Quick answer: EPIK (English Program in Korea) places teachers in Korean public schools on 2.0–3.0 million KRW a month plus free furnished housing, flight allowances and around four weeks’ paid holiday. You need a degree, citizenship of one of seven English-speaking countries and a 100+ hour TEFL certificate – our 120-hour TESOL Premier course qualifies. Apply via the official EPIK site up to six months before the spring or autumn intake.
What is EPIK and why teach in Korea through it?
Korea - a land of opportunity...
There is no doubt that for TEFL newbies as well as more experienced EFL teachers, Korea offers some of the best contracts around – it regularly features in our list of the top 5 best-paying TESOL destinations. You can expect:
* return airfare
* free accommodation
* a good salary enabling you to save
* one year contracts and paid holidays
Demand for teachers in Korea is high and there are also plenty of agencies offering jobs in Korea. But who to trust, and how do you discern a good agency or employer from a bad one?
One way to take the guesswork out of teaching English in Korea is to work for the Korean government via their popular English Program in Korea (EPIK).
Through the government EPIK scheme you will be teaching English to children in public schools. You can expect the great benefits listed above, but with some added advantages. Firstly, you have the security of working for the government rather than a commercial language school owner. Secondly, the norm with many schools is to work a lot of hours across the day including some evenings and weekends, working for EPIK means your hours are largely confined to the regular school day. Then there are the longer public holidays, meaning you will have more time to explore the wonders of this beautiful country. It is worth a look at the gov.uk travel advice for South Korea too, mainly for the entry and visa notes.
What does EPIK offer (salary, housing, flights)?
The package is the reason EPIK keeps its place at the top of the entry-level TEFL market. In 2026 the pay scale runs from 2.0 to 3.0 million KRW a month depending on your level, which is set by your qualifications and experience – a degree in education, a teaching licence or a TEFL course with a practical component all push you up the scale. On top of salary, here is what EPIK provides:
| Benefit | What you get |
|---|---|
| Salary | 2.0–3.0 million KRW/month by level |
| Housing | Free furnished single housing or allowance |
| Flights | 1.3m KRW entrance allowance + 1.3m exit allowance |
| Settlement | 300,000 KRW arrival allowance |
| Holidays | About 4 weeks paid + public holidays |
| End of contract | Renewal bonus and severance |
Severance is worth roughly one month’s pay for each completed year, and renewing your contract brings a bonus on top. Because your housing is free, the salary is yours to live on and save – which is why so many EPIK teachers clear their student debt while they are there.
What are the EPIK eligibility requirements?
EPIK’s requirements are fixed by the Korean government, so there is no talking your way around them. You will need:
- Citizenship of the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand or South Africa.
- A bachelor’s degree – in any subject.
- A TEFL/TESOL certificate of 100+ hours, unless your degree is in education.
- An apostilled copy of your degree and a national criminal record check.
A quick correction to something we said in the original version of this article: EPIK does not require an in-class or teaching-practice component in your TEFL course. The real requirement is simply 100+ hours of TEFL/TESOL training. A course with a practical element can help your placement on the pay scale, but it is not a condition of entry. We no longer run our old in-class Teach Korea course; our 120-hour TESOL Premier course comfortably meets EPIK’s 100+ hour requirement and you can complete it entirely online, right where you are.
What is the EPIK application timeline?
EPIK runs two intakes a year: spring (late February/March start – apply from the preceding August) and autumn (late August/September start – apply from February). Places have reduced in recent years and the big cities are competitive, so the two golden rules are apply early and be flexible about province – a rural placement is many teachers’ favourite part of the whole experience. Here is the process from start to finish:
- Get qualified. Complete a 100+ hour TEFL course such as our 120-hour TESOL Premier – you can apply while the course is in progress, but it must be finished before you start work.
- Choose your intake and apply early. Apply from August for the spring intake or February for the autumn intake, either directly through the EPIK website or via a free placement agency.
- Pass the interview. A video interview with an EPIK coordinator – be ready to talk about why Korea, how you would handle a class of ten-year-olds, and your flexibility on location.
- Gather and apostille documents. Your degree and national criminal record check both need apostilles, which can take weeks – start this the day you apply.
- Receive placement and visa documents, apply for the E-2 visa. Once placed, EPIK sends the paperwork you need to apply for your E-2 teaching visa at your nearest Korean embassy.
- Fly out for orientation. All new EPIK teachers attend a paid orientation before term starts – a friendly crash course in Korean school life, and where you will meet your first friends in Korea.
There are a few hoops to jump through in order to obtain a coveted EPIK position but we’ve teamed up with two respected agencies, one in the UK and the other US/Asia based, that know EPIK inside-out and can help you through the whole process from start to finish, fee-free.
As EPIK specialists, with experience of teaching English in Korea themselves, they have placed hundreds of teachers onto the EPIK programme and will make the process as smooth and straightforward as possible.
David Slattery says he was overwhelmed by the EPIK process at the beginning but says:
"they made the application process completely stress free. They called me on a number of occasions to talk me through the process step by step and Phil was always a pillar of support, helping me with my documents during application and being at the airport in Incheon when I arrived to welcome me face to face."
So, if you are a graduate from one of the seven eligible countries and keen to find out more, email us your CV and we’ll help to get the ball rolling.
EPIK vs hagwons: which is right for you?
The alternative to EPIK is a hagwon – one of Korea’s thousands of private academies. Hagwons hire year-round rather than in two intakes, you can choose your city (Seoul and Busan jobs are plentiful), and headline salaries are broadly similar. The trade-offs run the other way, though: hagwon hours stretch into evenings and weekends because that is when children attend after regular school, holiday allowances are usually 10 days rather than EPIK’s four weeks, and your experience depends entirely on the quality of one private owner. EPIK gives you government-backed contract security, daytime hours and the full public-holiday calendar, at the price of not choosing exactly where you live. Our honest advice: if you want a first year with a safety net, choose EPIK; if you must live in a specific city and can vet an employer carefully, a good hagwon can serve you well. Either way, Korea remains one of the best-paying destinations for new teachers.
Frequently asked questions
How competitive is EPIK now?
More than it used to be. Intake numbers have reduced in recent years, and placements in Seoul, Busan and the other big cities go quickly. You can improve your odds enormously by applying as soon as the intake opens (August for spring, February for autumn) and by being flexible about which province you are placed in.
What TEFL hours does EPIK require?
100+ hours, unless your degree is in education. Any accredited course of that length qualifies – our 120-hour TESOL Premier course meets the requirement with room to spare. A course with a practical component is not required, though it can help your position on the pay scale.
Can couples apply to EPIK together?
Yes. EPIK lets married couples request placement together, and will normally house you in shared accommodation in the same area. Apply at the same time, mention each other in both applications, and be flexible on location – joint placements are easier to arrange outside the biggest cities.
How much can you save on EPIK?
With free housing and a salary of 2.0–3.0 million KRW a month, many EPIK teachers save $700–1,200 a month while still travelling and eating out. Add the renewal bonus and severance of about a month’s pay per completed year, and a two-year stint can send you home with a genuinely useful lump sum.
What are you waiting for? Your Korea adventure starts here!
-------------------
Useful links:
* Find Korea vacancies on our TEFL jobs board
* Our recommended TESOL course for EPIK
* What it is like teaching English in Korea
* The official EPIK website
Email us if you have any questions on our training courses. We have helped hundreds of trainees get their TESOL careers started in Korea.