A hagwon is a private, for-profit academy in South Korea that runs supplementary classes outside regular school hours, and it is where most foreign English teachers in Korea actually work. Unlike EPIK's public schools or Korea's international schools, hagwons are businesses first, meaning faster hiring, city placement of your choice, and a schedule built around afternoons and evenings rather than a 9-to-5.
If you have spent any time in a TEFL Facebook group, you have probably seen the word "hagwon" tossed around like everyone already knows what it means. They don't, not really, and neither did we before our first teacher landed in Seoul and called us in a slight panic because her school was "definitely not what I pictured." So let's actually explain it properly, starting with where the word comes from.
Key Takeaways
- A hagwon (학원) literally translates to "learning institute" and refers to any private, for-profit academy in South Korea, not just English-language ones.
- Hagwons pay roughly $1,700-$2,300 USD (₩2.2-3.1 million) a month, similar to or slightly above EPIK public schools, but with less vacation time (10-14 days versus 18-21).
- International schools pay the most (often $2,500-$6,000+ USD monthly) but require a teaching license and 2+ years of experience, ruling out most first-time teachers.
- Hagwons suit teachers who want city placement, faster hiring, and don't mind evening hours; EPIK suits teachers who want daytime hours and more vacation.
What Does "Hagwon" Actually Mean?
The word 학원 (hagwon) breaks down into two Chinese-derived characters: 학 (hak), meaning "study" or "learning," and 원 (won), meaning "institute" or "establishment." Put together, it translates roughly to "learning institute," and that's a much broader category than most new teachers assume.
Hagwons exist for nearly every subject a Korean student might need extra help with: math hagwons, art hagwons, taekwondo hagwons, coding hagwons, and yes, English hagwons, which make up the largest and most internationally staffed segment. There are reportedly tens of thousands of hagwons operating across the country, clustered so densely in some neighborhoods that locals call the area a "hagwon-ga," or academy district.
For a foreign teacher, "hagwon" almost always means an English-language academy hiring native or fluent speakers to teach children after their regular school day ends, though a smaller number of hagwons cater to adults preparing for business English or standardized tests.
Hagwon vs. Public School (EPIK) vs. International School: The Master Comparison
This is the table most guides skip, because most guides only compare two of the three real options. Here's how all three stack up side by side.
| Factor | Hagwon (private academy) | EPIK (public school) | International School |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employer type | Private business owner | Korean government | Private/international board |
| Monthly salary (USD) | $1,700-$2,300 | $1,600-$2,100 | $1,725-$6,000+ |
| Monthly salary (KRW) | ₩2.2-3.1 million | ₩2.1-2.8 million | ₩2.3-8.0 million |
| Working hours | Afternoon/evening, ~1pm-9pm | Daytime, ~8am-4:30pm | Standard school day |
| Vacation | 10-14 days | 18-21 days + national holidays | Generous, often 8-12 weeks |
| Minimum requirement | Bachelor's degree + TEFL certificate | Bachelor's degree + TEFL certificate | Teaching license + 2+ years' experience |
| Hiring speed | Fast, year-round | Slower, fixed intakes (Feb/Aug) | Slow, competitive, seasonal |
| Location control | You choose the city | Often assigned, can be rural | Major cities only |
| Best for | First-timers wanting city life fast | First-timers wanting structure/vacation | Experienced, licensed educators |
Data sourced from published EPIK and hagwon salary ranges and international school compensation reporting, verified via multiple recruiter and school-transparency sources, current as of 2026.
What It's Actually Like Working in a Hagwon
Picture this: regular Korean school lets out around 3 or 4pm, and that's when your hagwon day is just getting started. Most hagwon teachers work somewhere between 1pm and 9pm, Monday to Friday, teaching 25 to 30 contact hours a week to small classes of 6 to 15 students. Compare that to a public school class of 25-plus kids, and you can see why some teachers prefer the hagwon's more intimate setting, even if the hours eat into your evenings.
One of our graduates who taught at a hagwon in Busan told us the hardest adjustment wasn't the schedule, it was realizing her "boss" was a business owner who cared about parent satisfaction surveys the way a cafe owner cares about Google reviews. Hagwons are companies. Good ones invest in materials, training and teacher welfare because happy parents keep paying tuition. Less reputable ones cut corners. That variability is the single biggest risk with hagwons, and it's why checking a school's reputation before signing matters more here than almost anywhere else in the TEFL world.
Contracts, Housing and Benefits
Almost every hagwon contract in Korea runs 12 months, and most include the same benefits package you'd get with EPIK: free or subsidized housing (often a studio apartment), a flight allowance, National Health Insurance, pension contributions, and a completion bonus worth roughly one month's salary. The difference is variability. A well-established hagwon chain might offer housing that beats a rural public school posting; a smaller, newer hagwon might cut corners on the apartment or be slow with pay.
Who Should Choose a Hagwon Over EPIK?
If you want to pick your city, start sooner than an EPIK intake allows, and don't mind evening hours, a hagwon is usually the faster and more flexible route in. If you'd rather have your mornings free, a bigger vacation allowance, and the relative stability of a government contract, our EPIK vs. hagwon comparison breaks down that decision in more depth, including contract cycles and visa specifics.
For a full breakdown of Korea's E-2 visa process and take-home pay after housing and living costs, our South Korea salary and visa guide covers that ground in detail.
Curious what a hagwon posting actually looks like day to day? In the webinar above, one of our former South Korea interns walks through schools, locations and lifestyle in her own words.
Getting Ready to Apply
Whichever route you choose, you'll need a recognized TEFL certificate to qualify for Korea's E-2 visa. Our accredited TEFL courses meet that requirement, and if you want hands-on support landing a placement, our South Korea TEFL internship program pairs the certificate with a guaranteed hagwon placement, so you skip the job-hunting stage entirely.
"I've recently completed 120 hours advanced TEFL course and it was such a great experience... Thanks TEFL team." - Hani Gupta, Trustpilot
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is a hagwon the same as a private school?
Not exactly. A hagwon is a supplementary academy students attend in addition to their regular school, usually in the afternoon or evening. A private day school replaces regular schooling entirely. Hagwons are closer to what Western countries would call a cram school or after-school tutoring center.
Do hagwons pay more than EPIK?
Slightly, on average. Hagwon salaries typically run $1,700-$2,300 USD a month versus $1,600-$2,100 USD for EPIK, but EPIK offers significantly more vacation days and a more predictable government contract, so the better financial deal depends on how you value time off.
Can I work at an international school with just a TEFL certificate?
Generally no. International schools in Korea require a recognized teaching license and typically two or more years of classroom experience, which puts them out of reach for most first-time TEFL teachers. Hagwons and EPIK are the realistic entry points.
How do I know if a hagwon is reputable?
Ask for the contact details of current or former teachers, check how long the school has operated, and be wary of any contract that doesn't clearly state housing, pay date and severance terms. Reputable recruiters and internship programs vet schools for exactly this reason.
What hours will I actually work at a hagwon?
Most hagwon teachers work somewhere between 1pm and 9pm on weekdays, with 25 to 30 contact hours a week. Kindergarten-focused hagwons sometimes start earlier in the day.
