If an E-2 instructor's contract with the hagwon ends, can they stay in Korea?

Yes, you can stay in Korea if you still have time left on your period of stay. Your visa does not disappear right away when the contract ends. But you must not work until a new workplace is decided.

Choose one of these to stay longer

• Move to a new hagwon: Report the change of workplace within 15 days of the date you sign the contract with the new hagwon. A sticker must be put in your passport, so the rule is to go to the immigration office in person to report. An agent can also report for you.
• Change to Job Seeking (D-10): If it is hard to find a new job right away, you usually change to Job Seeking (D-10) status and look for work. When you later find an E-2 job, you can change back to E-2.

Documents to submit when moving to a new hagwon

• Basic documents (application form, passport, registration card)
• Employment contract with the new hagwon
• The new hagwon's business registration certificate and hagwon establishment documents
• Consent form from the original hagwon director (transfer consent form, 이적동의서): You do not need to submit it if you completed the full contract period. If the hagwon closed temporarily or permanently, or did not pay your salary, you can submit proof of that or a statement of reasons instead.

⚠️ Things to watch out for

• If you were fired because of your own fault, or you quit midway and did not get the original hagwon's consent, your report may not be accepted. In this case, get advice from an administrative agent (행정사).
• If your remaining period of stay is shorter than 'new contract period + 1 month', you must also get permission to extend your period of stay.
• If your period of stay ends without a new job, you must leave Korea or change to another status before the expiry date.

Once you decide on a new hagwon, keep track of the 15-day deadline. Check the exact details once more at HiKorea (hikorea.go.kr) or 1345.