a man hiking on a mountain
Alex Brown has lived in Cheongju, South Korea for six months.
  • Alex Brown, a UK native, moved to South Korea to teach English after quitting his IT job in 2023.
  • Brown was hired for a one-year teaching contract where he earns £1,200 a month and lives for free.
  • Despite language and navigation challenges, Brown enjoys his new job and life in South Korea.

This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Alex Brown, a 30-year-old from Hampshire, England, who moved to South Korea to teach English. The following has been edited for length and clarity.

I used to work a draining and tough job as an IT specialist. In 2021, the job went remote because of COVID-19.