Recruitment of people of sufficient quality into the teaching profession is one of the most important issues for educators around the country. The purpose of this study was to investigate influences critical to Korean students’ decisions to pursue the music teaching profession. Research questions in the current study indicated the following statements: (a) When did they decide to become a music teacher? (b) Who were the people influencing that decision? (c) What experiences influenced Korean students’ decision to become a music teacher? (d) What events influenced that decision? (e) What were the motivating factors for that decision? One hundred seventy-three students enrolled in a college of education or graduate school of education in Korea participated in the survey, and the results were as follows. The majority of respondents indicated that they decided to become a music teacher during and after college, and parent(s) played an important role for them when deciding on a teaching career. Also, 38% of respondents stated that school ensemble was an important experience, and private/class teaching opportunities greatly influenced students’ choice in a music teaching career. Finally, respondents valued intrinsic reasons more than extrinsic and altruistic reasons when they chose to become a music teacher.