 Step-by-step guide to legally teaching English in South Korea. South Korea is one of the most attractive locations for teaching English as a foreign language. The country has been welcoming foreign teachers for decades with lucrative salary and benefit packages, as well as the government-funded EPIC program that places qualified teachers into public schools across the country. South Korea is a great place to work whether you are a new teacher, or if you have some experience in the field. However it is important that you understand the local job market and regulations before heading off on your adventure. Step 1. Understanding the visa situation. Currently only citizens from the following countries qualify for a teacher work visa, United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Ireland, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. Therefore non-native English speakers from other countries won't be able to work in South Korea under the E2 teaching visa. However there are teachers from non-English speaking countries that teach in Korea under other visas, such as the F6 spouse visa or the F2 long-term residency visa. In these situations it is up to the individual employer if they choose to hire a non-native English teacher. Other requirements for the E2 visa application for teaching English in South Korea. The university degree must first be notarized and then apostilled, three sealed university transcripts, criminal background check, passport photocopy, resume, signed copy of the school contract, four passport-sized photos, two letters of recommendation. Step 2. Get your TEFL certification. A TEFL certification is not a requirement to obtain an E2 visa for teaching English in South Korea as of now. However due to the competitive EFL market in South Korea, employers will usually only hire teachers who are TEFL qualified. If you want to live and work in South Korea as an English teacher, we recommend that you start your TEFL TESOL course at least one year before your desired start date in South Korea. If you choose an in-class TEFL TESOL course, you will receive your certificate within around four weeks. On the other hand an online course can take anywhere between two and six months. This depends on how much time you have and how quickly you work through the course units. Also keep in mind that while in-class courses were much preferred in the early days of EFL teaching, online TEFL courses are now just as valued. Join our combined TEFL course option in Seoul for a head start in teaching English in South Korea. Step 3. Do your homework and research. If you want to head to South Korea to teach English abroad, do as much research about the local culture and job market as you can. Teachers are either employed by public schools through the government funded EPIC program, where they work for private language academies. There are pros and cons to both options and it's really up to you whichever route you want to go down. Teachers working at a public school are likely to get a few more vacation days and work fewer hours, but private language academies tend to pay higher salaries and have smaller classes. Step 4. Be patient, persistent and flexible. Usually most teachers choose to settle in and around Seoul, but competition for the best jobs is fierce. However there are plenty of other exciting cities and smaller towns that offer a unique cultural experience, that will make your stay in South Korea truly memorable. Also remember that South Korea is a rather small country, allowing you to visit Seoul and other cities in a matter of hours via the express bus and high speed train systems. Step 5. Apply for jobs. Once you have your TEFL certificate in hand and understand the local job market, you are ready to start your job search. All enrolled ITTT students and alumni have access to our lifetime job assistance, including our job boards. We have an extensive network of recruiters and schools in South Korea, to allow you to choose the job offer that suits your needs. We work with a range of renowned recruiters who specialize in the Korean market, and we would love to connect you with them. Besides our own connections and the ITTT job board, you can also search for recruiters in South Korea via an online search. Recruitment agencies are a great place to start as they know the local job market like the back of their hand. You can state your location and school preferences, and the recruiter will set up interviews with suitable schools. Are you ready for your South Korea adventure?