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| Other types of Teaching Jobs & Opportunities |
Most English instructors teach in private foreign-language institutes (hakwons in Korean). There are, however, positions available in several other types of organizations:
• corporate in-house language programs;
• university foreign-language institutes;
• university departments;
• public schools;
• government/private research institutes; and
• public relations and advertising companies.
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| Corporate In-House Language Programs |
Most of the large corporate conglomerates (chaebols in Korean) have their own in-house language programs. An instructor can typically be expected to teach more than 30 hours a week, working irregular hours all day from early in the morning to late at night. Most of these programs are intensive residential programs that require the students to study for three to six months. Some of the programs provide instructors with full benefits, including housing, but instructors may be required to live either on-site, or to commute long distances from Seoul. The average monthly salary in such programs is currently 2 to 2.5 million won. Recently many chaebols have reduced or cancelled their in-house programs due to financial restraints.
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| University Foreign-Language Institutes |
The major universities in Seoul, as well as some provincial universities, operate language institutes. Many of the students are enrolled in foreign-language institutes are university students, but the majority are businesspeople. The hiring standards of these institutes tend to be the highest in Korea: most instructors have master's degrees in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and years of teaching experience. The pay, status, and benefits offered by these institutes also are among the best in Korea. As a result, there is a very low staff turnover.
Provincial universities tend to provide better housing, working conditions and salaries, and to treat foreign instructors as part of the faculty. These advantages, however, should be balanced against the cultural isolation a foreigner may encounter living in the Korean countryside.
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| University Departments |
 Most universities in Korea employ full-time English conversation instructors. University classes tend to be larger and feature less personal contact with the students. Most instructors teach between 10 and 15 hours a week. Leftist, nationalist and sometimes anti-American attitudes may be prevalent among some students. As most Koreans have difficulty in differentiating between Canadians and Americans, this could be problematic for Canadian teachers. Many universities in Seoul do not provide housing, and some do not provide the benefits required under Korean law. Monthly salaries currently average about 2 to 2.3 million won, with three to four months of paid vacation a year.
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| Government/Private Research Institutes |
Many government agencies and some private companies operate research institutes. Most of the institutes hire foreigners with degrees in the humanities, economics, or business administration to work as full-time editors. The editors proofread correspondence and research publications, write speeches, and occasionally teach as well. Most of the institutes pay quite well and some provide housing. Because the research institutes are usually government-run or closely associated with powerful corporate groups, instructors who work in them seldom experience problems in obtaining employment visas.
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| Public Relations and Advertising Companies |
 There are several public relations and advertising companies in Korea that hire foreigners to work as copy editors and occasionally as teachers as well. These positions are very difficult to obtain as they are quite popular with the resident English-teaching community. There are also opportunities to appear on television and radio programs, and in movies. Most of these companies pay quite well and some provide housing assistance.
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| Teaching English Part-Time |
Many full-time instructors also teach part-time, either privately or at a second institution. Private instruction is illegal. Part-time employment at a second institution is illegal as well, unless permission is granted by the sponsoring institution and Korean immigration authorities. You are obliged by law to pay taxes on all income earned. If you fail to do so and are caught and fined, you will not be able to leave Korea until you have paid the required amount. If you do not have sufficient funds, immigration authorities will insist that you arrange for money to be sent from your home country. When considering part-time employment, make sure you know the law and understand that you are taking a serious risk if you teach private lessons.
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