1. Make Money
It's a fact that South Korea is one of the top paying countries when it comes to ESL learning. With a culture that pursues education with a relentless passion, it's no wonder that families are willing to shell out some money to give their children the competitive advantage. And you'll be paid well. Teachers in Korea make anywhere from 2.1-2.7 million won on average for their first year of teaching.
2. It's Close to Other Asian Countries
Let's face it. While Korea can be amazing, you'll undoubtedly may want to venture off the country to explore other neighboring countries. In Korea, a lot of the national holidays are spent with family and if you don't have any family in Korea, checking out China or Japan could be a wonderful option to spend your vacation days. If you've lived in America such as myself, you'll know how limited your travel options can be if you're on a budget. Round trip tickets from the East Coast of the United States to South Korea can be as much as $2,000 USD!
3. Affordable Living
A bottle of soju costs about $1 USD. That's not bad for a Friday night when you have a few of your friends over. The average meal won't run you and arm and a leg like most places in the United States. The teachers I know can afford to eat out almost every night and still are able to save a little bit of money.
4. A Thriving Expat Culture
With the industry of teaching English in South Korea still very alive and healthy, you'll get a number of options for social interaction. Upon arriving at your new school, you'll most likely meet co-teachers who share your enthusiasm and interest in travel. In my experience, most teachers are generally open-minded and courteous people. If you want to spread your wings a little bit, there are a number of "ex-pat bars" in almost every town and neighborhood. Head on over there, and you'll get a nice bit of nostalgia. Most of these bars are expat owned and feature a great mix of expats and Korean locals.
5. Learn Korean
Learning a new language is great! Why not take the time to meet other language learners and make friends who speak Korean. Although described as a "difficult" language by American speakers, there are still a great many who are dedicated, put in the work, and reap the benefits of speaking a new language. Imagine going back home to a Korean restaurant and ordering in Korean. I'm sure that'll impress your friends.
6. Great Kids
What would this list be without the children that you'll encounter during your time teaching. Teachers that I know have personally told me how much that they love teaching the children. In fact, when leaving Korea, the students are one of the things teachers say that they will miss the most. On average, the children that I've met here are simply amazing, talented, bright and remarkable young individuals. There is always one that leaves a lasting impression on me.
7. Great Nightlife
In my city back in the States, the bars and clubs closed at 2am and there was always the after-hours place that stayed open until 3am if you were lucky. In Korea, the bars will generally last longer than you and clubs really don't have a closing time, especially on a Saturday night. There are college students who dance all night until 6am, only to catch the first train/subway home that morning. So if you really love to get your dance on, then Korea is the place for you.
8. Great Food & Drinks
Dalkgalbi, kimchi jjigae, gamjatang, the list goes on and on. It's one thing to read a food blog or like photos on Instagram, but it's a totally different experience to be able to appreciate this food every day. Back in the States, Korea restaurants always came with a high price tag because of their scarcity. In Korea, you won't get that high mark-up. And everyone knows soju, but there are a number of drinks popular in South Korea that you'll be able to try as well.
9. A Trendy Youth Culture
Nearly everyone here in South Korea is up to date on what is trending. Fashion, social networks, music, you name it. The younger generation and even the below 30 set is really trendy. Almost everyone has an Instagram or Facebook account, dresses meticulously and keeps their appearance great, and is really in tune with media.
10. The Safety
I've walked out of the cafe and left my laptop on the table in order to take a phone call. I came back and it was still there. In the United States, you know this is impossible. South Korea has one of the lowest crime rates in the world and the peace of mind that you get from that is amazing. Sure, don't completely lose your good judgement here, but you can enjoy a little less stress walking down the street knowing the statistics.
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