The EPIK program offers native English speakers a fantastic opportunity to earn an income and live in South Korea. But everything has good and bad – here are the key pros and cons of teaching with EPIK.
South Korea is often regarded as one of the best places to teach English abroad. English teachers in Korea enjoy relatively high salaries, great benefits, and a high quality of life, especially those who teach with EPIK.
While there are a few different ways to teach English in South Korea, I’m here to shed some light specifically into what it’s like being an EPIK teacher and why EPIK is one of the best teach abroad programs.
So here what I feel are the main pros and cons of teaching English in Korea with the EPIK program, straight from a real person who’s been there, done that.
This post may contain affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, if you click my links and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission. Learn more on my disclosure page. Thank you for your support!
Read More: A CIEE Teach Abroad in Korea Review + How to Save $200
EPIK Job Requirements for English Teachers
Before jumping into the advantages and disadvantages of teaching with EPIK, it’s a good thing to check your eligibility! The EPIK application has some strict job requirements.
Requirements for teaching with EPIK:
- You must be a native English speaker, or prove native ability through TOEFL scores, from these countries: USA, Canada, England, Ireland, Scotland, Australia, South Africa, and New Zealand.
- You must have a bachelor’s degree
- If your bachelor’s degree is not in teaching or English, you must have a TEFL certification
- You must pass their strenuous application, interview and a medical/drug test
That’s all it takes to become an English teacher in Korea!
Read More: A Former ESL Teacher Dishes: Is Teaching English Abroad Worth It?
The Pros of Teaching in Korea with the EPIK Program
1. The Incredible EPIK Salary + Bonuses
When I say “incredible” salary, I mean that South Korea offers one of the best benefit packages to inexperienced native English teachers and is one of the highest paid gigs in the TEFL world. And because the base salary includes free rent on top of an abundance of bonuses (seriously, it’s a lot of bonuses), teachers are able to stretch their salaries further.
From what I can tell from job ads and friend accounts, the total package of salary, bonuses and benefits EPIK offers is (in my opinion) overall a better deal compared to private English academies here in Korea. Now, what I will say is this: you will not get rich teaching English in South Korea, especially compared to most jobs you can get at home.
Rather, this is an excellent opportunity to live abroad and experience a new part of the world, all while earning a steady income. For a deeper dive into what EPIK teachers are paid, check out My EPIK salary for more information.
2. The “Normal” 8:30 – 4:30 Work Day
Public school teachers in Korea work 8:30 – 4:30, which I absolutely love! If you opt to work for private academics, you’ll most likely be teaching nights and possibly even weekends as supplementary instruction for students outside of their normal schooling.
3. Free and Fully Furnished Accommodation
EPIK provides free and fully furnished accommodation to all employees, a perk not many other countries or programs offer TEFL teachers. In a country where the cost of living in South Korea is already pretty decent, free rent is the cherry on top of the cake. I think this one goes without saying – free rent, sign me up!
4. A Sense of Job + Personal Security
Unlike Hagwons or private academies, EPIK is a government regulated entity that hires native English teachers to work in public schools. That means that the schools and teachers are provided with strict guidelines for what is expected on both sides, and schools can’t overwork you or withhold pay.
And while unfortunately, cultural conflicts may arise, EPIK has designated people that act as a liaison between native teachers and schools to help settle disputes or misunderstandings. There is no support like this for private academies who sometimes take advantage of expat teachers.
5. 26 Days of Paid Vacation + 14 National Holidays + 11 Sick Days
EPIK teachers get a whopping 26 vacation days and 11 sick days. As an American – I was stoked!! Korea also rocks 14 national holidays, which means you also get those days off, fully paid.
The vacation days provided to teachers in the EPIK program is an amazing perk and may be some of the best paid time off offered to TEFL expats in Asia.
6. Enjoy A Comfortable Standard of Living
Because EPIK pays a very decent wage compared to the cost of living in Korea, and also provides teachers with a rent-free apartment, teachers have the opportunity to enjoy a high quality of life.
I made significantly less teaching in Korea than I did working at home, but my money went way further. I frequently took weekend trips, traveled internationally nearly every school holiday, had $800 student loan payments every month, and still left Korea with over $11,000 in savings after my two years there.
7. Travel Around Korea Is Easy and Fairly Inexpensive.
South Korea is a country well connected by numerous airports, trains and buses. The abundance of public transportation options make travel around Korea easy and affordable. The ability to explore Korea without headache really breaks up the monotony of an otherwise standard week at school!
8. A Helpful Support System.
If this is your first time moving or living abroad, EPIK is such a fantastic program. They hold your hand for most of the process unlike many other TEFL jobs around the world.
When EPIK teachers first arrive to Korea, they’re picked up by program organizers and taken to a detailed orientation where they go over everything you should know.
Native English teachers (NETs), are also assigned a primary Korean co-teacher, who also help you get settled. Mine helped me set up my apartment’s utilities, get a phone plan, set up my bank account, and even apply for my ARC (residence) card!
My co-teacher was truly a godsend. Especially because when I arrived, I didn’t speak ANY Korean!
The Cons of Teaching in Korea with the EPIK Program
9. Hours of Desk Warming
With EPIK, you’re only contracted to teach for 22 class hours per week. This leaves 18 hours for lesson planning and anything else your school may need you to do.
With vast numbers of resources online (like waygook.org and KorShare.org – a teacher’s best friend), you don’t really need the full 18 hours to lesson plan. This extra downtime can be a perk, but too much desk warming can also become tedious.
10. No Summer or Winter Break
Education is serious business in Korea. Even when school goes on break, most kids spend their time off studying at camps or private academies. This means EPIK teachers are expected to run English camps and talking clubs during school breaks.
Usually these extracurriculars don’t run the entire holiday, but regardless if you’re teaching or not, you’re required to come to school for your normal hours. This means you could be stuck at your desk all break, all alone, with nothing to do.
There are many other TEFL jobs in different countries that offer their English teachers the same vacation time as students. So if having summers off is a priority, I recommend considering teaching in a different country!
11. Inflexible Vacation Dates
While the amount of vacation time given in Korea is actually pretty decent, there is limited flexibility as to how and when you can take it.
As EPIK teachers, we must take our vacation days during the school breaks, and usually divided up as 10 days during the summer and 16 days during the winter. Your ability to choose exact dates may also be limited as your school may need you to teach English camps on their schedule. You’re at the mercy of what your school needs and expects from you.
12. Travel to Other Countries Can Be Expensive
Before actually living in Korea, I had this naive idea that travel to other Asian countries MUST be cheap because Korea is in Asia too. Sadly this isn’t necessarily the case. Travel during peak season – when most EPIK teachers take their vacation – only increases the cost of international flights from Korea.
Thankfully with many budget Korean airlines, it’s possible to find decently priced flights with some insane early planning and research.
13. No Time off for Christmas (or Other Western Holidays)
If spending time with your family over Christmas is something that is extremely important to you, you need to be warned that Christmas and other western holidays aren’t a big deal in Korea, nor many other Asian countries for that matter. As EPIK teachers, we only get one day off for the Christmas holiday, which means no time to go home and visit family.
But to put your mind at ease, Koreans really appreciate the holiday season an a reason to celebrate. It was really fun to see the fantastic Christmas lights and decorations set up around the city. So while you probably won’t be free to go home for Christmas, there is a lot of Christmas cheer in Korea to make up for it (sort of).
14. No Choice in Placement
When you apply to the EPIK program, you’re only allowed to list one main preference for where you’d like to live and teach. Obviously the majority of applicants have their eyes set on Seoul.
Teaching in Seoul with EPIK is very competitive and I’ve been told it’s like winning the lottery. Unless you have stellar teaching experience and extensive formal teacher training, chances are you’ll be placed anywhere but Seoul.
It’s also important to know that when applying to EPIK, you should be open to the possibility that you could be placed somewhere rural. There are a limited number of positions in the city and teachers are expected to go where there’s need! Flexibility is a virtue when considering living and teaching in Korea (see below).
15. Everything Is Last Minute
If you choose to apply to EPIK, be forewarned that you may not receive your acceptance until a month to even a week before you need to fly to Korea. And your school placement isn’t given until the last day of orientation (the day before you’ll move there). Prepare yourself for a long and anxious waiting period!
This last-minute attitude also carries over into everyday teaching plans and schedules. You’ll no doubt encounter many Korean surprises in your time as a teacher – from last-minute class cancellations to last-minute lesson additions, anything goes in Korea!
Things That Could Go Either Way in EPIK
As I mentioned above, being flexible and having the ability to roll with the punches is key when considering teaching English in Korea with the EPIK program. No two applicants have the same experience, and even when the stars align for a picture-perfect setup, one thing may cause a negative experience and vice versa.
Your EPIK School(s)
I was lucky and really loved my co-workers and didn’t have any issues with culture shock or clashes at work. But I had some friends who weren’t so lucky. I think it’s important to share that even though I absolutely loved my schools, your experience could be vastly different. Things that can affect how you feel towards are your school is:
- Where it is in relation to your apartment. Is it within walking distance or a long bus ride?
- How new or old the facilities are.
- What type of resources are available to you.
- Your assigned number of schools.
- The number of students who attend your school – large class sizes or small?
In Korea, everything is a mixed bag and all scenarios are possible!
Your Relationship with your Co-Teacher(s)
I was very lucky and work with wonderfully helpful co-teachers and have yet to have a disagreement or dispute. However, this may not be the case for everyone. Sometimes you may have personality differences, differing teaching philosophies or issues establishing a solid connection with your co-teacher. This is standard in any workplace and like anything, it just depends!
Your Students
As a teacher, your relationship with your students is key to the job and can be affected by the teaching environment you’re both placed in. I teach at two schools; one with 30 students/class and newer facilities, and the other with 15 students/class and older more rural facilities. Both are completely different experiences.
Korea also has the reputation of having wonderfully studious and intelligent students – I came with the same starry-eyed expectation. But kids are kids, no matter where you are in the world. Some classes are total angels who love to learn, some classes are too cool for school. Again, it just depends!
Your EPIK Apartment
If you’ve seen those beautiful EPIK apartment tours online, let me tell you to not get your hopes too high. Depending on where you’re placed, your apartment will most likely be older and show signs of former tenants.
EPIK does a great job making sure you’re comfortable with the essential amenities. However, you are receiving free accommodation and what you get is what you get. My place isn’t perfect, but overall I’m quite happy with my studio.
Cons aside, teaching English in Korea is an amazing opportunity, and is an experience that will differ from person to person. Make sure you come with an open mind and a willingness to be flexible. Your time in Korea totally depends on your situation and how well you go with the flow!
Are you dreaming of teaching English in Korea via the EPIK program? Share below!
Thanks for posting this! I’m really considering teach English abroad- either in Korea or Vietnam. Do you think it would make for a long-term career, or only for a few years?
Hi Lauren! I was actually between Korea and Vietnam when I was planning my teach abroad experience too! I think in Korea, it is definitely possible to make this a long-term career. I’ve met many people who have been here for 5 – 10 years because of the great job environment, salary and benefits. Of course, through EPIK or without formal certification, you may become bored of sharing your classroom with a co-teacher. If that’s the case, many people who enjoy teaching and living abroad make the decision to get certified properly and find jobs in International Schools where they teach their own class. I chose South Korea over Vietnam because of the pay. I’m not sure I could have lived in Vietnam long term with the little salary paid to teachers and the student loan bills I have at home. Hope this helps!
Thank you for posting this, it really cleared up a lot of questions I had! Also, where did you teach in Korea, if you don’t mind me asking?
Thank you Halei! Happy to help 😀 I actually teach English in Daegu! I have written a post about the pros and cons of teaching English in Daegu as well – it’s not as exciting as Seoul, but still a big city with a much more affordable cost of living 😀
Do you know of ways to teach English on the economy if you are a military wife on SOFA visa? Thanks for any insight.
Hi there! I don’t have first hand experience with the SOFA visa, but it looks like you can apply for a special work permit at a Korean immigration office that allows you to apply for teaching positions in Korea! Without this special permit, you’re legally not allowed to work in Korea on SOFA alone. But it sounds like once you receive this permit, you can apply for EPIK (public schools) or for a job at a local Hagwon (probably your best choice so you can choose location and apply now) . There’s more information about it here! https://www.usfk.mil/Portals/105/Documents/EmploymentinKoreaInformationPaper-17Dec08.pdf. I hope this is helpful! I’m not an expert on the legal visa rules in Korea so be sure to check with an professional ☺️☺️
Hello!
Thank you so much for this information. I have been thinking about going to South Korea for the longest time. Does the EPIK program allow one to move with their children or spouse?
Hi there!! EPIK does accept applications from those with dependents (spouse and/or children)! EPIK teachers come to Korea on an E2 visa, which i believe means dependents can apply for the Korean dependent family visa. But I don’t believe EPIK assists with anything outside of the applicant’s work/visa/move. So you’d be responsible for the extra visas and finding housing that best suits your family, because most EPIK apartments are only studios. I hope this helps!!
Hey thankyou so much for sharing so much information , can you tell me when they open application because I want to apply for next time in future and get ready with lesson plan, essay n all beforehand thankyou again
I’m glad you found it useful!! There are two application periods: Feb 1st to start work the fall semester and around August 1st for the spring semester. But you can confirm the exact dates on the EPIK website ☺️Good luck!
“The amazing base salary on top of free rent on top of an abundance of bonuses (seriously, it’s a lot of bonuses) is a perk that’s tough to beat!”
I don’t think the pay is amazing or incredible, it’s not that much more than KR minimum waged and hasn’t risen in like 10 years…?
Hi Alice – thanks for your comment! The reason for my hyperbolic language is because compared to other teach abroad jobs, EPIK pays one of the highest salaries. That coupled with the bonuses, extra perks and lower cost of living in Korea, typically allows EPIK teachers to live pretty comfortable lives. Which was completely my experience even with student loans.
Is it high compared to other jobs in Korea? No, and it sounds like the program is due a wage increased to keep up with rising costs. But from my experience, the wage was more than livable, especially for people seeking a way to live in Korea temporarily without the language or another way to move there.
Hi there, my agent just told me that I may not get accepted into the programme due to having a child that I will be leaving behind in my country. Please help in clearing this up as I am confused since I am willing to spend atleast a year without the child.
Hi Lily! I’ve never heard of someone being denied for going without their child, that does sound strange. I don’t have kids myself so I’m unsure if it’s true or not. All I can recommend is reaching out directly to EPIK and asking them if it would be a problem. I know EPIK does allow teachers to bring their dependents though if that helps. Good luck!
Hello! I am strongly considering applying to EPIK to teach for Fall 2023. Did you apply directly through EPIK or through a recruitment agency?
Hi Chloe! That’s so exciting! I actually had EPIK application assistance with CIEE’s Teach Abroad Program in South Korea. At the time, it was worth it for me as I needed a TEFL certificate (and it was included) and I was working full time and appreciated the assistance. However, it’s pricey and may not work for every budget. I had friends apply on their own and found it manageable, and know people who have applied with Korvia Consulting which I believe is free. I hope this helps and good luck!
Thank you for this info! Really helpful. I’ve heard some negatives about the work culture in Korea, namely an oppressive relationship between new teachers and their seniors, did you ever experience this during your placement?
Hi there! So sorry for the late reply. This dynamic is definitely something that can happen, but thankfully I never experienced the “oppressive” side of Korea’s work culture myself. Of all my friends teaching in Korea (about 10+), I had one that had a particularly bad relationship with her co-teachers. I think part of it is that Korea has a very respect oriented culture, wherein it’s expected to be given to “superiors” but not vice versa and is something basically every teacher experiences in Korea to varying degrees. Depending on your personality and desire/willingness to assimilate with the culture, this can affect your experience working in Korea as well. I hope that helps! It’s hard to say for sure what you’ll encounter because so much of it depends on your principal, your supervising co-teacher, your fellow co-teachers, and how your personality meshes together with the specific school’s culture. Good luck!
Hi! Thank you SO Much for posting this! I am finishing up my BA degree and am planning to graduate this December. I have 2 hopefully easy questions!
1. Would you recommend getting TEFL certified? I’m from the states, and I’ll have the time to get the certification. Would you say this is helpful in the application process or in placement? I suppose I could always apply and see how it goes without the certification, haha.
2. Do you know if there is an application season for EPIK, or if they interview year-round? Or if placement only happens at certain times? Since I’m graduating in December, I’m curious about what the timeline for me might look like.
Thank you again! <3
Hi there! Sorry for the late reply! How exciting 🙂 I hope you love it as much as I did!!
Last time I checked, EPIK does require applicants to have a TEFL certificate if they don’t have a college degree in teaching or education! You aren’t eligible for the job without one otherwise.
There are two application periods for EPIK. The exact dates change every year but one typically opens in August and one in February. The February application is for the Fall semester intake (so you’ll start around August) and vice versa for the August application (Spring/main intake starting around Feb). But all of this can be confirmed on EPIK’s official website: http://www.EPIK.go.kr.
Good luck with your application and graduation!!