This article covers all aspects of compensation for ESL teachers, including salary plus all other benefits involved.
To start with, a teacher is paid once a month in Korean Won. Those who are not comfortable with the currency should familiarize themselves through a currency converter, as nearly all job offers on job boards quote their salaries in Won.
Salary
The monthly salary range for language institutes (hagwons) usually ranges from 1.8 million to 2.2 million Won. This roughly works out to:
- USD: $1750-$2150/month
- CAD: $2050-$2500/month
- EU: 1400-1700/month
- NZD: $2480-$3000/month
- AUD: $2300-$2800/month
- ZAR: 11,000-13,500/month
One may find that universities and public schools sometimes pay a little less, in proportion with fewer teaching hours, but they tend to vary.
Teachers are paid once a month, on the date specified in the contract with the school. The school will set the teacher up with a Korean bank account and bank card to use for withdrawing. See our Banking article for more info on this and how to send money back home.
Generally, deductions will only be tax, health insurance deductions, and pension. If there is anything more than that, be sure that it is clearly written in the contract. Those who are unsure about the deduction should ask us for advice as this is a very important point to clear up before signing a contract.
The majority of contracts offer free, furnished accommodation, although one may notice some will offer a housing allowance instead. Housing is usually single, but may be shared; it can range from a small studio to a full three-bedroom apartment.
Paid Airfare
Schools will offer round-trip airfare, either in the form of prepayment or a reimbursement to the teacher after arrival. For those in Korea when hired, schools typically pay the airfare (but not other expenses) for the visa run. Some schools may want to deduct a housing deposit from initial paychecks. This money should be returned at the end of your contract, less any bills or assessment for damage. (The legality of these deductions is a frequent point of dispute; they appear to be legal if written into the contract.)
As required by law, at the end of a completed contract, the school will pay a severance bonus equal to one month's pay. This will be in addition to the final paycheck and airplane ticket home.
Paid vacation
In addition to the 20+ national holidays a year, a teacher will be offered paid vacation in the contract.
This will be provided from the National Health Insurance Corporation of Korea. The employer will pay 50% of the cost; the teacher will be responsible for any co-payments or additional expenses.
The company will sponsor the employee for a 1 year teaching visa.
Teachers pay a monthly amount into the pension system with the employer matching your contribution. At the end of the contract, depending on citizenship, one can receive the whole sum after a trip to the pension office and the filling out of a declaration showing intent to leave the country. This does not forbid a teacher from returning later on to find employment however, and those who are intending to come back within five years and/or stay for a long time may wish to leave the pension intact as it is as it can be picked up from where it was left off. Foreigner registration numbers do not change, and a teacher who comes back with a new contract and new ARC will have the same number as before. The pension office in Gangnam has a window with English-speaking staff, and other offices likely do as well.
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