Jeju Island for English teachers: the ferry, the car, and the public-school-only contract
Jeju offers lower rent, EPIK-style public school placements, and a quieter pace than mainland cities, but almost no private hagwon jobs, patchy bus coverage outside the two main cities, and a flight or ferry for anything off-island.
Park English · 2026-08-31 · 3 min read
Jeju is the one posting on this list that isn't really a hagwon posting at all. Most foreign teachers here work through the Jeju Provincial Office of Education's own English teacher program, which runs on the same basic model as EPIK — public elementary and middle schools, a co-teacher, a one-year contract — but is administered locally rather than through the central SMOE/EPIK office in Seoul. If a recruiter tells you "it's basically EPIK," ask them to confirm whether you're actually contracting with the provincial office or a subcontracted agency, because the paperwork trail matters if something goes wrong later.
Private hagwon jobs on Jeju exist but they are thin on the ground compared to Busan or Daejeon. The island's economy runs on tourism and agriculture, not the after-school academy density you get in a mainland satellite city. If you specifically want hagwon hours and hagwon pay structures, Jeju is probably not your first choice.
Cost of living. Rent in Jeju City or Seogwipo runs noticeably below Seoul, and public school placements often include housing or a housing stipend — confirm the exact figure with your contract, since it varies by intake year and whether furnished officetels are available near your school. Groceries lean pricier for anything shipped in, and the tourist economy means cafes and restaurants in central Jeju City are not the bargain the rent might suggest.
Getting anywhere. There is no subway. Bus routes improved after a 2017 restructuring but coverage outside Jeju City and Seogwipo thins out fast, and a lot of teachers end up buying or leasing a car within the first few months just to reach rural schools on time. Getting to the mainland means Jeju International Airport, not a train — flights to Gimpo run frequently, take about an hour, and typically cost somewhere in the 40,000 to 90,000 won range one-way depending on season and how far ahead you book. There's also a ferry from Jeju to Wando or Mokpo, slower and mostly used for cargo or for teachers who want to bring a car across.
| Factor | Jeju | Typical mainland second city |
|---|---|---|
| Job type available | Mostly public school (provincial program) | Mix of hagwon and public school |
| Transport | Car recommended, bus coverage patchy | Subway or dense bus network |
| Rent | Generally lower | Lower than Seoul, higher than rural areas |
| Off-island travel | Flight or ferry required | Train or bus, same-day to Seoul |
| Social scene for foreign teachers | Smaller, closer-knit | Larger, more turnover |
Who this suits: people who actually want the quiet, who are fine driving, and who don't mind being a flight away from everything else. It suits couples and teachers on a second or third contract more than someone wanting their first year in Korea to feel like a big city. It does not suit anyone who wants nightlife, dense expat infrastructure, or the option to hop a hagwon job three subway stops away if the first one goes badly. On Jeju, if the placement doesn't work out, your options nearby are limited.
One thing we'll say plainly: hiring rounds and housing terms for the Jeju provincial program change from year to year more than the mainland EPIK cycle does, and we don't have current numbers we're confident quoting. Ask the office directly before you commit.