You determine that there must be something better out there and decide to search for what that thing might be as soon as you get home. Later that night, you come across a website advertising English teaching positions in South Korea and feel a sudden, unexpected impulse flooding through you. After applying for a teaching position and a few hectic months of gathering and sending documents to the other side of the world, you find yourself on the plane ready to take off, wondering how exactly you got yourself into this position. Are you really ready to move to Korea for a new life?

Like everyone else who makes it to this point, you’re intrigued about what might lie ahead, which is why I’ve compiled this list of tips for anyone planning to make the big move in 2024. So sit back and relax as I take you through some of the most important things to know about moving to Korea.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

Learn Korean Before You Move To Korea

This one sounds incredibly obvious and daunting in equal measure, I get it. And I’m not suggesting you need to become conversational overnight or anything, but as you can probably appreciate, learning Korean when you’re about to go and move to Korea is going to have countless benefits.

You might also be surprised to learn that Hangul (the Korean alphabet) is one of the easiest alphabets to learn and once you touch down, your boss / coworker / students will inevitably tell you how ‘scientific’ it is within your first 5 minutes of moving to Korea. The best thing is, it’s not difficult.

As someone who has lived in Korea on and off for 13 years and who certainly wouldn’t class himself as anything close to a ‘language buff’, I can wholeheartedly attest to this. It’s also a massive help when you’re out and about as you can easily learn to read menus, signs, and posters.

A lot of signs use English words – just written in Korean – so the sooner you learn, even just the alphabet, the bigger the advantage will be for you. I actually learnt Hangul at work. My entire class were off one afternoon, except one kid, who taught me the alphabet in one 50 minute sitting.

Maybe I was doing myself a disservice by claiming I’m no language buff in hindsight. Honestly, you could probably learn on the flight out here with an app like Duolingo. Just don’t leave it months like I did. Worst case, use an app like Papago to translate Korean while you’re learning the language.

The benefits of learning Korean are endless. And instant. Your boss and coworkers will also be pleasantly surprised if you already have a little bit of Korean in your arsenal when you arrive, which is sure to make a good impression. Just a few basic Korean phrases will go a long way from day one.

Do you need to learn Korean to move to Korea? Not completely, but grasping the basics will definitely help you make friends, eat out, shop, and live a semi-normal life more easily. It will also be of use if you want to hang out with your coworkers and know more about what your students are saying.

Make Friends With Your Korean Coworkers

Making friends with other expats in Korea is a great idea, one that I wholeheartedly endorse. The benefits of having friends from a similar cultural background are countless and can do wonders for not only your social life, but also your mental health. Sometimes you’ve got to be around familiar people.

However, there’s a very real threat that you simply enclose yourself in a Westernised bubble of expats once you get to Korea. Not only do you shut yourself off from making local friends, you might also end up ignoring or not knowing about Korea’s other wonders, such as amazing food, which I’ll cover later.

The likelihood is that you’ll get to your destination and instantly be introduced to a Western coworker or two, who will then in turn take you out for dinner to introduce you to their friend group. This can often mean your interactions with actual Koreans outside the classroom can be limited at best.

One way around this is to befriend a coworker. These guys are often the unsung heroes of life in Korea. I mean, they’re working in an English-speaking environment all day, so their English is usually pretty good, which means they can provide an obvious link between yourself and the local culture.

Take advantage of this when moving to Korea. Koreans who work in English schools are usually pretty eager to practice their English at any given opportunity, so befriending your coworkers is a two-way street. Of course, it can also mean you gain a friend for life even if you move away from Korea.

Many Koreans are super-helpful, especially in those early days when you’re brand new, so don’t be scared to invite your coworkers out for dinner or whatever it is you might do in your spare time. Not everyone will want to chat with the foreign teacher, but there’s always someone who will.

Request A Bigger Korean City

You may have heard horror stories from English teachers in Korea stuck in the middle of nowhere with no friends and few modern conveniences. Contrary to what you may think, recruiters are eager to get you over to Korea and will usually do their best to provide you with your first choice location.

This means you don’t have to settle for a position in a tiny village out in the sticks. Of course, these positions have their own charms and can often be rewarding in their own way, but for a first-time expat who doesn’t know the language, they might not be the best choice for when you move to Korea.

Making friends in these places can be virtually impossible, too. Korea is a dream for the socially minded amongst us – the possibilities and friendship circles are endless. However, if you’re moving to Korea to embrace a new culture and way of life, living in the countryside might suit you fine.

In Korea, having a lot of friends is like owning a diverse collection of books, with each one offering a unique perspective on life on the peninsula. Most of the time, expats are more than willing to open their social circles and welcome new members, especially in the smaller cities outside the capital.

As someone who has spent the vast majority of their time in Korea in a mid-sized city, I can attest to this first-hand. As great as Seoul and Busan are, they can, on occasion, feel a little impersonal. The same can be said for being an expat in any large city around the world though, I would guess.

You won’t struggle making friends in the bigger cities in Korea, but you might struggle to form and maintain close personal friendships; there’s simply too much happening and the faces you will bump into each weekend will almost certainly change. Also, people move to and leave Korea all the time.

So yes, my advice would be to request a bigger city, but maybe not a huge metropolis like the big two of Seoul and Busan. Older expats with plenty of experience and established friend groups regularly make the move to the big cities, but to just rock up in Seoul fresh off the boat may be a little daunting.

Be Prepared For Lots Of Korean Surprises

As someone who has lived in Korea for more than a decade, I can categorically confirm that Korea can be one of the most bizarre places on the planet. In a good way. Of course, the peculiarities are cultural, and what may seem odd for an expat is often seen as perfectly normal for a Korean.

If you happen to be offended by old men hocking up and spitting all over the street, Korea might not be the best place for you. Yes, these older Korean gents can often be as wise as an old sage, but have no problem engaging in this particularly nasty habit. It’s certainly shocking if you’re not used to it.

Moving to Korea can often be overwhelming when in big urban areas, too. If you’re reading this as a veteran of life in The Land of the Morning Calm, you will undoubtedly have been in a position on the subway where an ajumma (an old Korean lady) has rudely pushed past you.

Social etiquette in these situations, i.e. saying, “sorry”, is virtually non-existent, so don’t take it personally. This is all part of Korea’s famous ppalli ppalli (go quickly) culture. This is also tied into Korea’s Confucian-based social structure, where the young are expected to defer to the elderly.

Whilst Korea is one of the cleaner and more developed Asian countries, you still see public toilet bins full to the brim with used toilet paper. This can be off-putting for a first-time expat, so be prepared. Fortunately, since the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, Korea has been trying to bin this habit.

Oh, and whilst on the topic of public bathrooms, you should fully expect to see Koreans brushing their teeth when you go to the bathroom. Koreans brush their teeth after every meal so this is a common, if not pretty unusual, sight (for a Westerner). It’s a cultural difference, one of many.

There are plenty of other strange behaviours you will almost certainly notice on a daily basis when living in Korea. But it’s important to remember that you are a guest, so respecting the culture is of the utmost importance. Be sure to brush up on Korean etiquette rules before you move to Korea.

Why not ask your Korean coworkers or class about specific behaviours you’ve noticed in a nice, respectful way? They will usually be more than happy to discuss and compare these peculiarities with you and will often be happy that you are taking an interest in Korean etiquette and culture.

Embrace The Korean Work Culture

If you are the type of person who likes to have an opinion, like I myself have been known to have, you might have to realign your expectations, particularly in the work place. Usually, what the boss says goes and they do not like to be challenged. This again ties back to Korea’s Confucian heritage.

If you find yourself in a situation at work you’re not quite comfortable with, take a second to collect yourself before you speak up. When you want to complain about something, it may be best to ask yourself if this is really something you have to pursue. Expats in Korea learn to pick their battles.

In Korea, workers who complain about things are not seen as team players and are instead breaking the harmony of the group – a big no-no in Korean culture. I’m certainly not suggesting you should accept abuse or harassment at work, but you may be better off letting the small things slide.

Koreans work hard and play even harder. You might be asked to partake in a ritual bonding session known as a “hoesik” (pronounced hway-shik). This basically amounts to a meal with coworkers and the boss usually trying to beat the world record for the amount of soju ever consumed in one siting.

Of course, this is obviously dependent on the boss in question, but people who have lived in Korea for any serious amount of time will definitely have come across this sort of person. If you want to drink a lot and get to see your coworkers without their work-faces on, this is the time to do it.

When I first arrived, these dinners were pretty much mandatory, but the work-life culture in Korea is gradually beginning to change in favour of the worker. During the pandemic, these events were cancelled for obvious reasons, and now some workers aren’t always eager to start them up again.

Yes, Koreans will still more than likely be expected to attend, but Westerners will probably be given a little more leeway. If drinking isn’t your thing, then don’t be afraid to speak out. Nobody will force you to get involved. You can always turn your shot glass upside down or ask to fill it with water instead.

But if you do drink, these nights can be a solid way to get to know your coworkers better and can be a lot of fun. You will probably end in a noraebang too, which is a Korean karaoke place. I mean, what’s not to like about that? And don’t worry, they will have plenty of songs in English for you.

Get Stuck Into Local Korean Delicacies

Most expats are in agreement about the quality of food on offer in Korea. And if you happen to be English, it’s not too difficult to outperform English food (I’m English, so I can say that). Korean food is a (sometimes) spicy, exciting blend of local and Asian cuisine that’s cheap and delicious.

And there are loads of different types of traditional Korean food to try, too. Korean cuisine is like a firework show exploding in your mouth, with each dish leaving a lingering trail of deliciousness. From chamchi-jjigae (spicy tuna stew) to Korean barbecue, there is something for everyone.

Kimchi (fermented cabbage) is a big deal over here and served with every meal. It’s no exaggeration to say that Koreans are obsessed with it. In my first year of moving to Korea way back when, it took quite some time to get used it, but I can now proudly call myself a kimchi connoisseur.

A little heads up though: Korea isn’t really a place which accommodates vegans all that well. Their cuisine is heavily meat based, but if you do happen to be a meat eater, you will find yourself like a kid in a candy store, with endless delightful options. That being said, veganism is increasing in Korea.

Koreans also use meals to bond with each other and sharing food from the barbecue or a big communal heated dish is commonplace. As a person who didn’t particularly like sharing food, a la Joey from ‘Friends’, this came as quite the shock, so be warned (and ready to love it).

On the whole, Korean food is some of the best in Asia and you should jump into it fork (or chopsticks) first. Korea has loads of seasonal dishes, including hot and spicy Korean winter foods, and cool and refreshing summer desserts. You’re sure to find something yummy when you move to Korea.

Be Open Minded About Everything

As mentioned earlier, Korea can occasionally be a little strange – especially in your first few months here. If you let it, this can make life somewhat difficult for you. This is known as culture shock. The best advice I can offer would be to embrace the fact that you are living in a foreign country.

Yes, some days life might be a little more difficult than if you were still living in your home country. But in my humble opinion, the life-changing experiences far outweigh any of the negatives. Most people start off being amazed with everything, the honeymoon phase, and this time is a blast.

However, sooner or later, people start to feel down about living in a new culture, having to deal with a new language, and feel isolated. Don’t worry, this happens to everyone and there’s really no other way through it than eating some comfort food, talking to friends (here and at home), and being brave.

Take little steps to burst through your comfort zone. Try that Korean dish, even if you’re not sure what it is. Go out for a meal with a coworker if they invite you. Check out a student’s sticker collection when they offer to show you. Say hello to the bus driver in Korean. Take a day trip to see another city.

Approach every new situation as an opportunity to grow and to not just learn about Korean culture, but also to teach your new Korean friends about your culture. Share, interact with, and absorb the local culture and expat life in Korea will be less intimidating, less confusing, and hopefully more fun.

There are a ton of things you can do in Korea that you might not be able to do at home. Skiing, for example, is pretty cheap in Korea so if you’re from a warmer country, this is a great opportunity to try it. Just don’t get evacuated off the slopes by mountain rescue after wiping out like a friend of mine did.

Living as an expat in Korea is a great excuse to try new hobbies, join clubs you can’t find at home, practice a foreign language, and experience sights and cultures you wouldn’t normally be able to. Make the most of your move to Korea and create some unforgettable memories and new friends.

What To Bring When You Move To Korea

Korean clothes sizes are different to Western sizes and can be misleading. A ‘small’ in the US could be a ‘medium’ in Korea or even a ‘large’. If you’re worried about finding size-appropriate clothing in Korea, definitely stock up before you travel or be prepared to search Seoul’s specialist clothing shops.

Shoes can also be an issue, especially if you have longer than average feet or wide feet. If you plan to do any outdoor activities or go to the gym, I recommend buying training shoes in your home country so that you’re guaranteed a comfortable fit. Korean shoes also follow a different shoe size scale.

Even though Koreans are generally very fashionable, you might find that Korean fashion tastes aren’t always what you want to wear. Fortunately, there are plenty of international fashion stores in Korea, including Zara, H&M, Uniqlo, and Gap. You can also order clothes online from Amazon.

Another odd aspect of living in Korea I’ve never quite gotten to the bottom of is the amount it costs to buy deodorant ($6+). I’ve heard tales over the years that Koreans don’t actually use these products because they don’t smell when they perspire. Bring a few extra roll-ons when you move to Korea.

Asides from clothes and personal goods, you probably don’t need to worry too much if you’re only planning to move to Korea for a year. You can find a wide range of goods, clothes, cosmetics, and medicine in Korea that should be as good or better as what you’re used to back home.

If you do have a medical requirement and need prescription medication, or you’re worried about what drugs you can bring into Korea, check out the guide to medical assistance from the US Embassy in Korea. This site also includes a list of English speaking dentists and physicians.

One final thing, I recommend investing in some good quality bedding. Summer in Korea is really hot and winter is really cold, making it hard to sleep for light sleepers. I use an Emma Original mattress as it’s cheaper than Korean mattress companies and helps me sleep well whatever time of year it is.

How To Move To Korea With EPIK

If you are interested in starting a new life working and living in South Korea, then one of the best options for people from native English speaking countries is the EPIK Program. This is a government-led program to bring native speakers to Korea to help develop the English skills of school students.

You can start on EPIK in the spring or autumn and there are thousands of positions across Korea, from big cities to small villages in remote mountains. This guide to applying for EPIK covers all you need to know; from completing the application form to acing the interview, and all in between.

Not only can EPIK help you move to Korea more easily by guaranteeing you a job and an apartment for when you arrive, it also has a great community of expat teachers to meet. Of course, as mentioned in tip 2, you should definitely make Korean friends, too (starting with other expats helps, though).

To apply for EPIK, you will need to be a native English speaker from one of these 7 countries:

• United States
• Canada
• United Kingdom
• Ireland
• Australia
• New Zealand
• South Africa

You will also need to have at least a bachelor’s degree and an online TEFL certificate (not hard to get and can be completed in less than a month). Want to know what working on EPIK is like? Find out in this review of life on EPIK. Whether you join for a year or five, the experience can be life changing.

Support In My Korea

Thanks for reading. If you want to help me to create more great content in the future, why not buy me a coffee? A strong coffee helps me write more and is a simple way to show gratitude for this free content.

Related Articles

Driving in Korea for Foreigners: The comprehensive Guide 2024

May 6, 2024July 9, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Travel, Transportation

The EPIK Teaching Experience: What To Expect On EPIK 2024

January 13, 2021March 17, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Expat Life In Korea

Korean Fan Death Myth: Why Are Koreans Scared Of Fans?

December 30, 2021March 17, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Culture

The EPIK application process is a beast. I’ve been through it myself. That’s why I want to give you loads of my best tips about how to improve your chances of successfully applying for EPIK. I’ll show you what to include in your personal essay, lesson plan, and what to focus on in the interview.

This guide also covers details about who is eligible for EPIK, when you can apply (twice per year), what the minimum requirements are to get onto EPIK, and some of my own personal insights into the application process, living in Korea, and whether the EPIK Program is right for you. There really are so many reasons why you should apply for EPIK and change your life forever.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

In This How To Apply For EPIK Guide

In this guide I’ll cover the essentials for applying to EPIK, including details about:

If you want to hear my own personal story about teaching with EPIK for 5 years, or what life is like as an EPIK teacher, check out my articles about My EPIK Life Teaching In Korea and my Review of the EPIK Teaching Experience.

What Is The EPIK Program?

Here’s a brief breakdown of the EPIK Program, including the history of EPIK, what EPIK employees do, and who is eligible to teach in Korea with EPIK.

The EPIK (English Program In Korea) Program was created in 1995 as a way to increase the English-speaking abilities of Korean students and teachers, as well as to develop cultural exchanges between Korea and the English-speaking world. Today, the EPIK Program has thousands of foreigners from seven native English-speaking countries teaching English in schools across Korea.

Teaching English in Korea with EPIK is a win-win situation for both the Korean students and for citizens from the eligible countries. The students get to listen to and interact with a native English speaker. The native English speaker gets to experience life in Korea, develop skills through working in Korea, and has the chance to save and travel lots.

Benefits of working on the EPIK Program

Here are some of the benefits you will receive as an EPIK teacher in Korea. These are open to everyone who works for EPIK, but how much you’ll get will depend on the region you teach in.

One of the biggest benefits to applying for EPIK over other jobs is the support you’ll receive and how you’re guided into living and working in Korea. You’ll be assigned a mentor who will help you adjust to life in Korea and other teachers at your school will help lots.

Read on to find out if you’re eligible to apply for EPIK.

Who Can Apply For EPIK Korea?

To maintain a high level of candidates and to provide the most authentic language learning experience for Korean students, entry to EPIK is quite restricted. This also applies to other English teaching jobs in Korea. Here’s some FAQs covering who can apply for EPIK.

What countries are eligible to apply for EPIK?

Citizens from the following countries can apply for EPIK.

*Under the CEPA agreement, citizens from India can also apply as long as they meet all other requirements and hold a teacher’s license in English. Contact epik@korea.kr for more information.

Do I Need A Degree To Apply For EPIK?

Yes, you need to have at least a Bachelor’s degree from a university in one of the 7 countries listed above. The Bachelor’s degree must be from an accredited university and taught in English.

You’ll also need to have studied in English since 7th grade.

Is A Degree All I Need To Apply For EPIK?

You won’t need any other qualifications to apply for EPIK if your Bachelor’s degree is in Education with one of the following majors:

However, if your Bachelor’s degree is in any other subject, you’ll also need one of these to apply:

The TaLK Program was a teaching program by the Korean government aimed at current Bachelor’s students who want to experience life working and living in Korea. Sadly, the TaLK Program ended in August 2021 after 13 years.

When To Apply For EPIK Korea

There are two EPIK intakes each year in spring and fall. You’ll need to start your EPIK application up to 6 months before you want to start working on EPIK. For university graduates in countries such as the USA or UK, who finish in the summer, the fall intake is very convenient.

Here are some key dates for the two intakes. Remember, the earlier you start the application, the more likely you are to be accepted for the EPIK Program, especially if you apply directly to EPIK.

When To Apply For EPIK Spring 2025 Intake

These are the dates provided by EPIK for the spring intake. You can start your application from August onwards.

The actual start date is usually around the 26th of February each year. You may be required to arrive in Korea up to 1 week before that start date for an orientation. There are also late spring intake positions in March or April. The application for EPIK Spring 2025 will begin in August 2024.

Please note: The application period for the EPIK Spring 2025 intake will end in November. I recommend submitting your application form and preparing your documents as soon as possible to avoid delays and to ensure you’re successful.

When To Apply For EPIK Fall 2024 Intake

The dates for the fall intake are the same as the spring intake, but 6 months later. Here are the dates for the EPIK fall 2024 intake.

The actual start date is around the 26th of August each year. You may be required to arrive in Korea up to 1 week before that start date for an orientation. There are also late fall intake positions in September or October.

Applications for EPIK Fall 2024 intake will begin in mid-February, 2024.

If you’re worried about applying whilst still at university, EPIK understands that it takes longer to receive these documents and will accept a letter from your university with your expected graduation.

How Long Do EPIK Contracts Last?

EPIK contracts run for 12 months from around the 26th of February or August each year until the following year. During the 12 months, you’ll be given the opportunity to apply to re-contract for another 12 months. This way you can work with EPIK for multiple years. This is dependent on passing your evaluation and being accepted for re-contract.

How Long Can I Teach With EPIK?

There is no written limit to how many times you can re-contract with EPIK. I taught with EPIK for 5 years and therefore re-contracted 4 more times past my original 1 year contract. I know people who have worked on EPIK for longer than that.

Re-contracting is all dependent on the school’s desire to keep you and on your ability and effort to teach well. You’re never guaranteed to be re-contracted, but you have a better chance if you work hard and try to fit in.

Different Ways To Apply For EPIK

There are three different ways to apply for EPIK. These are:

The method you choose shouldn’t affect your chances of being accepted to EPIK, but will affect who handles your documents and contacts you about being placed with EPIK. Here’s a quick look at the 3 different methods and how they differ.

1: Applying Directly To EPIK

The direct method places all responsibility on you, but is also the fastest method of applying. I applied directly to EPIK and was placed much more quickly than others who went through an agency or organisation. That doesn’t mean you’re guaranteed to get a place, but you can find out one way or another more quickly.

Below is the process flow for applying directly to EPIK.

To apply for EPIK directly through their website, visit the EPIK website.

2: Applying Through A Recruiting Agency

The process of applying for EPIK through a recruiting agency is mostly the same as applying direct to EPIK. However, the benefit of using one of the official recruiting agencies is that they’ll help you complete your application, make sure you have the correct documents, and can provide lots of useful tips to make your EPIK application successful.

Furthermore, some of the big recruiting agencies, especially ones based in Korea such as Korvia, tend to have a community of EPIK teachers that are connected through the agency even after they arrive. If you’re looking for help, support, and a network of other teachers, then I would recommend you apply for EPIK through a recruiting agency. It’s also free!

Below is the process flow for applying for EPIK through a recruiting agency:

You can only apply for EPIK through a limited number of approved recruiting agencies in certain countries. Here’s the full list of recruiting agencies currently working with EPIK:

I haven’t had any experience with these agencies myself, but I’ve heard lots of good things about Korvia. Do your own research before choosing a recruiting agency to find one that will best fit your needs.

3: Applying Through MOU/MOA Organisation

The process of applying for EPIK through a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) or a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) organisation is similar to applying through a recruiting agency. The MOU/MOA will check your documents before sending them to EPIK and help you with your application.

Below is the process flow for applying for EPIK through an MOU/MOA organisation:

Unlike the recruiting agencies, the MOU/MOA organisations are all based overseas in the USA, UK, or Canada. Here’s the list of approved MOU/MOA organisations currently working with EPIK:

If you’ve studied or worked with one of these organisations, you might find it more convenient to apply through one of these organisations.

Whichever method you choose, remember that deadlines are quite rigid and it’s best to be as organised as possible to avoid problems.

What Is The EPIK Application Process?

The entire EPIK application process is a 6-month long journey that has number of crucial steps, interviews, deadlines, and things to watch out for. Navigating the whole process doesn’t have to be a headache, though.

The deadlines have already been covered, so this section will give you some tips about the following parts of your EPIK application process:

I won’t cover details about the flights, orientation, and life in Korea once you’ve been accepted. If you want to know more about those, be sure to read my post about Teaching English with EPIK.

Read on to find out all you need to know about the EPIK application form.

How To Complete The EPIK Application Form

The first and most crucial step on the road to EPIK is the application form. If this isn’t completed correctly, you’ll never get to the other stages. Not to worry, though. The EPIK application form isn’t that hard. Here’s some advice from EPIK about completing the application form:

“Before starting your application, please read through the the Initial Application Preparation Guide. This will give you details on what you need to prepare before starting your application on the online system.”

Take some time to read through this thoroughly. Most of the requirements will be fairly standard, such as your personal information, education history, and employment history.

The tricky parts are:

Sample lesson plan

You’ll need to provide a sample lesson plan to show that you have some idea about what’s involved in teaching. This doesn’t need to be too detailed, but try to include a few activities, a grammar or vocabulary focus, and some details about what you’ll do in the lesson.

Here are some Example Lesson Plans And Tips.

Personal essay

This essay should include details about your working attitude and personal life, as well as why you want to be a teacher in Korea. It may be broken down into sections, or you may be asked to provide one long essay covering all of this (depending on whether you’re applying for EPIK or GEPIK).

Try to focus on positives, mentioning how excited you are to experience Korean culture and teach small children. Korea is a country that values workplace harmony very highly, so try to convey that you work well with others and that you are diplomatic when problems arise. Needless to say correct grammar and spelling are essential.

Here are some more Personal Essay Tips.

How To Pass The EPIK Skype Interview

If you successfully pass the first stage of the EPIK application, you’ll be required to have an online interview with the EPIK office in Korea.

This is usually done through Skype. The interview lasts about 20 – 30 minutes and is your small window to show how enthusiastic and excited you are about working in Korea with EPIK. Make sure you use that time as best you can.

I won’t go over the questions they might ask, as they can change frequently. However, here are some tips to help you ace the EPIK Skype interview (and other interviews):

If you’ve prepared all this before the interview, and stayed calm and professional during the interview, you’ll do fine. Your interviewer will have read your application form, so make sure you know what you wrote and try to include extra information that shows why you’re good for EPIK.

Some of the traits that make a good teacher are:

Try to demonstrate these traits during the interview and you’ll ace it.

Which Documents Do You Need To Apply For EPIK?

If your application to EPIK is successful, and you pass the Skype interview stage, you will need to submit your documents to the relevant organisation ASAP. I would recommend preparing some of these before the Skype interview to avoid lengthy delays.

Some of these documents can be hard to get (especially the criminal record check) and may take weeks to sort out. If you’re applying for EPIK through the EPIK office, they assign positions on a first come, first placed basis, so get. in there quickly.

Here are the Official Documents You Need to apply for EPIK:

There are also a list of other documents that are country specific, such as an apostilled birth certificate (UK / Australian citizens) or proof of English education (South African / Quebecois).

Getting these documents can be a struggle and expensive. Try to work out where you can get your documents apostilled when you are writing your application form. And be prepared to spend several hundred dollars for it.

How To Apply For Your Korean Visa

Once you’ve been accepted onto the EPIK Program, you’ll be issued with your notice of appointment and contract to confirm that you have a job waiting for you in Korea. Now it’s time to get your Korean working visa.

The visa you need for EPIK is an E-2 Visa.

You can apply for these at your nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate Office. To apply for the E-2 visa you’ll need these documents:

The E-2 visa application form can be found on the Korean Embassy website. Download it and fill in your personal details, work and education history, and what you’ll be doing in Korea (working)

The visa approval process can take up to a week. Be sure to apply for the visa ASAP once you’ve received the documents from EPIK.

Once you’re all sorted with your application and accepted, be sure to check out these tips for moving to Korea to help you work out what to bring, how to make a good first impression, how to deal with culture shock, and also how to survive your first work party.

Final Thoughts: Is EPIK Right For You?

I really enjoyed teaching with EPIK. It was an incredible opportunity for me to develop my skills as a teacher, to save lots of money, to travel in and beyond Korea, and most of all develop a love and understanding of Korea and Korean culture.

But is EPIK and Korea right for you?

Getting out of your comfort zone can be incredibly hard. Moving to a new country and adapting to a different culture can be one of the hardest things you might experience in life, especially if you’re coming fresh from university.

Traits of people who are likely to succeed on EPIK include:

You don’t have to be extroverted to be a teacher. I’m certainly not. Nor do you have to know everything about Korea and be into K-pop (again, I’m not). The most important thing is being willing to try and try again if you fail first time.

10 Reasons To Apply For EPIK

Here’s a few insights into why I think you should apply for EPIK. These are things that drove me to renew my contract many times over and kept me in Korea to this day.

More about Teaching In Korea

If you want to know more about teaching English in Korea with EPIK, I’d recommend some of my other articles about EPIK, including my review of the EPIK Teaching Experience and My Epik Life – 5 Years Teaching In Korea With EPIK. You can also get lots of really useful information from The Official EPIK Website and Korvia – A Korean recruiting agency for EPIK.

Feel free to leave a comment below if you still need answers and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

How To Apply For EPIK Korea FAQs

Finally, here’s a few FAQs about teaching English in Korea with EPIK, in case the above information didn’t cover enough for you.

Support In My Korea

Thanks for reading. If you want to help me to create more great content in the future, why not buy me a coffee? A strong coffee helps me write more and is a simple way to show gratitude for this free content.

Liked This? Pin It For Others

If you enjoyed reading this article, then please share this with your friends on Pinterest.

Related Articles

Do A Temple Stay In Korea For An Amazing Experience In 2024

January 21, 2024April 30, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Culture

Best Korean Spring Festivals 2024: Nature, Culture, Blossoms

March 22, 2023May 15, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Seasons & Weather

Lingopie Review: Can Lingopie Teach Korean With K-Dramas?

August 18, 2022March 22, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Culture, Korean Language

Whether you’re planning on moving to live and work in Korea with the EPIK Program, or you’ve just got off the plane at Incheon Airport, you’re probably not going to know exactly what to expect from a life with EPIK. What will the students be like? How will you get on with the teachers? What’s so great about the EPIK life?

In this guide to the EPIK experience I want to show you the sort of duties you might have, a day in the life of an EPIK teacher, and some of the great benefits (and challenges) of joining EPIK. There’s a lot to weigh up, but I’ve tried to give a balance of both the good and bad of the average EPIK teaching experience.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

What’s In This EPIK Teaching Experience Review?

To help you understand what an EPIK teaching experience might be like, I’ve broken down the life of an EPIK teacher into the following four areas:

• The work you’ll do
• People you’ll work with
• EPIK teaching benefits
• EPIK teaching problems

Firstly, I should point out a truth that I learnt from teaching English in another country, Japan. That is that ESID – Every Situation Is Different. What I will explain in this guide are possibilities – they might happen, but they might not.

There is no guarantee what your EPIK teaching experience will be like. The life of an inner-city high school EPIK teacher is worlds away from a countryside EPIK teacher who visits 4 different elementary schools.

However, there are some general truths that I’ve noticed from my 5 years working on EPIK, countless hours of conversations with my other EPIK friends, from annual training seminars, and my ongoing contact with the world of EPIK.

To begin, here’s a quick overview of the EPIK Program and who is eligible to join.

Quick Overview Of The EPIK Program

The EPIK (English Program In Korea) Program was created in 1995 as a way to increase the English-speaking abilities of Korean students and teachers, as well as to develop cultural exchanges between Korea and the English-speaking world. It’s grown a lot and made Korea one of the Best Countries To Teach English.

Today, the EPIK Program has thousands of foreigners from seven native English-speaking countries teaching English in schools across Korea.

Teaching English with EPIK is a win-win situation for both the Korean students and for citizens from the eligible countries. The students get to listen to and interact with a native English speaker. The native English speaker gets to experience life in Korea, develop skills through working in Korea, and has the chance to save and travel lots.

Who Is Eligible To Work On EPIK?

To be eligible for an EPIK teaching experience, you must be a native English speaker from one of these seven countries:

• United States
• United Kingdom
• South Africa
• Australia
• New Zealand
• Canada
• Ireland

Applications to EPIK must also hold an education-based Bachelor’s degree or any other Bachelor’s degree plus a 100+ hour TEFL certificate / teaching license.

When Can I Apply To EPIK?

There are two intakes where you can start you EPIK teaching experience – one in spring (late February), one in autumn (late August). The whole EPIK application takes up to 6 months, so you should definitely plan ahead for when you want to start.

If you are interested in applying for EPIK and want some advice about the application process and how to complete each step, check out this article:

How To Apply For EPIK

What Do I Do As An EPIK Teacher?

The heart of your EPIK teaching experience will be just that – teaching. That’s what you’ve been hired to do and your ‘competitive edge’ over Korean English teachers, whether right or wrong, is your ability to speak English as a native teacher.

As a native English speaker, you’ll be expected to focus more on speaking and listening skills in the classroom. Students get plenty of chances to read and write in English, but not so much listening and speaking practice, especially not with a native speaker.

When placed on EPIK, you’ll be assigned an elementary school (most likely), a middle school, or a high school (least likely). You might get more than one school. There are also a few special institutions where some people will be placed (like I was), however, those are quite rare. Each of these locations will provide a very different EPIK teaching experience.

To help illustrate what a day in the life of an EPIK teacher might look like, it’s best to first understand the responsibilities of an EPIK teacher and what you might be expected to do.

Responsibilities Of An Epik Teacher

The official responsibilities of an EPIK teacher are as follows:

• Assist Korean teachers with their English class
• Jointly conduct English classes with Korean teachers
• Teach 22 hours per week
• Prepare extracurricular activities or English camps
• Conduct English conversation classes for Korean students and teachers
• Prepare teaching materials for English language education
• Assist in development of teaching materials
• Assist with activities related to English language education
• Other duties as specified by your MOE/POE*

*Metropolitan Office of Education / Provincial Office of Education

Let’s clarify a few of those key responsibilities so you can really know what to expect from your EPIK teaching experience. I’ll cover what I deem to be ‘additional duties’ later on.

Teaching English classes with Korean teachers

Firstly, the core part of your work will be teaching English classes ‘with’ Korean teachers. I say ‘with’, because sometimes you’ll be teaching together, sometimes the Korean teacher will lead, sometimes you’ll lead, other times the co-teacher might be observing from the back of the classroom. Sometimes they might not even be there, however, this is not meant to occur.

Prepare teaching materials for English language education

As for materials development, it’s quite common for EPIK teachers to be responsible for the ‘fun’ aspect of English education. What I mean by that is that they’ll use games to practice grammar or vocabulary with the students, whilst the Korean teacher covers the understanding side of learning (usually through translation).

Prepare winter & summer camps

The Korean school breaks for winter and summer are quite long and the only time you can really use your holiday allowance.You’ll also be expected to teach week-long English camps at your school to provide additional English education for students who wish it.

The English camps are generally not as rigid as a usual English class and you can introduce themes (e.g Harry Potter / cooking / space exploration), which help make it a lot more interesting. They can be tough as you need to plan for several days of activities, but also a great chance to bond with a few students.

Teach 22 hours per week

You will teach up to 22 ‘hours’ per week. These teaching ‘hours’ are not actual hours, but counted as periods of teaching. For example, a 40 minute class will count as 1 ‘hour’ of teaching. So you’ll teach up to 22 English lessons per week.

The exact number of hours can vary each week, depending on other school events or school closure (holidays). Lessons during English camps or special classes may be longer.

Additional Duties For An EPIK Teacher

Additional duties that you could be expected to fulfil as an EPIK teacher are as follows:

• Afternoon English club / classes
• Speech contest training
• Marking (usually MS / HS)
• Conversation practice with students / teachers
• Other duties as specified by your MOE/POE

You might be asked to provide afternoon classes in the afternoon (within your work hours). These are often classes where you can play games and chat with the students in a more relaxed environment.

As for the other additional responsibilities, you may never have to do them. You may do them every week. You might be asked to judge a speech contest or give a talk about English education or your home country. ESID, sorry.

The ‘other duties as specified by your MOE/POE‘ really can be anything and it’s honestly an unfair line to have written into your contract because it is ridiculously vague.

Now, let’s see what a typical day is like for an EPIK teacher.

A Typical Day As An EPIK Teacher

A typical EPIK teaching experience at elementary school (where most EPIK teachers work) would start with a busy morning and then a quieter time after lunch. Teachers are expected to work 8 hours from around 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. The actual times can vary depending on the school.

EPIK teachers often teach 4 morning classes five times a week (20 classes) and the occasional afternoon class. Lunch is around noon and you might eat with the teachers in the teachers office, or with the students if the school does this. In the afternoon you might teach classes, but mostly you’ll be allowed to use this time for class preparation.

There may be some club activities that you are asked (or can volunteer) to join, such as volleyball club, English club, or clubs for other subjects. These classes can be one of the best parts of the EPIK teaching experience as you get to spend some time with the students in a relaxed environment.

You can get closer to the students, help them practice English, and develop a bond with them. This certainly goes a long way to making classes easier for you as the students have a greater connection to you, improving their motivation to learn.

At 4:30 pm, you’re free to go home and enjoy the wonders of life that come from finishing so early. Much better than a 9-6 office job with a long commute home! If you finish all your class preparation in the afternoon, you’re free to enjoy the evening.

The People You’ll Meet With EPIK

During your time teaching English with EPIK, there are three main groups of people you’ll interact with on a regular basis. These are:

• The students you teach
• The teachers at your school
• Other EPIK teachers in your area

These different groups will all massively impact on your EPIK teaching experience in Korea and can change whether you leave EPIK with happy memories and smiles, or trudging off back home with a bunch of regrets and negativity.

Whole books could be written about each of these three groups, but I’ll try to quickly outline some key factors about how they’ll affect your experience with EPIK and how to better get along with them.

Your Students & Your EPIK Teaching Experience

The draw of living in another country for a lot of people is the chance to experience new places, try authentic dishes, meet new people, and travel further afield.

When you start working on EPIK, you quickly learn that the interactions, random hilarity, and uniqueness that students bring to your life is just as intoxicating as all that other stuff.

Every EPIK teacher leaves with a collection of extraordinary stories that happened whilst they were teaching or interacting with students. Often these stories are the ones that you want to tell more than the time you tried some delicious dish or saw a famous sight.

That one time this student said something hilarious in the middle of the class, when that one kid tried to high five you and broke your glasses instead, when you met a bunch of your students in town and they start screaming and waving at you, when your students draw funny pictures of you on the whiteboard, etc., etc.

You quickly learn that the interactions, random hilarity, and uniqueness that students bring to your life is… intoxicating

However, students can also make your life really tough if you don’t spend the time and effort to forge a bond with them and earn a tiny bit of respect. Taking discipline and authority too seriously is a quick way to ruin any chances of getting them to like or respect you. They’re children, after all. They are often fickle beings.

Seriously though, your relationship with the students is key to creating a positive EPIK experience and the difference between waking up and being excited to teach this new activity you’ve devised, or dragging yourself out of bed and dreading the thought of teaching Class 2 first thing in the morning.

Sometimes there’s nothing you can do about some of the students, you don’t see them enough to form much of a bond, or they have issues that you have no idea about that makes them act out. In these situations, there’s not much you can do but try your best to be patient, kind, and more than a bit silly.

The students are the core of your EPIK life, but there is another group that can make life on EPIK just as good or bad – the other teachers.

Working With Korean Co-Teachers On EPIK

When you start working on EPIK, you’ll be made to do an online orientation (after your pre-EPIK orientation) which includes a lot of details about co-teacher relationships. You’ll be told about how to teach effectively with Korean English teachers and the idea that you should be flexible is hammered home quite hard.

Your English classes should involve both you and your co-teacher engaging the students, encouraging them to learn English in fun and creative ways, with both of your using your skills to fully maximise the learning experience. Sounds perfect, and if you have a good relationship with your co-teacher, that’s exactly how it can be.

The way you get on with your co-teachers influences your EPIK teaching experience in many ways.

Here are some reasons why it’s crucial to have a good relationship:

• To help you get along in and out of class
• Teaching as a pair can be more effective than teaching separately
• So you can develop materials together
• To be able to bounce ideas for lessons off each other
• You might end up being good friends outside of school
• Students are clever and can see it when teachers don’t get along
• Together Everyone Achieves More (TEAM)

There are a lot of benefits to having a good relationship with your co-teacher and other staff. Not only for what I mentioned above, but also because it’s generally not good to have a bad relationship with people you work with.

Your relationship with your co-teachers (and other school staff) is a lot more important that your relationship with the students if you want to work on EPIK for longer than one year. They are the ones who have an unfair (in my opinion) amount of say over whether or not you’ll be re-contracted.

The best way to have a good relationship with your co-teachers is to be patient, don’t put them in awkward situations, and don’t give up.

Sounds like it should be easy, right? Not as easy as it should be. Here’s a few reasons why you might have troubles with other teachers:

• Your co-teacher is too busy to spend time being sociable
• They may be too unsure of their own language abilities
• You don’t listen to their ideas and expect them to follow yours
• There are countless unspoken cultural rules that you keep breaking
• The last EPIK teacher made a really bad impression
• You’re just simply very different people

You might have several co-teachers in your school(s) and have a very different relationship with each one. I had some that were amazing and we went out for coffee together. Others had no time (or desire) to chat and didn’t like speaking English. ESID again.

The best way to have a good relationship with your co-teachers is to be patient, remember that they’re a lot more qualified than you are, don’t put them in awkward situations (big no-no in Korea), and don’t give up. Talk to them and try to understand where the breakdown has occurred.

If all else fails, take them out for chicken and soju and bond over drunken revelry. It’s the Korean way to build good work relationships.

If you want to understand some of those cultural rules, and how to avoid breaking them, check out this article about Understanding Korean Culture & Etiquette.

The last two in the list are sadly not really anything you can deal with. When you find yourself in a bad (or good) situation, that’s when you really need the third group of people.

Other EPIK Teachers: Your Personal Support Group

Living far away from your home country and being an expat is not always a walk in the park. There are days in your EPIK experience when you want to scream, shout, and eat ice cream in front of the TV. It’s on those days that you need to chat with other EPIK teachers – your EPIK support group.

The EPIK teachers you meet during your orientation and in your new city are the ones you’ll usually form the closest bond with. You’ll go through the highs of culture shock together (wow, look at this!), and the lows (I miss my family).

These people can best understand why you’re having a tough situation and can help you let off steam after a hard day. And it’s important to remember that they’re probably going through the same thing, so be sure to listen when someone starts to complain about life.

Hopefully there are many more good days than bad, and you generally have an extremely positive EPIK teaching experience, but there will be times when stuff just goes wrong and that’s when you need your friends.

Your EPIK friends will be there to share meals, travel and explore, and chat about the latest K-pop album, or that funny thing your student did in class the other day

Remember, there is a fine line between letting off steam and turning into a constantly complaining wretch who hates their job and wants to do something else. If you’ve found that you’re complaining more than telling funny stories about what happened in class, you might want to take a moment to reflect on your situation.

Beyond the need to support each other, your EPIK friends will be there to share meals, travel and explore, and chat about the latest K-pop album, or that funny thing your student did in class the other day.

In the first year, a lot of EPIK teachers stick to the other teachers they met during orientation or in their immediate area. Later on, if you decide to stay in Korea, you tend to break into smaller groups as people leave EPIK or have different friends.

Some friends stick with you (I still have some friends from EPIK after 5+ years) and you’ll make loads of new friends – both Korean and in the expat community. You might even end up in a serious relationship and settle down in Korea. Whatever you do, be sure to trust and rely on your friends to help you make the most of your time in Korea.

If you want to know what it’s like living as an expat in Korea, check out my own articles about expat life in Korea and with EPIK.

My EPIK Life: My personal experiences during 5 years teaching with EPIK.

Living In Korea As An Expat: What’s life like living in Korea as an expat? Find out the highs and lows.

In the next two sections, I want to offer a few insights into the highs and lows of the EPIK teaching experience. You’ll certainly experience both if you start working on EPIK, but I think there’ll definitely be a lot more highs than lows.

The Benefits Of Being An EPIK Teacher

Whether you’re looking for an escape from your ‘regular’ life, a chance to explore a unique culture, a fresh start in a new country, or the chance to save a boatload of money, there’s many awesome things about the EPIK teaching experience.

The key benefits you can get from being an EPIK teacher generally fall into one of these categories.

Your EPIK Contract

Whilst your base pay (~2,000,000 KRW and up) doesn’t seem that high compared to salaries in other countries, your disposable income can be higher than you’d have at home. You get a free apartment, healthcare is cheap and EPIK pays 50% of that (same with pension), you’re often living near your school so transport costs are low, and life in Korea is generally cheap.

Not only that, you’ll receive 1 month’s salary at the end of each year you teach in Korea, a 2,000.000 KRW bonus for re-contracting, flight allowance into and out of Korea, and a generous number of days off (between 18~26 days plus public holidays).

You Can Save Lots Of Money

As mentioned, your disposable income is quite high and you get a number of bonuses for re-contracting and when you end your EPIK teaching experience. This all adds up to the chance to save a lot of money. You could quite easily save up to $10,000 a year by saving carefully.

The amount you save depends a lot on your lifestyle and how much non-Korean stuff you eat or drink, as well as how much you travel. I was able to save a lot of money during my 5 year EPIK experience and the longer you live in Korea, the more you can save.

Although I’d always recommend EPIK for a lot more than just the money, it honestly can be a great way to help pay down student debts, save for a house, or to fund your backpacking dreams for 6 months or more. I know plenty of EPIK teachers who have saved a lot for these.

Your Daily EPIK Lifestyle

The chance to finish work before 4:30pm each day is great. It gives you a lot of extra time to join clubs, cook at home, and spend time drinking soju with friends. You’ll only be teaching 22 hours (classes) per week, and you don’t have to take your work home with you if you can prep in the afternoon.

You also get to meet some amazing people – both students and teachers. The fun and originality that working with children can bring to your daily life is so much better than sitting in an office staring at a computer. Sure, there are days when you have to deal with one of them vomiting on your desk, starting a fight, or crying randomly, but it’s usually much better than it is worse.

There are also random events such as fire-safety day (get to put out a fire), sports festivals (cheer for your favourite students), cultural events, and so much more that make everyday EPIK life enjoyable. I got to dress up in a hazmat suit during a nuclear war drill!

Living In A Different Culture

Joining EPIK is a lot more than teaching and saving money. You have the incredible opportunity to experience living in a completely different culture, with a new language, people, and way of doing things. This can blow your mind.

You’ll notice not only the cosmetic differences, but deeper cultural disparities between the way you are used to doing things and the way they’re done in Korea. Whilst some may be bothered by these, it’s a chance for you to learn, develop, and broaden your own outlook on life and culture.

Living overseas challenges you in ways you might never think about. Working out how to communicate when you don’t speak the local language. Being brave enough to try that dish of wriggling octopus legs. Figuring out how the toilets work. There are countless opportunities for personal growth during your EPIK teaching experience.

These opportunities can also be challenges for some people. How you look at them, and react, depends on the kind of person you are. Before reading the next section, I want to say that these challenges can be overcome and if you’re willing to adapt, they can become opportunities again.

The Challenges Of Being An EPIK Teacher

If you’re an eternal optimist (as I try to be), you’ll see these not as ‘problems’, but as temporary road bumps in your path to creating the perfect EPIK experience for yourself.

I’m not going to lie and say these things are easy to overcome, they’re not, and some will leave you crying in the shower with a tub of ice cream. Some aren’t particularly fair, others you might not even realise are happening (especially true with culture shock), but they’re all part of life as an EPIK teacher.

Of course, you may never experience most of these, which is awesome. I hope you don’t. I want to cover them because they can exist, and I think it’s only fair to show both sides of the EPIK teaching experience.

I won’t go into as much detail as with the downsides as… ESID. And also I prefer not to dwell on negatives.

Here’s some of the things that can test you on EPIK.

• You struggle to adapt to life in Korea
• You just don’t get the cultural differences
• Language and communication problems
• Your co-teacher is unkind to you
• That one student (or more) that makes your life hell
• You’re placed in the middle of nowhere
• Your school situation is uncomfortable
• The food can be notoriously spicy / salty
• Air pollution and allergies
• Summer (too hot, bugs) and winter (too cold, dry)

I’d break the above list up into three different categories.

Things You Can Prepare For

The first 3 items are things you can plan for before and learn about before you move to Korea. Learn to speak Korean, try to understand cultural differences, and be prepared for the ‘Korean surprise’. These problems should disappear or be reduced over time.

Things That Require Perseverance

The next 3 you might think are beyond control, but you can still influence them with a lot of work. Do your best to build bridges with your co-teachers and students and accept your situation for what it is. Relationships take time and energy.

Whilst life in the countryside might seem like a death sentence for some, it’s also an opportunity to see a more authentic, generous side of Korean culture. And you have the weekends to travel to Seoul and other cities.

Things Outside Your Control

The final 4 are beyond your control, but you can learn to live with them. If your school life is uncomfortable because someone doesn’t like foreigners, or the principal is harsh, or something else, then sometimes the only option is to suck it up and focus on the positives. Not easy, but better than letting it get you down.

Korean food isn’t for everyone, and spicy food isn’t something you can train your body for overnight. Learn what you can and can’t eat and try to create a diet that’s good for you.

Summer is morbidly hot and wet whilst Korean winters are the polar opposite, and indeed like being at the North Pole – really cold and dry. It can get as low as -20 in winter and above 40 in the summer. As for air pollution and allergies… good luck!

Still not sure about whether or not you want your own EPIK teaching experience? Then I’ll try to offer some final advice for you.

Would I Recommend You Join EPIK?

Yes, I’d definitely recommend an EPIK teaching experience to others. Whether you’re coming out of university, or sitting in an office job wondering what you’re doing with your life and craving a change, EPIK is a great opportunity to try something new.

You don’t have to be ‘young’ to do it either. There are plenty of other teachers in Korea who are in their 30s, and more who are working at universities, high schools, and other institutions in their 40s and beyond. Make new friends, learn about a new culture and language, experience life as an expat, and maybe even discover a new career.

The cost of living in Korea is reasonable (unless you live in Seoul or have a big family), you can save a lot of money in a year, even more in 5 years. A lot of people come to Korea and leave with significant savings that they use to pay back student loans, travel, put down as a deposit on their house, or for a rainy day in the future.

Of course, there are many other reasons to try the EPIK life, including the chance to make new friends, learn about a new culture and language, experience life as an expat, and maybe even discover a new career. Everyone has their own reason for starting the EPIK life, and each person has their own situation. Remember, ESID – Every Situation Is Different.

If you’d like to apply for EPIK, you can find out how in this article about How To Apply For EPIK.

EPIK Teaching Experience FAQs

Finally, here’s a few FAQs about the EPIK teaching experience, in case you’re interested in trying it out for yourself.

Support In My Korea

Thanks for reading. If you want to help me to create more great content in the future, why not buy me a coffee? A strong coffee helps me write more and is a simple way to show gratitude for this free content.

Liked This? Pin It For Others

If you enjoyed reading this article, then please share this with your friends on Pinterest.

Related Articles

Rainy Day In Seoul: 50 Fun Indoor Activities In Seoul 2024

May 23, 2021March 17, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Seasons & Weather

Beautiful Korean Autumn Leaves Pictures: Best Foliage 2024

August 8, 2021December 26, 2023

Joel Marrinan
Korean Seasons & Weather

10 Must-Read Korean Novels in English That You’ll Love

November 5, 2023April 30, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Culture

Korea has a world-leading education system, focusing on achieving high standards in a range of subjects. This includes learning English as a means to become part of a globalised world. In order to excel in a language that is vastly different from its own, Korea has enticed foreign graduates and teachers to share their language, culture, and insights with students at all levels of the education spectrum.

They’ve done this through the EPIK Program, which offers generous rewards, both financially and culturally, to those willing to break out of their comfort zone, head off to a foreign land, and embrace a new culture, diet, and people.

Are you brave enough to join the EPIK life? Perhaps reading about my experiences will help you figure that out. Although my life on EPIK was a bit different from the norm, I hope you enjoy reading these small tidbits of my highs and lows during my EPIK life.

Affiliate Disclaimer: This site contains affiliate links and I may earn commission for purchases made after clicking these links.

How Did My EPIK Life Begin?

My EPIK life began on a hot, sweltering day in August of 2015, having arrived from an equally hot Hong Kong in the midst of a horribly humid summer.

My first day in Korea was eventful for two main reasons.

1: I’d accidentally overstayed on my Hong Kong visa and was detained by the police at the airport for an hour and made to pay a fine. Oops.

2: I ended up eating way too much Korean food (as usual) and making myself sick on the first night and didn’t sleep at all.

The second of those events still occurs too regularly for my own good! Fortunately I arrived a few days before I was due to begin with EPIK, so I had time to recover.

The start of my journey to EPIK actually began 4 years earlier, when I quit my job in accounting and moved to Japan to work on the JET Program. I spent 3 fun years teaching English to inaka (countryside) kids, who mostly didn’t want to learn English, and exploring as much of Japan as I could.

After 3 years of small-town life in Japan, I moved to the polar opposite – busy, bustling Hong Kong. Thrust into this crazy metropolis made my head spin at first, especially as it was the time the Umbrella Revolution was kicking off.

Whilst I enjoyed being back in a big city, with an abundance of good cafes, entertainment, and a whole world of food to devour, life was not that comfortable (I’m not a fan of endless summers) and I wanted to find a balance between small and big city life.

Little did I know I was about to discover the balance I was looking for when I moved to Korea to start my EPIK life!

I’d originally planned to join EPIK for 2 or 3 years before moving on to explore somewhere else. That was back in 2015 and I’m still here now. I ended up spending the next 5 years working with EPIK and having a great time.

That’s both thanks to my work on EPIK, as well as my life in Korea in general. I want to share my story with you here, to possibly inspire you to make your own EPIK life…

My Unusual EPIK Situation

I want to point out before you read through all of this that my EPIK life was a bit unusual and my placement was not the same as what you’d normally get teaching with EPIK. Normal EPIK teachers are placed in elementary or middle schools, with a few experienced teachers getting placed in high schools.

I wasn’t in any of those, but I was teaching both elementary and middle school students. I was actually at an immersion English camp in Daejeon – the originally titled Daejeon English Camp.

The main differences between my position and a regular EPIK position were:

• My working hours were longer (9:00 – 6:00 or 9:00 – 9:00)
• I taught students for 1 week
• I taught for 22 weeks per year
• I was responsible for making textbooks, lesson planning, and leading classes
• I had my own homeroom students

Regular EPIK teachers will be placed at a school (or several) and teach the same students for the year, I was seeing each group of students (from different schools) for an intensive week of classes which involved them staying overnight at the camp.

When I wasn’t teaching, I was making textbooks for the next year, planning and improving lessons, and creating materials. I also visited other schools for short camps. These times weren’t that busy, and office life without students was quite quiet (and a bit boring).

When there were camps though… life was hectic. EPIK teachers are contracted to work up to 22 hours (lessons) per week. I was teaching from 9:00am until 9:00pm at times, with few breaks in between. A camp would have at least 30 hours of teaching time, up to 40 if you include covering break time and non-class time with students.

It was like running a marathon one week, and then spending a week sleeping in bed. Busy. Quiet. Busy. Quiet. I loved the busy times, but the quiet times were welcome, too.

The core of my EPIK life was the same as every other EPIK teacher, however. I was there to share my knowledge of English with Korean students, help them practice communicating in a foreign language, and forge a connection between cultures. Those are the aspects of my EPIK life that I enjoyed the most.

If you want to know what a normal EPIK situation is like, check out this article about my Review Of The EPIK Teaching Experience.

My Daily EPIK Life

As I mentioned, my EPIK life was either busy or quiet, with a world of difference between each one. When I was teaching, I was really busy. When I wasn’t teaching, I was still busy, but not in the way most other EPIK teachers were.

EPIK teachers will all experience what’s called ‘desk-warming days’, usually between semesters when the students are off but teachers still have to come in. During those times you could witness all kinds of events, such as the fire safety day pictured above, or a volleyball tournament. Other times it was staring at a computer screen for the whole day.

The fun part of my job was teaching the immersion English camps – the marathon part.

A ‘regular’ day for me might best be described as a regular week. Camps last for 5 days and mostly followed the same flow over those 5 days. The week could be broken down as follows:

• Day 1: Getting to know everyone / ice breaking
• Day 2: Theme-based lessons & team building
• Day 3: More lessons & lots of sports
• Day 4: Drama performances & team games
• Day 5: Wrap-up, farewells, & departures

There was no regular class that focused on teaching English directly (i.e. no grammar-focused classes). Instead, students learnt English whilst learning other subjects and doing activities. A lot of task-based, situational, and immersive learning vs. learning today’s bite-sized bit of language.

I taught classes about science, cooking, sports, drama (the students put on a play at the end of the week), environmentalism, technology, and many other subjects and themes.

This differs a lot from regular EPIK teachers who usually follow a textbook for the semester and target key grammar structures and activities that help practice that grammar.

That kind of teaching is prevalent in education around the world, for better or worse, but I’m glad I had the chance to use more involved methods to help students develop language learning skills, motivation, and cultural awareness.

Days at camp were either regular (9-6) or late (9-9). Here’s an example day from the English camp to show what one of my EPIK days looked like when I had to work late.

• Class 1-2: Science
• Break Duty (20 mins)
• Class 3-4: Cooking
• Lunch (60 mins)
• Class 5: Free Period
• Class 6: Drama
• Break Duty (10 mins)
• Class 7&8 – Sports
• Dinner (50 mins)
• Class 9: Team Quiz
• Class 10: Drama
• Class 11: Journal Writing

All in all, the days were really tiring, but ones spent around a group of enthusiastic students who were really interested in learning English through these various activities. The energy of the students often fed the energy of the teachers and kept everyone existing at a high tempo for the whole week.

That’s not to say that everything was perfect (more on that later), but there were a lot of great things about my EPIK life that I appreciated then and miss now (sometimes).

Here are some of the best things about my time working on EPIK

What’s Good About My EPIK Life?

In no particular order, here’s all the best things I loved about my EPIK life.

• Classes were based around topics, not language
• Class sizes ranged from 6 – 36
• I could make a strong connection with the students
• I met many amazing students
• There were a lot of motivated learners
• My students were generally well behaved
• Students were super-inquisitive about my shaved head
• I developed loads of useful skills
• I learnt a lot about Korean work culture
• The overtime money was great
• I liked being busy & camps flew by
• I had a lot more control over my teaching than in previous jobs
• Thanks to EPIK, I met lots of other great teachers
• I saved loads of money

Overall, the parts of my job that I enjoyed the most were to do with teaching, meeting students, and saving money. The first two were rather unique in my situation, but the latter is something that’s open to all EPIK teachers as it’s easy to save a lot of money with EPIK.

In regards to teaching and meeting students, my situation was unique because of the kind of classes I taught and the fact that the students were with me for a maximum of one week. In that time, the students and I bonded really quickly and it was like a whole semester had gone by in that short time.

I know other EPIK teachers also make strong connections with some of their students, and they’re lucky that they get to teach them for a year or even longer as they move through the grades. They also get stuck with some ‘difficult’ students for the same time and, honestly, I was kind of glad that I was only with those for a week.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t see any students as ‘bad’, and I always did my best to encourage them to join in. But sometimes a week of them drawing rude pics on the whiteboard is enough.

My EPIK life wasn’t always rosy, there were some problems, too.

What’s Bad About My EPIK Life?

I chose the picture above because it represents one of the ‘bad’ things about my EPIK life – emotional farewell messages from students. This isn’t a ‘bad’ thing, per se, but times like this, after an emotionally charged week of teaching and bonding, was a real downer. I wanted them to stay for longer.

Here’s some more bad things about my EPIK life, which may or may not actually be negative, but they affected me all the same.

• Saying goodbye to my amazing students each week
• The fact that I’ll not teach those students again
• The feeling of exhaustion after a long week of teaching
• You need to be positive, even when you’re tired or down
• The hours were too long when there weren’t camps
• I saw the negative sides of Korean work culture
• Attending work events was mandatory, even outside work hours
• There was nowhere to eat but at the cafeteria
• The cafeteria provided the same food most weeks
• The time between camps was too quiet

A lot of these issues, such as the negative sides of Korean work culture, probably need a bit more explaining, but I don’t want to go into too much detail right here about all that.

…the culture (and some people) often gave me more problems than the actual teaching side of things.

As much as I love Korea, nowhere is perfect and there are some elements of Korean culture that… I don’t appreciate. Workplace culture, especially where I was working on EPIK, can be quite old fashioned and not make sense to people with a different cultural background.

To be honest, the culture (and some people) often gave me more problems than the actual teaching side of things. And, from what I’ve heard from other EPIK teachers, that’s a common issue that many people deal with, and one that happens whenever you live in a country that has a vastly different culture from your own.

If you want to know more about what life is like living as an expat in Korea, more than just work-wise, then check out this article about Living In Korea As An Expat.

These problems don’t exist in every job, and indeed a lot of the problems I had in my EPIK life are now removed in my new position, which I’ll briefly cover next.

My Life After EPIK

In the summer of 2020 I left my EPIK life behind and began a journey around the world, travelling through several continents using the funds I’d saved during my time in Korea.

Wait, no, that was the plan. Sadly, a global pandemic got in the way and threw all my plans out of the window. I had 6 months from the outbreak in Korea in February 2020 to figure out what to do with myself if travel was off.

I’d started studying a Master’s degree in TESOL a couple of years ago part time, studying as much as possible between the busy periods at work. My plan was to try to move to a university position once I’d returned from travelling, but it looks like I was bringing those plans forward suddenly.

Fortunately, my university accepted 5 years working with EPIK as 2 years of university experience.

Thanks to a bit of lucky timing, and some help from a friend, I was able to find a great university position teaching in a city close to where I was living.

Typically you need 2 years teaching experience at a university to get a university job – that lovely Catch 22 situation that many jobs have. Fortunately, my university accepted 5 years working with EPIK as 2 years of university experience (weighing public school experience as 40% of uni experience).

To be honest, the shift from EPIK life to uni life hasn’t been as big as I’d expected. The students are still funny, exciting, interesting, unique, confusing, curious, sleepy, and overworked, the teaching is focused on communication, and I still dread being asked a question about English grammar that I don’t the answer to in the middle of a class.

That’s where I am now. I plan to travel more in the future, but right now I’m embracing this next chapter of my life and trying to develop more interesting and useful classes, work out how to teach effectively during a global pandemic (I hate Zoom!), and writing about my life and travels in Korea.

I’m extremely grateful that uni life gives me a lot of free time between semesters to plan lessons travel, write, and explore. I plan to do a lot of all of them in the future.

Would I Recommend EPIK To Others?

Yes, I’d definitely recommend EPIK to others. Whether you’re coming out of university, or sitting in an office job wondering what you’re doing with your life and craving a change, EPIK is a great opportunity to try something new.

You don’t have to be ‘young’ to do it either. There are plenty of other teachers in Korea who are in their 30s, and more who are working at universities, high schools, and other institutions in their 40s and beyond.

Make new friends, learn about a new culture and language, experience life as an expat, and maybe even discover a new career.

The cost of living in Korea is reasonable (unless you live in Seoul or have a big family), you can save a lot of money in a year, even more in 5 years. A lot of people come to Korea and leave with significant savings that they use to pay back student loans, travel, put down as a deposit on their house, or for a rainy day in the future.

Of course, there are many other reasons to try the EPIK life, including the chance to make new friends, learn about a new culture and language, experience life as an expat, and maybe even discover a new career.

Everyone has their own reason for starting the EPIK life, and each person has their own situation. An axiom that I picked up from my time on JET in Japan was ESID – Every Situation Is Different. That certainly applies to EPIK, too.

Where Can I learn More About Teaching in Korea with EPIK?

If you want to know more about teaching English in Korea with EPIK, I’d recommend some of my other articles about EPIK, including:

How To Apply For EPIK: My detailed guide to the EPIK application process with lots of tips about how to pass the interview and adapt to life on EPIK.

EPIK Teaching Experience: A guide to what to expect when you’re teaching with EPIK.

If this article has convinced you to try out life in Korea with EPIK, be sure to check out my tips to help you move to Korea to teach English. They’ll help you work out what to bring, how to make a good first impression, how to deal with culture shock, and also how to survive your first work party.

You can also get lots of really useful information from The Official EPIK Website and Korvia – A Korean recruiting agency for EPIK

Feel free to leave a comment below if you still need answers and I’ll get back to you ASAP.

EPIK Life FAQs

Finally, here’s a few FAQs about working on EPIK, in case you’re interested in trying it out for yourself.

Support In My Korea

Thanks for reading. If you want to help me to create more great content in the future, why not buy me a coffee? A strong coffee helps me write more and is a simple way to show gratitude for this free content.

Liked This? Pin It For Others

If you enjoyed reading this article, then please share this with your friends on Pinterest.

Related Articles

Best Hotels In Myeongdong: Where To Stay & 2024 Travel Guide

November 14, 2021May 16, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Hotels In Korea

10 Must-Read Korean Novels in English That You’ll Love

November 5, 2023April 30, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Korean Culture

How To Hike Hallasan In Winter: Jeju Island Snow Hiking 2024

February 4, 2022March 22, 2024

Joel Marrinan
Hiking In Korea