There are many differences between working at a public school vs. a private academy (hagwon) in Korea. The biggest difference interested individuals need to know is that a Hagwon is primarily a business while a public school is a standard school. The following also tends to be the biggest differences: Working hours – Hagwons teachers work from the afternoon until night time while public school teachers work in the morning until late afternoon. Salary – Hagwon teachers usually enjoy higher salaries and potential for raises. Vacation – Public school teachers enjoy around 20 days of paid vacation while hagwon teachers usually have around 5-10 days of paid vacation.