FAQ
The questions people actually ask.
Answers as honest as we can make them. If you have a question that isn't here — especially the uncomfortable kind — email us. We'd rather answer it upfront than have it come up on week two of a contract.
FOR TEACHERS
Thinking about teaching in Korea.
Qualifications, money, contracts, what it's actually like — the questions worth asking before you apply.
Do I need teaching experience to apply?
No, and we place plenty of first-time teachers every year. What matters more is that you actually want to work with kids, you're willing to prepare lessons, and you can commit to a full year.
A TEFL/TESOL certificate makes a real difference for first-time teachers — not because schools require it (many don't), but because it actually teaches you classroom basics.
01
What qualifications do I need?
The legal minimum for an E-2 visa: a bachelor's degree (any major) from a university in one of seven countries — U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, or South Africa. Plus a clean national-level background check.
A TEFL, TESOL, or CELTA certificate is preferred by most schools and required by some. A hundred-hour online TEFL is usually enough.
02
How much will I actually earn — and save?
Most hagwon and kindergarten positions pay 2.2–2.8 million KRW per month (roughly USD 1,600–2,100 at current rates). International schools pay more. Public school programs (EPIK, etc.) vary.
With free housing, most teachers save 8–12 million KRW (USD 6,000–9,000) over a one-year contract. Some save more, some less, depending on travel and lifestyle. It's not "get rich quick." It's "live well, pay off some student loans, travel Asia on weekends."
03
Can I choose which city I teach in?
You can tell us your preferences — Seoul, Busan, a smaller city, etc. — and we'll do our best to match. Seoul is by far the most requested and most competitive. If you're flexible on location, you'll have more options and likely a better school.
Honest take: we can't guarantee a specific neighborhood or district. If Gangnam or bust, we're probably not the right match.
04
Do I need to speak Korean?
No. Schools don't expect any Korean, and most students expect you to speak only English (that's kind of the point). You'll pick up survival Korean naturally — ordering food, taking taxis, reading subway signs. Nobody expects fluency.
05
How long is the contract?
Twelve months, standard. Korean labor law is built around annual contracts — that's where the severance bonus comes from, and where visa timing lines up. Some international schools offer two-year contracts. We don't place teachers on less than twelve months.
06
What if I hate it and want to leave early?
This is the question nobody wants to ask. Here's the honest answer: breaking a contract mid-year means losing your severance bonus (one month's pay), losing your visa immediately (you have to leave Korea within 30 days), and potentially being on a do-not-rehire list with Korean recruiters.
It happens. People hit unexpected homesickness, family emergencies, genuine school-side contract violations. We help navigate it when it does. But the best way to handle it is to ask yourself honestly, before applying, whether you can commit to twelve months.
07
What if the school isn't what they promised?
This is why we only work with schools we've visited and vetted. That's not a marketing line — it's the whole premise.
If something's genuinely wrong (unpaid overtime, housing not as described, a contract violation) we'll help you raise it with the school, and if it can't be resolved, we'll help you find another placement. You're not alone with it.
08
Do you help with the visa process?
Yes — we provide a country-specific checklist, coordinate the apostille process, handle translations where needed, and walk you through the consulate appointment. The Visa & Paperwork section below has the full timeline.
09
Do I have to pay anything?
No. Teachers never pay OP Seoul — schools pay our placement fee. This is the industry standard in Korea, and any recruiter asking you for money should be avoided. Full stop.
Some costs aren't a recruiter fee — things like your own criminal background check ($50–100), the apostille process ($20–50), and the consulate visa fee ($45). Those are yours to pay, and they're modest.
10
FOR SCHOOLS
Hiring a teacher through us.
Process, cost, guarantees, and what happens when things don't go as planned.
What kinds of teachers do you recruit?
Native English speakers from the seven E-2 eligible countries (U.S., Canada, U.K., Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa), with bachelor's degrees and clean background checks. Most have TEFL certificates; many have prior teaching experience.
We pre-screen for visa eligibility, English fluency, cultural readiness, and intent to complete a contract before you ever see a profile.
01
How long does it take to fill a position?
Most matches happen within 1–2 weeks from the initial inquiry to a signed contract — assuming you have a clear sense of what you're looking for and a realistic start date.
From signed contract to the teacher physically in your classroom is another 6–8 weeks, driven entirely by the E-2 visa timeline. Plan start dates accordingly.
02
What if the teacher doesn't work out?
We offer a 30-day replacement guarantee. If the placement doesn't work out in the first 30 days — for any reason — we find a replacement at no additional cost.
Most placements don't need this. But for schools that have been burned before, the guarantee is often the difference between trying us and not.
03
What does it cost?
A flat placement fee, paid on the teacher's start date. No retainer, no upfront charges. For standard hagwon and English kindergarten placements, fees are approximately $1,000–1,500 USD depending on the role and the teacher's experience. International schools and specialized roles are quoted separately.
Exact number is confirmed before you see any candidates. No surprises at signing.
04
Do you help with visa and paperwork?
Yes — on both sides. We coordinate the teacher's document preparation (apostille, translations, background check) and your school's visa sponsorship submission to Korean Immigration. Your HR team doesn't touch any of it.
05
Do you work with public schools? University positions?
Primarily private schools — hagwons, English kindergartens, and international schools. Public school positions (EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE) have their own government-run recruitment channels we don't duplicate.
University positions we take case by case — they usually want specific credentials (MA, teaching experience) and are worth placing carefully.
06
VISA & PAPERWORK
The stuff that trips people up.
E-2 specifics, apostille, timelines, and the questions that don't get answered clearly anywhere else.
What is the E-2 visa?
The E-2 is Korea's foreign language instructor visa. It's the visa category you'll almost certainly be on if you're teaching English here. It's tied to a specific employer — if you change jobs, you need a new E-2 (or a transfer).
01
What documents do I need?
The short list: original degree certificate (apostilled), national-level criminal background check (apostilled, less than 6 months old at time of visa issuance), sealed university transcripts, passport with at least 6 months validity, passport photos to Korean specs, and a health statement.
We send a country-specific checklist with exact instructions and deadlines once you're matched with a school.
02
What's an apostille and why do I need one?
An apostille is an international certification that verifies a document is genuine. Korean Immigration requires apostilles on your degree and your background check — not a notary, not a copy, an apostille.
Each country issues them differently. In the U.S. it's done at the state level (where your degree was issued, where your background check was run). In the U.K. it goes through the Legalization Office. We'll walk you through yours.
03
How long does the visa process take?
Realistically, 6–8 weeks from signed contract to landing in Korea. Fastest case is closer to 5 weeks (U.S., Canada, smooth documents). Slowest is 10+ weeks (U.K., South Africa, apostille backlogs, school summer break).
We quote you the realistic timeline for your country at the start. Nobody likes a surprise delay.
04
Can I arrive in Korea before my visa is issued?
No. The E-2 must be issued at a Korean consulate in your home country — you cannot enter on a tourist visa and convert it inside Korea. Attempting to do so creates serious problems. Follow the process, frustrating as it can be.
05
STILL HAVE QUESTIONS?
Ask the uncomfortable ones.
We'd rather answer a hard question upfront than avoid it and have it come up three months into a contract. Email or call — there's no form, and no mailing list.
recruiting@opseoul.com
+82 10 4458 4563