Looking for advice on transitioning from a private school to an international school in Korea

Hi!

I’m looking to relocate to Korea and teach there, with the eventual goal of working at an accredited international school.

I’m confident in my teaching abilities and qualifications, but I’m aware that international school positions can be quite competitive. My thought is to work at a private school or another type of school for a year, build up some experience, and then apply for international school positions.

What I’m unsure about is how the timing and contracts work in Korea.

For example, say I sign a one-year contract that runs from September 2026 through the end of August 2027. If I’m offered an international school position that starts in July 2027 or August 2027, would I be able to leave my current school early to take the new position?

Would that mean breaking my existing contract, or is there normally a way to give notice and transition between schools? I would get an F4 visa so sponsoring is not needed.

I am hoping to understand how teachers normally handle this before committing to a one-year contract.

I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone who has actually made this kind of transition in Korea. Thanks!