Teaching Jobs in Daegu, South Korea

With a strong economy and demand for English education, teaching English in Daegu is an attractive location. With just a bachelor’s degree in hand, you’re a qualified candidate for most programs, including the EPIK English program in Korea. The application process typically includes an application, up-to-date resume, and an interview to screen candidates.

In Daegu, you will most likely have the opportunity to teach at either a public school or a private academy, known as a hagwon. Students at public schools range from kindergarten to high school in age, and it’s not uncommon to be the only foreigner employed at a public school. A hagwon is essentially additional schooling or tutoring after normal school hours at which a typical student may spend several hours a week. Unlike tutoring programs in the United States and the West, hagwons are interestingly not intended for struggling students needing to improve their grades. Rather, students attend these private cram schools to prepare as much as possible for the grueling college entrance exams.

The Korean college entrance exams have a well-earned reputation for being incredibly difficult. Not even the brightest student can expect to exceed without a great deal of additional study, creating the need for ESL teachers like you to teach English in Daegu. A college education is viewed as the path to a respectable, secure future in Korean culture. This heavy emphasis on education created intense competition in which students are expected to go above and beyond. As a result, teachers are highly valued assets in the lives of Korean students. Every hour you invest in instruction can bring a student closer to his or her academic and career aspirations. 

Most teaching positions require a 30-hour work week, and offer an average of 12 paid vacation days in addition to more than three weeks of public holidays. The school year at public schools starts in March and ends in February with a summer and winter break between. Schools also close in observance of the Lunar New Year and Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving). For hagwons, the school year differs by school, but you can typically expect to work evenings, since this is when students will be able to attend after their normal school hours.