What should I know about working in Korea?

We encourage everyone to do their research before accepting employment offers. These resources below should help. 

Job  Guides
Galbijim
ATEK
ESLCafe
EFL-Law
K-Labor.com

Employer Review Sites
ESLWatch
Reliable Teacher
Blacklisted
Tokyo Jon
FB Hagwon Blacklist

Discussion Topics
Job Seeking Advice
Teaching Salaries
Pay???

 



 The  information below was put together in 2005 and as such is bit out of date.  We will be updating/recreating a job guide soon.  In the meatime, you can find current information in the guides and resources listed above.

This is advice for E2 and E1 Visa holders. Most of the rules/advise listed here does not apply to F1-2, F4, F5, E5, E7 or other visa holders. For further information about your visa limitations, always inquire at your local Immigration Office before starting a new job.

1.  It is illegal to work without a proper visa.
You must have the visa sticker in your passport before you can start work- without exception. If your employer asks you to work before you have your visa sticker, refuse. Insist on getting your visa before you teach your first class or you are working illegally.

2.  Your visa is associated with ONE location. 
If your employer asks you to work at more than one physical school, you need to get Immigration permission and apply for a secondary workplace permit. EPIK and GEPIK are exceptions. EPIK employees can legally work in multiple locations without Immigration permission.

3.  Working "Privates" or "Part-Time Jobs" without Immigration permission is illegal. 
Working in a second registered business place is possible (a secondary workplace) if you have permission from Immigration. However, working "privates", or tutoring at a non-business, is illegal.

4.  You need Immigration permission to work at a camp  outside of your primary workplace. It will either be registered as a secondary workplace (if you currently hold an E1-2) or you may be eligible for a Temporary Employment visa. Inquire at your local immigration office before teaching at a camp to ensure your legality.

Knowing your rights and finding a good school

Koreabridge does not offer blacklist or greylist services. There are a number of sites that keep lists of employers and recruiters who are less than desirable. If you host a site or hear of a site not listed below please let us know at 'manager at koreabridge.com' and we will add it to our list.

A coupe of the most valuable sites for teachers looking to understand their rights are  atek.or.krand  www.efl-law.org   Both sites can help you consider a number of things you should look for before signing a contract. 

Other sites that can be useful for job seekers:

  Facebook Hagwon Blacklist-  Updated and active list of hagwons to avoid along with  useful resources and legal advice

Reliable Teacher Hagwon Review- compiling a helpful collection of hagwon reviews. 

 The Hagwon Checklist   www.hagwonchecklist.com
A free site that gives teachers a chance to review a school as well as find multiple perspectives from a variety of teachers about a school. Teachers submitting their schools rate them as "great, good, poor or unacceptable".

English School Watch   www.englishschoolwatch.org/index.php
This site provides a forum on which one can "blacklist" a school as well as some helpful information about working overseas.

ESL Teachers Board   www.eslteachersboard.com
Most schools on their "School Review" board are Chinese, but there are a few Korean schools on the list.

Leon's Greylist   efl.htmlplanet.com/greylist.htm
This page is for those looking to become expatriate English teachers in Korea, and/or for those expats already in-country experiencing labor-related problems. It primarily functions as a watch list of institutions to watch out for. Secondarily, this page contains copious amounts of advice on how to deal with many possible problems in the Republic of Korea.

Blacklisted      blacklists2003.proboards13.com/
Information Sites about Teaching Conditions in Korea


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