The English Program in Korea — EPIK — is an exciting opportunity to travel and teach abroad in a country of varied natural beauty and intrigue while gaining professional teaching experience and earning a lucrative salary.
The EPIK Program with the University of Toronto’s TEFL Certification
Become a leading candidate for the EPIK program and earn a higher salary through the University of Toronto’s TEFL Online certification program. TEFL Online offers 100, 120, and 150-hour online courses that provide prospective EPIK teachers with the skills and knowledge to teach in the Korean Public School system.
Teaching at Public Schools in Korea – EPIK
The EPIK program offers teachers a unique experience by allowing them to share their culture and knowledge with students while gaining experience teaching ESL in public schools across Korea.
What is EPIK?
EPIK stands for English Program in Korea, a program sponsored by the Korean Ministry of Education. The EPIK program was established in 1995 with the mandate to improve the English speaking abilities of students and teachers in Korea and to develop cultural exchanges. Through the EPIK Program, over 1,000 teachers are placed in ESL teaching jobs every year.
EPIK Offers One of the Best Employment Packages in Asia
- Salary up to 2.7 million KRW/month (2.0-2.2 million KRW/month is average)
- Over 5 weeks of vacation time
- 1.3 million KRW entrance and exit allowance for flight
- Free Furnished Apartment
Who is Eligible to Teach in Korean Public Schools?
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Hold a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent from an accredited college or university
- Be a citizen of a country where the primary language is English
- Be fluent in English
- Meet the requirements for an E-2 or F-4 visa
Teaching Job Openings at Public Schools in Korea
You can indicate which POE (Provincial Office of Education) you would like to work for, but there are no guarantees that teachers will be granted their first choice.
EPIK teachers can work in almost any province of Korea. Location preference is granted on a first come-first served basis. EPIK will decide which Provincial Office of Education (POE) the teacher will work for after receiving the teacher’s documents. Then, the POE will determine the teacher’s school placement. Teachers will work at primary and secondary schools within a designated POE, but some may be asked to also work at other educational facilities within the POE system.
Salary for EPIK Teachers
A teacher’s salary is based on a combination of qualifications and experience. Comprehensive salary guidelines have been put in place for English teachers working for EPIK. The table below will outline each salary level:
| Level | EPIK Requirements | Monthly Pay (Million KRW) | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metropolitan City | Province | ||||
| Busan Incheon | Other Cities | Jeju | Other Provinces | ||
| 1+ | Level 1 plus 2 consecutive years of teaching experience within the same Provincial Office of Education (POE) | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 |
| 1 | 2 years of teaching experience with one of the following: – Master’s degree – Teacher’s, TEFL/TESOL/CELTA (100+ hours) certificate – Major in Education, Linguistics, English Education, or English Language/LiteratureContract renewal as a Level 2+ at the same POE | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 2.5 |
| 2+ | 1 year of full-time teaching experience plus one of the following: – Bachelor’s degree in Education, English, or Linguistics – Teacher’s License – TEFL/TESOL or CELTA certificate (100+ hours) – Master’s degree in any disciplineMaster’s degree in Education, English, or LinguisticsMaster’s degree in any discipline with Bachelor’s degree in Education, English, or LinguisticsAfter 1 year as Level 2 with the renewing province | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| 2 | Teacher’s licenseMust have one of the following: – Teacher’s, TEFL/TESOL/CELTA (100+ hours) certificate – Major in Education, Linguistics, English Education, or English Language/Literature – Bachelor’s degree in any discipline plus 1 year full-time teaching experienceMaster’s degree in any discipline | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 |
| 3 | Bachelor’s degree in any discipline | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.1 |
EPIK Working Hours and Benefits
The period of employment is for 1 full year (i.e. February 2012 to February 2013). A typical working day is 8 hours in length, with actual teaching hours ranging from 22-24 hours per week. Overtime pay is available if teachers are asked to work outside of their designated hours. ELIs work Monday to Friday.
Additional Benefits
All EPIK teachers will be entitled to the following benefits:
- Free single housing (utilities not included)
- Entrance allowance of 1.3 million KRW to purchase a one-way ticket to Korea
- Exit allowance of 1.3 million KRW or Renewal Bonus of 2.0 million KRW for re-signing
- Training in Korea
- Transportation to placement location
- Airport pick-up
- Settlement allowance of 300,000 KRW
- One month’s salary severance pay upon completion of contract
- Paid vacation for 18 working days, and 13-15 national holidays
- 50% medical insurance and pension
- Rural bonus; multiple school bonus (where applicable)
Responsibilities of English teachers working for EPIK
All English teachers with jobs in Korean Public Schools work under the guidance of a supervisor designated by a specific Provincial Office of Education (POE). Teachers are responsible for conducting English classes in cooperation with Korean teachers. ELIs will assist with the development of teaching materials and activities related to English language education.
Training in Korea
All EPIK teachers are required to attend a mandatory 9 day professional training session. The orientation period is not included in the term of employment and as such, is unpaid. Teachers will learn about the Korean Public School system, their role as English teachers, living in Korea, and many other useful topics. Attendance at orientation is a mandatory condition of employment.
WHAT IS AN ELI?
An ELI is an English Language Instructor hired by the Korean Ministry of Education. ELIs usually work together with Korean co-teachers in a classroom on a daily basis. ELIs are responsible for conducting English conversation classes for Korean primary and secondary public school students as part of the Korean government’s aim to promote and strengthen English language education.
NOTE: ELIs are sometimes referred to as GETs – Guest English Teachers
Public Schools – GEPIK
Teaching Jobs at Public Schools in Gyeonggi-do (Province)
Gyeonggi Province, the area immediately surrounding Seoul, has the highest demand for English education in all of Korea. This translates into a lot of ESL teaching jobs throughout the region. Teach Away was selected by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education an official recruitment partner to recruit teachers for the renowned GEPIK program in Gyeonggi province.
What is GEPIK?
GEPIK stands for Gyeonggi English Program in Korea. It was established in 2003 in order to provide English education to the region. There are currently over 1,000 foreign ESL teachers working for GEPIK.
Who is eligible?
Candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Citizen of an English speaking country (Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, United Kingdom)
- Fluent English Speaker
- Have a completed Bachelor’s Degree from a University or College in an English speaking country
Why work for GEPIK?
GEPIK offers many benefits that are unavailable in other areas of Korea. In addition to the standard benefits of free flight, accommodation and one month severance pay, GEPIK teachers also receive the following benefits:
- Salary is 10%-20% higher than in other public schools
- Vacation time is 20 days instead of the common 14 days offered in other public schools, or 10 days offered in private schools
- Settlement allowance of 300,000 KRW for all teachers
- Proximity to Seoul and access to Seoul Subway System
- City and rural placements available (bonus for teaching in a rural area)
GEPIK Benefits and Salary
English teachers in Gyeonggi Province are entitled to many benefits including the following:
- Free single housing (utilities not included)
- Free flight (reimbursed upon arrival in Korea)
- Orientation and training
- Airport pickup
- Settlement allowance
- One month salary at the completion of the contract
- Paid vacation of 20 working days + 13-15 national holidays
- 50% medical insurance and pension contribution
GEPIK Salary Scale
Salary for English teaching jobs in Gyeonggi Province public schools depends on a combination of qualifications and experience. The guidelines are outlined below:
| Category | GEPIK Regular Stream Requirements | Monthly Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1-A | Elementary, Middle, or Secondary school TEACHER’s CERTIFICATEMinimum two years’ of full-time English teaching experience at accredited teaching institution(s) | 2.3 million KRW |
| 1-B | Master’s degreeMinimum two years of full-time English teaching experience at accredited institution(s) | 2.3 million KRW |
| 1-C | TESOL, TEFL or CELTA certificate comprised of a minimum of 100 course hoursMinimum two years of full-time English teaching experience at accredited institution(s) | 2.3 million KRW |
| 1-D | Bachelor’s degree in EducationMinimum two years of full time English teaching experience at accredited institution(s) | 2.3 million KRW |
| 2-A | Elementary, Middle, or Secondary School Teacher’s Certificate | 2.1 million KRW |
| 2-B | TESOL, TEFL or CELTA certificate comprised of a min. of 100 course hours | 2.1 million KRW |
| 2-C | Minimum one year of full time English teaching experience at accredited institution(s) | 2.1 million KRW |
| 2-D | Bachelor’s degree with a major in Education (Education major must be clearly stated on either the diploma certificate or official transcript) | 2.1 million KRW |
| 2-E | Bachelor’s degree with a major in Education (Education major must be clearly stated on either the diploma certificate or official transcript) | 2.1 million KRW |
| 3 | Bachelor’s degree*No other certificates or experiences outlined in Categories 1 or 2*This is the minimum entry requirement into GEPIK | 2.0 million KRW |
Responsibilities of GEPIK English Teachers
Primarily, GEPIK teachers are required to conduct beginner to intermediate English classes at an assigned Gyeonggi Province school alongside a Korean “co-teacher”. GEPIK English teachers are required to teach 22 classes (each lasting 40 – 50 minutes) per week. There are other various extracurricular programs that teachers will run such as English Day Camp, English Speech contest, and English classes for fellow Korean teachers.
GEPIK Working Hours
The period of employment for English teaching jobs is 1 year, starting from the first day of employment in Korea. Teachers will generally work 8 hours per day including lunch, for 5 days a week from Monday to Friday and shall not work on Saturdays, Sundays or National Holidays. Teachers will have 22 teaching hours per week.
GEPIK Placement Locations
Location preference for English teaching jobs are granted whenever possible but placements are limited to availability. The more flexibility an applicant has with regards to application, the better chance they have of securing a job.
Placements are located in cities and rural areas across Gyeonggi.
Provinces
Ansan (안산시, 安山市)
Anseong (안성시, 安城市)
Anyang (안양시, 安養市)
Bucheon (부천시, 富川市)
Dongducheon (동두천시, 東豆川市)
Gimpo (김포시, 金浦市)
Goyang (고양시, 高陽市)
Gunpo (군포시, 軍浦市)
Guri (구리시, 九里市)
Gwacheon (과천시, 果川市)
Gwangju (광주시, 廣州市)
Gwangmyeong (광명시, 光明市)
Hanam (하남시, 河南市)
Hwaseong (화성시, 華城市)
Icheon (이천시, 利川市)
Namyangju (남양주시, 南楊州市)
Osan (오산시, 烏山市)
Paju (파주시, 坡州市)
Pocheon (포천시, 抱川市)
Pyeongtaek (평택시, 平澤市)
Seongnam (성남시, 城南市)
Siheung (시흥시, 始興市)
Uijeongbu (의정부시, 議政府市)
Uiwang (의왕시, 儀旺市)
Yangju (양주시, 楊州市)
Yongin (용인시, 龍仁市)
* At present, Teach Away is not accepting applications for the GEPIK program as positions are filled. As an alternative, please see the EPIK program which offers exceptional benefits.