training or the educational background to teach children with behavioral issues (and barely any experience working with children in general).
Unfortunately, some parents refuse to put their children in a different class or even acknowledge there is an issue. Or, there are simply not any special schools or programs for their child to attend. It’s something I didn’t prepare for or expect as a new teacher.
Do you enjoy teaching kindergarten and elementary kids?
Each age group has it’s pros and cons. I didn’t have much experience with kids before coming, so I wasn’t sure really what to expect.
After 6 months, I realized that the 3-4 year olds are not my favorite. It’s hard to make kids do book work when they can’t stop picking their noses and staring off into space.
I enjoy the 6 year olds and elementary students. But, again, there’s are pros and cons to all ages. I think you will figure out what your strengths are and which age group you are better suited with as time goes on.
What is the classroom like?
The rooms vary in size, but are rather small. The school is two floors with a library, small gym, playroom, teacher’s room, and a couple conference rooms.
We are able to decorate our kindergarten rooms that we share with one other teacher. We have co-teachers for each kindergarten class. Each teacher gets 80 minutes with both teachers.
There is a projector, a computer, a bulletin board, a dry erase board, and desk in most classrooms. Some (elementary) classes do not have a computer and projector in the classroom.
Did you feel prepared to teach?
No (LOL). Not at all. I don’t think any amount of training or level of TEFL certification prepares you to teach small children. They are unpredictable, misbehave, and test every level of patience.
What teaching resources do you have? What kind of materials are you given?
We have access to computers, printers, laminator, teaching books, useful worksheets– everything you would expect and need. We have wifi, so I bring my own laptop to work on things during my prep periods.
I have specific books for all my classes based on the students’ level. There are also binders and drawers of resources for us in our office. The textbooks are helpful and provide resources, games, and activities to use with each class. Overall, I’d say the materials are good at my school.
What books do the students use?
New High Kids and Rainbow Bridge books for kindergarten. Again, the school is book heavy. The kids take unit tests every month. My 6 year olds have 4 books (just for my class). A student book, conversation book, practice book, and a phonics book.
Another thing that is hard to get used to is the amount of work and pressure that is put on young Korean students. There are days I feel guilty. My students look tired, they don’t want to do another worksheet. Remember nap time and recess? Those things are not a thing at my school. Kids have two 80 minute classes, a short lunch time, then two 30 minute activity classes (sometimes arts, sometimes more book work).
Favorite part about teaching in Korea? Least favorite part?
Favorite Part of Teaching in Korea
The kids. I never expected to have such a special bond with the kids. They are amazing, intelligent, and difficult all wrapped up into a cute small package. The small moments in the classroom are memories I will always cherish.
Least Favorite Part of Teaching in Korea
The administrative work: phone teaching, writing syllabus, preparing for open classes, writing report cards, etc. They take away from classroom prep time and it feels like you’re doing unnecessary busy work. No one likes to feel like their time is being wasted. I’d rather use my prep periods to research teaching methods, prepare fun crafts, and plan for my classes. Unfortunately, I spent most of my time doing admin work. If you try to be the best teacher, you end of burning yourself out and taking work home. As a person who doesn’t see myself as a kindergarten teacher for the rest of my life, this part of the job was extremely frustrating. Also, Korean culture is work hard, play hard. So, if you try to explain to your boss how you are burnt out and not happy, you are deemed lazy. The key is to play by the rules and conform to the culture and your school’s policies and procedures.
Note: teaching in Korea is not for everyone. Pretty early on, I realized it wasn’t for me. If you are a free spirit and hate the 9-5 life, I would recommend teaching online or in a more relaxed country (Thailand, Vietnam, or Latin America).
Related article: Pros and Cons of Teaching in Korea
Housing
How much is your apartment?
My apartment is free and provided by my school.
What does your apartment look like?
How close is your school?
My school is literally ten steps away from my apartment. It takes me 2-5 minutes to get to work depending on how fast the elevator is.
Can I find my own apartment?
Yes. Your school should have an option for you to find your own apartment. Although, if it’s your first time in Korea and you don’t speak Korean and you don’t have money for the key money (expensive security deposit), I wouldn’t recommend it. (But, it is possible.)
More information: How To Find an Apartment in Korea (how to use the Korean apartment finding app), Tips for finding an apartment
Life in Korea
Did you experience culture shock?
Yes. As my first time in Asia, I expected culture shock. But, it was a lot harder than what I had imagined.
Some Tips to Help Culture Shock
- Learn Korean phrases and how to read hangul BEFORE you come to Korea
- Go to Korean restaurants, markets, etc (in your home town before you come)
- Watch Korean K-Dramas, movies (‘Parasite’ is SO good), and listen to Korean music before your move
- Prepare for your move (read everything in the “Before You Move” category
- Expect to be lonely and embrace it
- Moving to a new country is hard (regardless of your travel experience). I cried so much my first week. It’s completely normal to be overwhelmed and uncomfortable. Push through and put yourself out there. Be vulnerable, ask people to hang out, or read and journal in your room. It’s a huge adjustment. Let yourself feel all the feelings. The first few months might be hard. But, it’s a learning experience and you were put in Korea for a reason. Whether it’s only for a year (or less) or five years, embrace your new surroundings and life in Korea.
- Know that Korean people aren’t always friendly. They keep to themselves. It’s their culture. It’s not meant to be rude.
- As a midwesterner it was hard to adjust, but try not to take it personal. Note: it also depends what part of Korea you are in.
- Once you get to Korea: go to language exchanges, ask your Korean coworker out to dinner, and get to know and love Korean people and their culture. Put yourself out there as much as possible!
Are you able to make friends?
It’s pretty easy to make friends in Korea. At a hagwon, you will most likely be friends with your foreign (and potentially Korean) co-workers. If you are at a public school, you will make friends with foreign teachers in your city or town. Beyond that, there are Facebook groups, local events, and meet-ups for foreigners. Keep in mind, Korea has one of the largest expat communities in the world. You just have to find your circle.
Tips for making friends in Korea?
- Facebook groups
- Facebook events
- Language exchange meet-ups
- Tour groups like Enjoy Korea (I went on one, they are popular and common among foreigners. There are a couple of different companies, they are all similar. Go with friends or by yourself and make friends!)
- Instagram
- Search hashtags like #busan #discoversouthkorea #ig_korea #ig_seoul #teachabroad to find expats near you
- Bloggers/YouTubers in Korea to follow (bloggers often post events and meet-ups) Here are a couple of bloggers/vloggers in Korea that I like:
- The Soul of Seoul Blog
- Cherry in Korea
- Adrienne Hill
- Be Marie Korea
- Sweet and Tasty TV (for everything food)
Is it necessary to learn Korean?
Short answer: no.
Many people speak English and/or you can “mime” your way around Korean with little words and expressions. A couple of my friends have taken Korean classes (and I think they enjoy Korea a bit more by knowing the language). So, I would recommend learning the basics and taking a course if you have time. Especially if you are planning to stay in Korea for more than a year.
Tips for Learning Korean?
- Learn Korean app (free)
- Duolingo app (free)
- Koreanclass101 on YouTube (free)
- On-site classes (search expat Facebook groups for cheap local classes)
The Korean alphabet is super easy to learn. Everyone says you can learn it in a few hours and it will make your life a lot easier.
Related article: Tips for learning a language for free
Yes, there are a lot of great bloggers in Korea who share tips on how to get around and what to do in each city.
I mostly use these apps to get around:
- Google Maps (for things in English, it doesn’t always work, but it will tell you the general direction)
- KakaoMap (walking directions)
- Subway (map of the Busan subway)
- KakaoTaxi (Uber in Korea)
Most Koreans speak a little English, so it’s easy(ish) to go out to eat, order coffee, take a taxi, etc. I use KakoaTaxi instead of a regular taxi so I can automatically put in my location and not have to speak to the driver (less confusion).
Do you like it?
Short answer = yes and no. (lol)
Pros of Living in Korea
- It’s safe
- Easy to navigate (subway, buses + bullet trains)
- Beautiful beaches (Busan)
- Hiking (Busan)
- Good pay
- Easy(ish) to save money
Cons of Living in Korea
- It can be isolating
- Locals are sometimes rude to foreigners
- Work culture (not much work/life balance)
- Easy(ish) to spend money
- Not many vegan options (in Busan or smaller cities)
For my coworker and I’s first reaction to life in Korea:
Related article: My First Week Teaching in Busan, South Korea
Cost of living? Are you able to save money?
Busan, Korea is not the CHEAPEST country I’ve ever been to. It’s cheaper than living in Chicago (where I’m from). I think people are able to save so much because you’re away from home and (usually) only there for a year.
Yes. It’s relatively easy to save money in Korea. Some people are able to save thousands of dollars a month, while I find it easy to save between $750 (while living comfortably) and $1,000 (if I’m living frugally).
Do you have time to travel?
Yes, on the weekends and during summer break, winter break, Korean Lunar New Year, and Chuseok. It’s similar to working in the US where it can be stressful to plan trips while maintaining your 9-5. Yes, there are options, but my job is taxing so sometimes the last thing I want to do when I get home is to plan a trip.
Note: time off is predetermined. You cannot (usually) take a random vacation or week off when you want. There are set days for winter break and summer break.
If I could do things over again, I would come into the job more prepared with vacation dates in my calendar and slowly plan for days off/vacations. It felt like breaks crept up and I was never prepared. (lol)
Is it possible to be vegan/vegetarian in Korea?
Short answer: yes.
While it is possible, I wouldn’t say it’s always easy. With time, you will figure out Korean dishes that are “accidentally vegan.” In Busan, there are a lot of great vegan places and restaurants with vegan options.
Related Article: Best Vegan Food in Busan, Vegan Packing List
Busan, South Korea
Things to do
- Go to the beach
- Climb a mountain
- Walk around Cultural Village
- Check out the many outdoor markets
- Go to the biggest department store in the world
- Try all the best restaurants
- Take the KTX to a neighboring town or city
- Go to one of Busan’s cafes
- Busan tower
- Check out an underground mall
- Seomeoyon
- Walk the Haeundae strip
Related article: 50 Unmissable Things to do in Busan (I used this blog to find all the touristy things in Busan)
Pros and cons to living in Busan (versus other parts of Korea)?
Pros of Living in Busan
- Beautiful beaches
- Hiking
- Warmer winters
- You never have to leave Busan, there’s plenty of things to do here
- Large expat community
- Easy to live (reminds me a lot of big cities in the US)
- Easy to get around without knowing Korean
- A lot of events and meet-ups
- Costco, Ikea, malls, underground shopping center (literally everything you would ever need is in Busan)
Cons of Living in Busan
- More expensive
- Less likely to explore outside of Busan (travel less)
- People in Busan are less friendly (locals were SO nice in Daegu)
- Harder to find a job (but not always)
Dating/Advice for Couples
Is it possible to bring my partner with?
Short answer: YES! It’s easy. If you’re up for sharing a small space.
Longer-ish answer:
Although my boyfriend chose to not teach in Korea, I’ve met many couples teaching together at the same school. I’ve also met other couples where one partner is teaching and the other is not.
I was open with my school that my boyfriend would be staying with me for extended amounts of time. I wanted to make sure it wasn’t an issue from the start.
Can I get a Korean boyfriend/girlfriend?
Yes. Go to a language exchange or download Tinder and/or MEEFF (hook-up app disguised as a language exchange app).
There are LOTS of interracial couples in Busan. One of my co-teachers is dating a Korean guy. If you go to the foreign bars, there are loads of foreign men dating Korean women.
The “couple culture” in Korea is intense. Couples often dress the same or wear the same clothes. There are many couples holidays.
A few dating differences:
- Do not show affection in public
- Meeting the in-laws is a BIG DEAL
- Matching your partner is COOL
- Expect to text more than see your partner (Koreans are always working)
Pets in Korea
Is it okay to bring my pet with me?
Short answer: YES!
There are plenty of teachers who bring their animals from back home as well as teachers who acquire pets while in Korea. It is not an EASY process and does require some work.
Tip: Join the Facebook group “Flying Pets Korea – Free Advice”
A few things to note:
- Microchip implant and a rabies-neutralizing antibody test are mandatory for cats and dogs
- Medical check upon entry
- Check with your school that you are being placed in a pet-friendly apartment
- Your recruiter should help you with the process
Also! One of my favorite Korean vloggers brought her dog from the states, check out her YouTube channel here.
Leaving Korea
I think teaching abroad is somewhat glamorized. There are a large amount of people who come to Korea to teach and hate their job. I’ve read stories of moldy apartments, terrible coworkers and work environments, not getting paid, etc. These things happen and it’s important to be prepared if they do.
I want to quit my job. What do I do?
First off, you are not alone. Also, you are never stuck. It may seem like you can’t leave. Your contract may state you have to give a 90 day notice or that you’ll have to pay fees if you leave. Most of it is illegal and wouldn’t stand up in court. You do not have to give a notice. You are not enslaved to your job.
You can quit at anytime and for whatever reason.
It’s your choice whether to give a notice. If you’d like to stay in Korea and work somewhere else, I recommend giving a notice and getting a letter of release.
If you do not plan to teach in Korea and your working conditions are unbearable, leave. Never risk your mental health for an employer. You are replaceable. And at the end of the day, you need to put yourself first.
April 2020 Update: I had to quit my job in Korea for various reasons, more information in my April 2020 update. Here is My Midnight Run Story.
If I quit my job, can I come back to Korea?
A midnight run is leaving your job in Korea with no notice. It’s a notorious term in Korea and although it is not super common, it happens more than you’d think. People leave because they are homesick, their schools sucks, a family emergency, etc. Whatever your reasoning is, it’s okay. You won’t get put in Korean prison. (or I don’t think so…)
I recommend joining the Facebook group LOFT: Legal Office For Foreign Teachers. They have a ton of information regarding this topic. You can also share your experience and ask for help.
Reddit is also a great place to find advice.
If you want to leave Korea and come back, it is possible. You just have to start the visa process all over again if you leave on bad terms and do not receive a letter of release. If you leave on good terms, your employer will most likely give you a letter of release. With your LOR you can apply to different companies. It is up to your company whether or not to give you the LOR. Some companies are corrupt and will do everything to in their power to make your life a living hell. In this case (if you want to stay in Korea and teach somewhere else), I recommend seeking legal action. When you threaten legal action, most companies will back down.
Advice for Future/New Teachers
- Join Facebook Groups (links + names listed under Tips for Making Friends in Korea)
- You are never stuck (regardless of what your contract states, you can leave at any time if you are not treated well).
- Read your contract and contact current teachers at the hagwon before signing your contract
- Research your school before signing your contract. Be strategic. They need you more than you need them.
- The first month can be extremely hard and isolating and honestly, really fricking scary. Push through, make friends, and give it a chance.
Like I said a million, bajillion times: everyones experience is different in Korea. Your experience is what you make it. Whether you are thinking about teaching in Korea, about to embark on your teaching in Korea adventure, or are in Korea — I wish you nothing but the best!
If you have anymore questions or things to add, please comment below to help others!
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