How to Spot Illegal ESL Recruiters in Korea

The Problem with Unlicensed ESL Recruiters in South Korea

 

Most Korean recruiting and headhunting firms are large, well-organized, and often charge lofty service fees. In comparison, the market for recruiting native English teachers is often poorly regulated. If you are looking to teach in Korea, you need to avoid working with illegal recruiters. 

 

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The Role of Recruiters in Korea

 

In Korea, recruiters for native English teachers act as intermediaries who match teachers with schools, negotiate the terms of employment, and receive payment from the schools for each candidate they place. Unlike standard recruitment fees, which are often a percentage of the candidate's first-year salary, recruiters in the native English industry usually charge a lower, flat fee.

 

 

Typical Recruitment Fees in Korea (per hire)

 

 

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Legal Qualifications and Licensing for Recruiters in Korea

 

Not just anyone can work as a recruiter in Korea. Recruiters must meet specific legal qualifications. To establish a native English teacher recruiting company, the individual must obtain a paid employment agency license under Korean law, which is strictly regulated.

 

 

Legal Requirements for Recruiters:

 

• Capital of at least 50 million KRW (about $40,000 USD) for corporations
• At least two executives qualified as employment counselors or labor managers in companies with 300+ employees 
• An office space of at least 10 square meters
• Liability insurance for damage compensation

 

Recruitment Fees

 

Although Korean law regulates the amount recruiters can charge teachers as fees, in practice, these regulations are often ineffective. Avoid any recruiter who asks you for a service fee. 

 

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Common Problems with Illegal Recruiters

 

• Give false or misleading information and fail to address teachers’ real needs
• Refuse to assist with workplace disputes or issues, leaving teachers unprotected
• Fail to safeguard teachers’ personal data, risking privacy breaches and misuse
• Stop communicating after teachers arrive in Korea or start their jobs

Some schools choose to work with illegal recruiters because they pay lower fees and can control them by threatening to report them to the authorities. These illegal hiring practices play a big role in slowing down progress within Korea's native English teacher industry, leading to stagnant wages and mistrust between teachers and schools.

 

 

How can I verify if my recruiter is licensed and registered?

 

 

1. Request their Business Registration Number (BRN). The BRN is a 10-digit number that proves the company is legally operating in Korea (format: XXX-XX-XXXXX).

• How to Verify the BRN

• Go to the Korean government tax website HomeTax.

• Enter the BRN and click 조회 (Check).

• If the result shows “부가가치세 일반과세자 입니다” (“General Taxpayer”), the business is legally operating. If no result appears ("조회된 결과가 없습니다"), be wary that the company may be operating illegally.

 

2. Ask to see their Fee-Charging Job Placement Service Certificate, which is proof that they are legally authorized to operate as a recruiting company. We have attached our own certificate to compare as a reference.

 

From a teacher’s perspective, using any recruiter might seem acceptable. After all, you are not the one paying for the service. However, to protect your personal data and ensure you have reliable support, it is crucial to work only with legally registered and qualified recruiters.