Want to Work in Korea, But Korean Not Perfect? Teaching & Non-teaching Jobs in Korea
Do you want to work in Korea but don’t speak Korean perfectly just yet? Find out what your options are for jobs in Korea! We have teaching jobs in Korea as well as non-teaching jobs in Korea along with visa sponsorship information as well. Read on to see how you can come and work in Korea!
This post is for those looking for jobs in Korea, but whose Korean isn’t perfect (yet ;)). Of course, you’ll need a proper visa if you want to work in Korea. But lucky for you, we’ve included that information in the post too. Now like us on facebook ๐
Popular job sites in Korea (English): craigslist.co.kr, worknplay.co.kr, daveseslcafe.com, Koreajobfinder.com, hiexpat.com.
Popular job sites in Korea (Korean): saramin.co.kr, jobkorea.co.kr, incruit.com.
Teaching Jobs in Korea
Teaching English in Korea
The majority of teaching jobs for foreigners in Korea are English teaching jobs. Many Korean people feel that they need to learn English to gain a step over the competition. So even if people don’t want to learn English, many Koreans feel like that have to learn English. And for kids, whether they love or hate learning English, pretty much every Korean kid is sent to an English hagwon (academy) at some point in their life. All of that equals many teaching jobs in Korea. Typical benefits include free housing, paid round-trip airfare, insurance, year end bonus (1 month’s salary). Also, you can dance like a money in a classroom and be loved by little Korean kids.
Basic requirements: native-English speaker, 4 year degree from a university in an “English-speaking” country (Asian English-speaking countries such as Singapore or India typically don’t apply :(), non-criminal background, etc. Entry level jobs usually don’t require any job experience.
Don’t forget to check out Seoulistic’s post on the highest paying (English) teaching jobs in Korea!
Teaching Other Languages in Korea
There are of course students that learn languages other than English, but generally, the money and the benefits are not as good as teaching English in Korea. The most popular languages to learn in Korea other than English are Chinese and Japanese. But European languages such as French, Spanish, Italian and German also have a presence here in Korea. These jobs are available but are not as easy to find as English-teaching jobs in Korea. It may be hard to find a place that will offer visa sponsorship, but at least they’re a bit more relaxed with the requirements :P.
Basic requirements: native-speaker (not always a requirement), university degree (not always)
Tutoring Jobs in Korea
Tutoring is one of the best ways to make good money in Korea. It’s usually higher pay then just working at a hagwon (ํ์/academy), and the hours are more flexible. Tutoring subjects range from language to test prep. But the problem is that tutoring jobs in Korea are hard to find! You can try registering on Korean tutoring sites, but they’re not so easy for most non-Koreans to navigate. So Seoulistic.com suggests getting tutoring jobs how Koreans get tutoring jobs: by knowing lots and lots of people! Meeting as many Korean people as you can will lead to tutoring job opportunities. Make Korean friends, join a knitting club (with Korean people), join a biker gang or just chat it up with your janitor. They all know someone who wants to learn English or is studying for a test. Putting yourself out there will make sure you’re the person everyone thinks of when they’re looking for private tutoring lessons!
Tip 1: No visas issued (Boo! :(). But most are cash jobs (Yay! :)).
Tip 2: Depending on the subject, tutoring rates can start from 25,000 won an hour to even a 100,000 won an hour or more!
Non-teaching Jobs in Korea
Media Jobs in Korea
Maybe education isn’t your thing. If you’re one of those ultra good looking people that everyone had a crush on in high school, why not give modeling/acting in Korea a try! If you’re sexy enough, talent agencies in Korea will offer visas for the right candidate. But even if you just want part-time work, you can usually find a few one day gigs on craigslist.co.kr, or worknplay.co.kr. Most of these jobs don’t require Korean ability, so you’ll get paid for just sitting there and looking pretty. But if you’re not the next Brangelina, don’t worry; there are also acting and modeling jobs for the average foreigner too. There are some castings for just general “foreigners.” In addition to acting and modeling jobs in Korea, there are also radio or television jobs in Korea that don’t require being on air (i.e. writers for shows, etc.). There is more part-time work than full-time, so it’s perfect for supplemental income.
Tip: Work experience or mega good looks will usually get you a visa sponsorship. But no experience is usually ok for part-time gigs.
Some media companies that hire: TBSefm Radio, Arirang TV/Radio
Voice Acting Jobs in Korea
Even if you don’t like coming out on camera, you can take your acting talents behind the mic. Voice acting jobs in Korea include English language material, voices for GPS (“turn left here!”), reading maketing copy for TV or radio, reading shopping mall announcements, and tons of other opportunities. The more experience you have in voice acting (and of course, the more awesome your voice), the better paying jobs you can get. But even for those with no experience at all, many of these jobs simply look for native speakers of other languages. Not all voice acting jobs are advertised on the internet, so if you have a demo tape (or can make one), try going by foot to these studios to sell your services. There are plenty of part-time opportunities advertised on the internet at decent rates, but visa sponsored jobs are extremely rare. These are great for supplemental income, not so great for main income. Be sure to have your own job!
Tip: Places with many recording studios: Hongdae University Station (Line 2, see Naver map here) and Gangnam-gu Office Station (Line 7, see Naver map here)
Editing Jobs in Korea
If you’re not a teacher, but pretty good with words, there are a number of editing jobs in Korea (mostly for English). Many of these jobs can be found with agencies that will look stupid if they have super Konglish (Korean-style English – e.g. “Now, Happy Sunny Smile Day with Us!”) on their work. Most of the work is to make sure the company or agency doesn’t look stupid. The pay is comparable to teaching English in Korea, and there are many opportunities for full-time, visa-sponsored work. Most of these will be advertised on the internet, but are of course not as numerous as teaching jobs. Don’t forget to constantly check Korean job sites to apply as soon as possible. Oh yea, and be good at English too ๐
Tip: There are editing jobs for languages other than English, but not common.
Education (Non-teaching) Jobs in Korea
The English-teaching industry in Korea is so big that there are non-teaching jobs in Korea for education companies. The very same companies that offer English teaching jobs in Korea will also offer non-teaching jobs in Korea, including human resources, trainers, content development & research jobs. These jobs usually have to do with teaching English but will not require you to be in front of a classroom teaching kids that’ll run circles around you. You’ll most likely be the ones making the English language textbooks or hiring/training other teachers. Full-time work with occasional visa sponsorship.
Marketing Jobs in Korea
Maybe you want to go the corporate route. If you do, and don’t speak much Korean, there are still some marketing job opportunities in Korea (usually full-time work with visa sponsorships). Many of these will still greatly prefer Korean speakers to make inter-company communication easier, but it is not a must. Experience is also usually the same (preferred, but not always a requirement). Because these companies sometimes have to market to non-Koreans, they’ll need someone with a non-Korean mindset. So be ready to sell your own peeps some Korean stuff. If you’re good with social networking, job opportunities will also increase as well. All those 4 AM facebook sessions weren’t a waste after all!
Specialized Jobs
If you’re uber talented and have specialized skills, you might be able to score a few jobs in Korea. Usually this is with IT jobs (programming, engineering), but if you’ve got the goods, you don’t have to speak too much Korean. Just be sure that you can show them your skills. Visa sponsorship is usually offered for full-time work.
Have you worked any of these jobs in Korea? Tell us your experiences in the comments section!
242 Comments
Hi Keith,
Can I ask if there is a market for music teaching in Korea either in mainstream schools or privately established music schools? (Either instrumental studies or just a general music programme is fine) I have an education degree and experience in teaching music as well as my TOPIK intermediate certificate (intending to continue with TOPIK advanced). The instruments I am able to teach are piano and singing. Can I also ask if there is a market for music performance in korea? (Both pop and classical, or musical theatre)
Oh by the way Im from Singapore as well and I was pleasantly surprised to see so many Singaporeans here!
Thank you and looking forward to your reply ^^
Hi, I am looking for a job in Korea. I have good teaching experience.. I am looking for a computer faculty job in Korea. I have experience in IT too. Though,I have an IT background I am ready for other jobs too if the pay is good. Korea is a good country and has a good tradition. Please let me know if there are any vacancies in Korea.
Hi there, is there any banks in Korea that do accept other nationality as an employee??
to teach in korea. do you HAVE to have a bachelor degree? can you teach if you have an associates degree?
Hello, I am an Architect and an Indian National. I will be getting married in the month of May, 2014 . My husband is doing his post doc in solar physics in Daejon , Korea. I would like to work as an Architect in Daejon , Seoul or Sejong post marriage when I come there . What are the opportunities and how do I go about it ? I am not yet well verse with Korean but eventually I will definitely be learning it.
hello im a second year studying design with html and css/php java and stuff like that im 17 now, but after this study i want to do an higher study in this so more mastering in the codes, can you suggest some places where i can work for in s-korea? becaus e maybe i can do my intership there? sorry for my bad english i have still a lot to learn! ๐ i am also good in photo editing and photography and after affects, just really into the interactive side ๐
Hi Keith, Im a Malaysian who currently having my postgraduate in China for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language, is it possible for me to find an internship in Korea as teacher teaching mandarin? Hope to hear from u soon..Cheers..
Hello Keith,
I’m from Malaysia but I grew up in the United Kingdom making English my first language. However, I don’t have a resident passport. I don’t live in the UK anymore but I do have a degree in Linguistics from a well-known university in the UK. How do you think I fare should I apply for teaching jobs in Korea? Cause I’ve been there and I love the country! ๐
Thanks!
I am from Trinidad and Tobago, I speak only English. But I find your country interesting. i would like to know more about the country and job opportunities in Korea.
Hi i am working in automobile research feild and have done my B.E and have visited korea several times earlier ..i am looking for permant job there..I can speak , read and write little bit of korean . please help me out with any good consultancy or a way to find job there….thank u
I’m a Native speaker from Canada but I got my universities degree in Spanish speaking country. Do I still have a chance to get a working visa to teach English in Korea ?
I also have a TESOL diploma 300 hrs .
Hi! Do I really need to be a native English speaker to teach English in Seoul? I, besides English, can speak Portuguese, Italian and Spanish. Do Koreans have interest in any of those other languages?
can e9 visa holder can join universities in korea
I am cambodian. Is it possible to find Telecommunication jobs in GSM network operator in Korea due to non Korea-speaking.
Thanks!
hi. i really wanted to teach ESL in Korea i can speak English fluently and slight of Korean but i think i’m not qualified because i’m from Philippines and im not from a native english speaking country. i just wanted to ask if there’s still for me to be qualified?? seriously i badly want to teach in korea..
hi! i”m from Philippines, i’m secondary teacher major in math. Before that, I’ve been tutoring for the 3-6 years old kids and elementary local and abroad mostly in middle east. i’m fond teaching basic at the early age as my part time in that place because after a year or less they knew already how to read, before interring elementary or prep. It is possible to teach in Korea? Since that we are not native speaking country but English is the second language in the Philippines. are we consider in your country? actually we are tutoring also Korean here. I knew how to read Korean Alphabet and understand a little of your language but not fluently speaking because we want Korean to learn English here in our country first so that we can understand each other.
what about the graphic design industry? I have a certificate in Adobe photoshop, and loooove graphic design,but I also want to ask about working in supermarket or craft shops specifically because I like crafting, can these jobs support proper income until I find another job? also another question that might seem stupid, what is visa sponsoring?
I think the most difficult part is obtaining a visa. I’ve been hired at two separate places as a horseback riding instructor and both employers thought they would be able to sponsor an E 7 visa for me, but immigration declined it. My advice would to verify visa information with a potential employer before you get your hope up.
I’m planning on getting a permanent resident visa, because it’s likely that I will go there without a secured job and I will search for one there.
Hi, I have 3.5 years exerience in Software testing and currently working in Chennai, Tamilnadu, India. I do have Indian Passport and don’t have any Visa. Can anyone please help me in getting job in Korea which is relevant to my profile?
Can i go to korea as dentist?Do korea accept foreign dentists and give me visa?how is situation for foreign doctors in south korea?Plz answer me ^ ^
Can i go to korea as dentist?Do korea accept foreign dentists and give me visa?how is situation for foreign doctors in south korea?Plz answer me ^ ^.
Hi I m from pakistan I m doing job in dubai now I m in tourism but I did trading business in dubai I like to do marketing so want to do small business in korea so can I do this in korea any one can help me plz send me mail or any co can give me sponsor ship to help them any import export business I have a lot of customers to sale the products thank you best regard sana khan
what is the art scene like in korea? I am a freelance artist and an aspiring tattoo artist that would love to work in korea in these specific fields.
I heard Hongdae is the “it” place for artsy people but what are my odds of finding a job there in my field and also if I want to get an apprenticeship with a tattoo artist.? my goal is to perfect my VERY bad basic korean and eventually hopefully be a permanent resident… help and advice would be greatly appreciated since I’ve looked for this information in many places with no results…
thanks a bunch!
Annyeonghaseyo ^^.
I’m from India and badly want to set up in Korea mostly in Seoul but still I’m confused with choosing the exact for me :-/ I’m 16yrs old, fluent in English and 3 main languages of India but also have a bit attraction in debuting….. Really its risky but can’t decide what to go with plz help ๐
any body want ? work in massage shop or karaoke?
its pays good. you can make at least 6000000์~8000000์ for months.
we looking for girls from anywhere. someone intersting about this job.
send me some message my email
[email protected]
Thanks for those good suggestions, I am a Chinese, holding MBA degree specialize in Marketing, English is my working language, is there any links for me to get a job in marketing field? Appreciated๏ผ+
Hy, Keith, i will b really glad if u could help me knw whether i can get a job as a nurse in Korea? I am frm India, ready to learn Korean!
Hi Keith!
I am an Indian national who wishes to pursue a career in the public sector as an English teacher. I have the basic knowledge of Hangul and am set to receive my TEFL certification. I have no prior work experience as I’m a student at the Delhi University with one semester at the London School of economics.
Can you please guide me through this and tell me if I have a fair chance of landing employment in Korea?
Hello! I’m currently living in Korea right now. I’m Korean LOL
But I’ve been living in Indonesia for 12 years, and now I’m 21y.o
Currently working in office but as a intern .-.
I haven’t went to college but I can speak and read Korean, English, but I’m almost like an Indonesian native speaker !
Is there any job I which fits for me? Thank you so much!!
Anyway I love this post!!
I am an American student majoring in fashion design. I was wondering if you had any information on the fashion industry in Korea or possible internships/apprenticeships for designers in Korea?
Love this website. You’ve been helpful so far.