Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Energetic volunteers who are passionate about education and want to help children learn English. You’ll have the support of the local team and local teachers so no teaching experience is required, but relevant training like a TEFL certificate would be useful.
Are you passionate about educating young children? Ever dreamed of doing it in the exciting city of Seoul, South Korea? This is your chance to become a teaching volunteer in South Korea with International Volunteer HQ. This project enables volunteers to gain experience working with children in Seoul who due to lack of government assistance don’t get access to English teachers.
The center is run by a non-profit organization in the Guro district of Seoul. They offer after-school classes and care for children from disadvantaged backgrounds. The center is dedicated to educating both Korean and foreign children in Korea ensuring a welcoming and inclusive environment for all.
Knowing how to speak English is a valuable skill in South Korea and opens up a whole realm of possibilities for employment. Most schools provide their students with excellent education in the English language, however unfortunately in the Guro district of Seoul where the majority of the population are factory workers from other countries, their children aren’t provided with the same access to learning English. The center operates to cater for these children to ensure these barriers and hurdles to receive the same education are removed.
Volunteers will be placed at this after-school center and work closely with teaching staff to provide these children with a chance to learn English and be well cared for while their parents are at work.
Tasks involved in the Teaching project vary day to day and may include:
You can expect to be teaching children 7-12 years of age and your volunteer hours will be approximately 10-4pm (including a 1 hour lunch break and commute time), Monday to Friday.
As a volunteer English teacher in South Korea you’ll be adding value to the local community while, also developing personally and professionally by:
Volunteers need to be 16 or 17 years or over to participate on this project, unless volunteering with a parent or guardian, in which case the minimum age is 3.
Volunteers aged 16 or 17 on their start date, if unable to obtain a criminal background check, can provide two character reference letters instead. Volunteers also need to provide IVHQ with parental consent in order to participate on the program, and may be asked to provide additional document to the local team.
To respect the local culture and customs in South Korea, volunteers should be aware that they’re unable to have anything obstructing their face while at their volunteer placement.
Volunteers aged over 18 on their start date are required to provide a criminal background check to IVHQ before departure.
All volunteers must speak English and have adequate volunteer travel insurance.
Submit a free application so we can confirm your eligibility and check availability for your preferred dates.
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Once you have secured your place, join regular video calls to meet your Program Manager and other volunteers before your trip.
Gain course credit from your college or university and meet your academic requirements when completing a volunteer abroad program with International Volunteer HQ!
Learn about course credit
We encourage volunteers on IVHQ’s Teaching and Childcare projects to come prepared by completing some relevant training, such as a Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) course. Although formal teaching qualifications are not required on these projects as volunteers are supported by local staff, taking a TEFL course enables you to gain more from the experience. Visit our Online TEFL Course page to learn how to gain an internationally recognized TEFL certification at a discounted rate.
Get TEFL certified online
Discover the Land of the Morning Sun
Located in the capital of South Korea, Seoul is a melting pot of rich culture, high-technology, and exquisite cuisine. During their free time volunteers can visit Gyeongbokgung Palace, Namsan Tower, the UNESCO Heritage site of Changdeokgung Palace and Huwon (Secret Garden), or the bustling Myeongdong shopping district.
Beyond Seoul, volunteers can visit Jeju Island, explore Busan, or Gyeongju (known as the “Museum Without Walls”). Try their hand at adventure sports or experience a Buddhist temple-stay and immerse in centuries old culture and religion in the country.
Fun Fact: South Korea has one of the fastest internet connection in the world. You never have to worry about connectivity when you’re traveling in the country.
The program orientation begins every Monday, and volunteers need to arrive in Seoul on the Sunday before program orientation.
After registering for the program, please book your flights to the Incheon International Airport (ICN) in Seoul on the Sunday before your program orientation. Your airport train ride to the accommodation is included in your program fee. Please note that this service is offered between 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
When you arrive, you will be greeted at the airport by a member of the local team. The airport is a 1-hour train ride from the accommodation. If there are volunteers arriving within a few hours of your flight, the local team will wait and transfer volunteers to the accommodation altogether. Your program fee covers your accommodation and includes the night before your program orientation.
If you are traveling to South Korea before your volunteer program, we can arrange for you to be picked up at a pre-arranged destination in Seoul, the day before your program orientation. You also have the option to make your own way to Seoul.
Orientation is hosted by the South Korean local team. There are two options for the orientation of the South Korea program:
1-day Orientation:
Orientation begins on your selected start date and covers everything you need to know about your volunteer program. You will have an introduction to the South Korea Program and the local staff, along with basics around South Korean customs, rules, expectations, and safety.
This will be followed by a tour of the local area to show volunteers key spots like supermarkets, ATMs, and currency exchange centers. The local team can also assist in obtaining a local SIM card with data (LG U+).
Afterward, you will join a project-specific meeting as part of the project preparation you’ll need to complete for the following day.
5-day Culture Week:
The Culture Week begins on the morning of your chosen start date and runs for the first five days of your stay. It is an excellent way to kickstart your volunteer abroad experience, and it covers everything you need to know for your volunteer program in South Korea.
Plus, you’ll learn more about the culture and tick off some must-do South Korean experiences, including calligraphy lessons, carving an authentic Korean stamp, visit to the COEX mall and Jogyesa temple, a Korean cooking class, and more! The Culture Week will allow you to meet other volunteers and swap contact details for weekend travel and socializing.
If you wish to join the Culture Week, you can add this to your itinerary via the ‘add on and tours’ section of your pre-departure checklist once you have submitted your application
Weekdays
Start times and daily workload depends on the project that you are volunteering on, with some beginning in the morning and some in the afternoon. A typical schedule is as follows:
| 7:30 AM - 9:30 AM | Breakfast at the accommodation. |
| 10:00 AM | Travel to placement to join local placement staff and begin work on your project. |
| 12:00 PM | Lunch. Volunteers either eat lunch at the volunteer accommodation or, in some cases, at their placement (either a packed lunch or at a nearby restaurant). |
| 1:00 PM | Afternoon placement work begins. |
| 4:00 PM | Afternoon placements usually end. Volunteers are free to return to the volunteer accommodation, plan for the following day’s activities or use their free time as they wish. |
Weekends
Volunteers have the weekends free and there is no shortage of things to do in Seoul or around South Korea.
For volunteers who prefer tranquility, various Buddhist cultural experiences and meditation are available at the accommodation. Conversations with monks are also possible.
For more active volunteers, Hongdae, South Korea’s top youth street, is just a 10-minute walk away, where you can enjoy cafes and a youthful atmosphere. To visit other places like Gangnam, the subway from the accommodation can take you anywhere.
Volunteers can make travel arrangements once in South Korea, with the advice and guidance of the local team.
You’ll be staying in a temple, located in the heart of Seoul, the trendiest and most vibrant area Hong-Dae.
Living conditions are comfortable with air conditioning for the hotter months and heat for the cooler months. Volunteers can expect to share a dormitory-style room with up to five other volunteers. These bedrooms are separated by gender with shared hot water showers and western toilets (also separated by gender). There is a lounge area, as well as a dining area for volunteers to hang out and enjoy their meals together.
The accommodation allows volunteers to access the famous ‘tea bar’ for complimentary tea from 9am to 10pm. Meditation sessions are also held every morning in the beautiful zen hall which volunteers are welcome to join.
There is WiFi available at the volunteer accommodation, so volunteers can easily stay in touch with family and friends at home.
Private room upgrades to a single room is also possible for an additional cost. These are subject to availability and once you have registered you will be able to request an upgrade. These are located within the temple on the same floor as the dorm rooms.
For groups, couples, families who wish to book a private room upgrade, also have this option but it will be at a nearby hotel as the temple private rooms are single beds only.
Please note that the accommodation is within a temple and therefore volunteers are expected to be quiet after 10PM. It is important to note that volunteers are unable to consume alcohol or meat at the guesthouse.
If you wish to arrive earlier than your recommended arrival date or spend extra nights after your program, we can arrange additional nights of accommodation for you at an additional cost. You can book extra nights via your profile after registration, subject to availability.
Volunteers are served a mixture of South Korean and western dishes, with a ovo-vegetarian base. Volunteers will have the opportunity to experience rich and varied Korean cuisine, celebrated for its emphasis on balance, health, and seasonality. Korean meals are typically based around rice and are accompanied by a variety of side dishes predominantly made from vegetables.
Breakfast at the temple includes traditional temple food, focusing on simplicity and vegan ingredients, with options for Western-style breakfasts such as cereal and toast also available. This meal is typically accompanied by tea, coffee, and fresh fruit.
Lunch will typically be dishes that will consist of a mix of:
Purified drinking water is also available in the accommodation; we do not recommend that you drink the tap water.
Volunteers are provided with breakfast and lunch daily. If volunteers wish to eat out for dinner, there are some local restaurants to suit different tastes and budgets. Tuesday to Thursday evenings, volunteers can visit Gwangjang Market, a renowned market known for its wide array of traditional Korean street food. This provides an excellent cultural and culinary experience, sampling foods like mung bean pancakes (bindaetteok), spicy rice cakes (tteokbokki), and stuffed squid.
If you have special dietary requirements, please let us know when you apply so that we can make arrangements for you. However, it’s essential to prepare for some flexibility due to the possible limits of resources at this location. We will do our best to see that you are well taken care of.
Spots are limited. For a Registration Fee of just US$299 (approximately $299) you secure your spot and unlock all our preparation and training tools.
You don't need to worry about paying your Program Fee until you get closer to your start date.
Duration |
Program FeeDue 30 days before you start, or within 48 hours if you register inside of 30 days. Covers the cost of hosting you.
|
|---|---|
| 1 week | $667 Equivalent to $95/day |
| 2 weeks | $1,244 Equivalent to $89/day |
| 3 weeks | $1,821 Equivalent to $87/day |
| 4 weeks | $2,398 Equivalent to $86/day |
| 5 weeks | $2,974 Equivalent to $85/day |
| 6 weeks | $3,551 Equivalent to $85/day |
| 8 weeks | $4,705 Equivalent to $84/day |
| 10 weeks | $5,859 Equivalent to $84/day |
| 12 weeks | $7,013 Equivalent to $83/day |
Learn more about what's included in your IVHQ Registration Fee and Program Fee.
Take your volunteer experience to the next level with these popular add-ons and experiences. Explore your options below and learn how to book them once you've been accepted onto the IVHQ South Korea program.
Learn more about South Korean culture and tick off some must-do Seoul experiences
Do you want your own private room in a hotel while volunteering in South Korea? Enjoy your own private space in comfort and style during your volunteer experience, with IVHQ’s affordable accommodation upgrade.
If you’re arriving outside the airport pick up dates/times, book this add on now!
IVHQ follows best practice and industry-leading health and safety procedures, which are regularly reviewed and optimized as part of the B Corporation recertification.
| Capital | Seoul |
| Population | 9.78 million |
| Languages | Korean, English and Mandarin |
| Currency | South Korean won (SKW) |
| Time zone | UTC+09:00 |
Weather and climate
Seoul is located in the northwest of South Korea, a short distance from the coast of the Yellow Sea, which has a continental climate. This means Seoul has a hot and humid climate during the summer season, with cold and dry weather during the winter season. Spring and autumn are mild and short in duration. The average annual temperature is 12.8°C. The coldest month is January with -1.9°C, the hottest month is August with 26.1°C, and the annual temperature difference is very large with 28.0°C.
I thought everything was really well organized and clear. If I had questions, I could always reach out via email and would get an answer as soon as they were available.
I learned a lot about the culture and way of living there. Through the exchange with your local guides, you learn a lot and gain experiences you wouldn’t gain as a tourist. I’d always recommend the program if you wanna live in a certain country for a longer period of time and live more like a local than a tourist.
I’ve gained a lot of new memories as well as new experiences. For people who are hesitant about joining this program, I would say YOLO
I truly grew,I felt happy,it helped me to heal myself and also help people.It was that great and important.
My advice is: don’t hesitate,this was truly the best because I could be so included locally which is the best way to travel and help people.
The preparation I received from IVHQ was thorough and the video calls were most helpful!
The local support team was excellent, they went above and beyond my expectations, and clearly, they enjoyed what they were doing.
I personally gained satisfaction from being a part of something that will benefit young children and which will hopefully allow them to develop into mature adults.
The meals were excellent and I enjoyed eating the local food.
I would strongly recommend this program to anyone thinking of doing something different and wanting to see how other people live.
To read all reviews, visit our reviews page.
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