Korea E-2 Conversation Instructor — Native-language, Domestic-degree and Official-language Rules

Overview

E-2 (Conversation Instruction) allows foreign nationals meeting the Minister of Justice's requirements to teach foreign-language conversation at foreign-language academies, schools from elementary level up and their affiliated language institutes, and language training centres run by broadcasters or companies.

A key distinction: conversation instruction means "teaching learners how to communicate with each other in a foreign language". Teaching a specific language or literature, or interpretation/translation technique, does not count as conversation instruction.

At a Glance

Scope of Activity

• Instruction at foreign-language academies (including remote-teaching academies using ICT)
• Instruction at schools from elementary level up and their affiliated language institutes
• Instruction at language training centres run by broadcasters or companies
• Lifelong education facilities meeting the standards set by the Minister of Justice, lifelong education facilities run by the state or local governments, vocational competency development training facilities and corporations, the Construction Industry Education Institute, and corporate or public bodies with classrooms equipped for language instruction

Who Qualifies

• Nationals of a country where the language is the mother tongue who graduated from a university there with a bachelor's degree or higher, or hold equivalent or higher academic credentials
• Domestic-degree exception: those who graduated from high school or junior college in a country where the language is the mother tongue and obtained a bachelor's degree or higher at a Korean university
• Official-language exception: for languages other than English, Chinese and Japanese, nationals of countries using that language as an official language who hold a recognised teaching qualification or a bachelor's degree in a related field and meet the wage requirement (80% or more of the previous year's GNI per capita)
• Persons recruited and selected under the Ministry of Education or a metropolitan/provincial superintendent

Required Documents

• Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34), passport and ARC, fee
• Degree certificate, original and copy (apostilled or consular-confirmed)
• Criminal record check (apostilled or consular-confirmed)
• Health certificate including drug test, submitted sealed
• Employment contract and institutional documents such as the academy establishment/operation registration certificate
• Proof of residence

Application Process

1. Check eligibility — confirm your current status, career, degree and contract type match the requirements.
2. Prepare documents — foreign public documents need a translator's certification plus an apostille (or consular confirmation for non-member states).
3. Book a visit — reserve a slot at your Immigration Office via HiKorea (www.hikorea.go.kr), or file online where e-Application is available.
4. File and pay — submit the Integrated Application Form (Form No. 34) and pay the screening fee.
5. Review — respond to any request for supplementary documents within the deadline.
6. Result — on approval, the period of stay and status are granted; reissue your ARC if required.

Key Points

• Remote-teaching academies for school subjects are included among foreign-language academies following the amendment of the Academy Act.
• For residents registered under D-5–D-9 or E-1–E-7, conversation instruction for colleagues within their own workplace, and non-commercial volunteer instruction, are outside the out-of-status activity permit/report requirement.
• However, if conversation instruction becomes the main activity or exceeds the permitted standards, the exemption no longer applies.
• Separate documents are prescribed where F-1 or F-3 holders wish to serve as foreign-language proofreaders (E-7) at state agencies or public bodies.
• Documents issued in Korea must normally be dated within 3 months unless another validity period applies.
• Documents already on file in your alien registration record need not be resubmitted.
• Health certificates, drug test results and pre-employment medical reports must be submitted sealed by the issuing hospital (do not open).
• You must be in Korea when applying; leaving the country after filing may result in refusal.
• Screening fees are non-refundable once the application is accepted.
• The head of the Immigration Office may add or waive documents where necessary for review.

Frequently Asked Questions

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