Teaching at a Hagwon — Private Academy English Programs in Korea
Hagwons (학원) are private after-school academies that employ the majority of native English teachers in Korea. Unlike public school programs where placement is random, hagwon teaching lets you choose your city, start year-round, and often earn more. Korvia screens every partner academy so you can teach with confidence.
City Choice
Yes — You Pick
E-2 Visa
Work Visa
Rolling
Start Dates
Since 2006
Korvia Vetted
What Is a Hagwon?
A hagwon (학원) is a private, for-profit academy that teaches supplemental subjects outside the regular public school system. English-language hagwons are the largest segment — they employ tens of thousands of Korean and foreign teachers and serve everyone from kindergarteners learning phonics to adults preparing for TOEIC or business English.
For native English-speaking teachers, hagwons are the most common entry point into teaching in Korea. A typical after-school hagwon teacher works Monday through Friday, usually starting in the early afternoon and finishing in the evening, with small class sizes of five to fifteen students. Kindergarten hagwons run standard daytime hours; adult conversation schools sit anywhere in between.
The trade-off against a public-school program like EPIK is straightforward. Hagwons let you choose your city and start date, offer more room for salary growth, and usually have smaller classes — but the quality of each individual school varies. This is where a vetted recruiter matters.
Hagwon vs Public School (EPIK)
Both programs sponsor E-2 visas and include housing. The biggest differences are city choice, class size, hours, and contract rigidity.
| Feature | Hagwon (Private) | EPIK (Public) |
|---|---|---|
| City Choice | You choose the city | Random placement (rural priority) |
| Start Date Flexibility | Year-round, rolling | March / September intakes only |
| Class Size | 5 – 15 students | 20 – 35 students |
| Working Hours | Kindy/Primary 9 AM – 6 PM · Hagwon 2 PM – 10 PM | 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM |
| Salary Range | ₩2.3M – ₩3.0M+ | ₩1.8M – ₩2.8M |
| Housing | Provided or housing allowance | Always provided |
| Airfare | Often included | Not included |
| Vacation | 11 days + public holidays | 26 days + public holidays |
| Curriculum | School-provided, varies | Co-teach with Korean teacher |
Ranges reflect typical 2026 Korvia-vetted placements. Individual contracts vary by region and qualification.
Types of Hagwons
Not every hagwon is the same. Pick the age range and hours that match your teaching style.
Kids / English Kindergarten
₩2.2M – ₩2.8M / month
Full-day English immersion for young learners. Teachers lead classroom activities, songs, stories, and basic literacy. Often the most rewarding and highest-paying hagwon positions — but also the most energy-intensive.
Elementary After-School
₩2.1M – ₩2.5M / month
The most common hagwon type. Students come after regular elementary school. Classes focus on conversation, reading, writing, and basic test prep. Small class sizes of 5–15 students.
Middle School / Test Prep
₩2.2M – ₩2.7M / month
Older students preparing for high-school entrance exams, TOEFL Junior, or TOEIC. More structured curriculum with reading comprehension, grammar, and writing. Suits teachers who enjoy academic content.
Adult / Business English
₩2.3M – ₩3.0M / month
Business English and general conversation for working adults and university students. Often located in office districts like Gangnam. Professional environment with motivated, self-directed students.
How Korvia Screens Hagwons
The most common concern about hagwon teaching is contract reliability. Korvia has kept detailed records on partner academies since 2006 — here's what we check before a school joins (or stays in) our network.
Contract Review
Every partner contract is reviewed line-by-line against Korean Labor Standards Act minimums. We flag ambiguous clauses, unpaid overtime traps, and housing terms that don't match what the teacher was told verbally.
On-Site Visit
Our Korea-based staff visit partner schools to confirm the workplace matches what is advertised — facility condition, housing quality, commute realism, and the overall culture of the academy.
Teacher Feedback Tracking
We collect structured feedback from every teacher we place, every month. Recurring complaints about late pay, contract changes, or excessive overtime trigger a review — and removal if issues persist.
Clean-Record Requirement
Academies with unresolved salary disputes, pension non-compliance, or a history of bait-and-switch contracts are removed from our network. 94% of Korvia-placed hagwon teachers complete their full contract.
What to Look For in a Hagwon Contract
Before you sign, these five items should be explicit and non-negotiable. Korvia verifies every one of them on your behalf.
✓Teaching Hours ≈ 30
Most reputable hagwons cap actual teaching hours around 30 per week (prep and office hours on top). Anything above 35 teaching hours is a red flag.
✓Housing Provided
Single-occupancy furnished studio/officetel is standard. The contract should name whether it is employer-provided rent-free or a housing allowance — and who pays utilities.
✓Severance (Retirement Pay)
One month of salary per completed year is legally required. The contract should explicitly state it is paid at the end of contract, not forfeited for early departure after the full term.
✓Overtime Policy
Any time beyond contracted teaching hours must be compensated. The contract should name an explicit overtime rate (typically 1.5× regular hourly rate).
✓Sick Leave & Vacation
At minimum 11 paid vacation days plus national holidays. Sick leave terms should be clear — unlimited unpaid vs. limited paid vs. drawing from vacation.
✓Pension & Health Insurance
Employer contribution to the Korean National Pension (4.5%) and National Health Insurance is legally required. The contract should confirm enrollment from day one.
Red Flags That Remove a School from Our Network
- ×Late or inconsistent salary payments
- ×Excessive overtime demands beyond contract terms
- ×Contract terms that differ from the posted job offer
- ×High teacher turnover (more than 50% not renewing)
- ×Unresponsive management during teacher disputes
- ×Withholding pension contributions or insurance enrollment
- ×Requiring teachers to work on vacation days
Schools with any of these issues are removed from Korvia's partner network.
Hagwon Teaching — Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to teach at a hagwon in Korea?
Most hagwons are reputable, but conditions vary. The key is working with a recruitment agency like Korvia that screens schools. We've been tracking academy data since 2006 and only partner with schools that have clean records of contract compliance, on-time salary payments, and fair working conditions.
Can I choose which city to teach in?
Yes — this is one of the biggest advantages of hagwon teaching. You choose your city and school. Most hagwons are in urban areas (Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Incheon) where demand for English education is highest. In contrast, EPIK prioritizes placing teachers in educationally underserved rural areas, so public school placement is largely random and you may end up in a small town far from major cities.
Do I need a TEFL certificate for a hagwon?
A TEFL is not legally required for the E-2 visa, but most quality hagwons prefer or require TEFL-certified teachers. Having a TEFL also qualifies you for higher-paying positions and gives you practical classroom skills before arrival.
What's the typical schedule at a hagwon?
Most after-school academies run 2PM-9PM. English kindergartens run 9AM-2PM or 9AM-6PM. Adult conversation schools vary. You will typically teach 25-30 hours per week with additional prep time built into the schedule.
How much can I save teaching at a hagwon?
With housing provided and a salary of ₩2.3M+, teachers typically save ₩800,000-₩1,500,000 per month depending on lifestyle and location. Seoul costs more but offers higher salaries. Many teachers leave Korea with significant savings after a 12-month contract.
Do I need prior teaching experience to work at a hagwon?
No. Most hagwons hire first-time teachers, especially for kindergarten and after-school positions. A bachelor's degree in any field and native English fluency are the main requirements. Experience can help you negotiate higher pay or land competitive kindergarten roles.
Can I switch from a hagwon to EPIK or vice versa?
Yes. Many teachers do one year at a hagwon and switch to EPIK, or vice versa. Your hagwon teaching experience counts toward higher salary levels in EPIK. Korvia can help with the transition between programs.
How long has Korvia been placing teachers at hagwons?
Korvia has been placing native English teachers in Korean private academies since 2006. We maintain two decades of placement data, teacher feedback, and contract compliance records — which is how we screen partner academies and remove schools with unresolved issues.
Ready to Teach at a Vetted Hagwon?
Tell us your city preference, start date, and experience — we will match you with an academy that fits.