There are many job boards where employers post English-teaching openings in Korea, but not all of them are reliable — anyone can post a listing, so independent research on a prospective employer is essential before signing a contract.
EPIK (English Program in Korea) is a government-run program that places native English speakers in public schools nationwide on a one-year contract, renewable for up to three years, with free furnished housing and a standardised, publicly documented pay scale (roughly 2.1–3.0 million KRW per month as of 2026, depending on qualifications, experience, and placement). Eligibility generally requires citizenship of a country where English is the primary language, a bachelor's degree, and good physical and mental health; male South Korean citizens under a certain age must also have completed mandatory military service or hold an official waiver.
GEPIK is the equivalent program specifically for public schools in Gyeonggi province, the region surrounding Seoul, with a similar structure and comparable pay (roughly 2.2–2.6 million KRW per month as of 2026). Beyond the government programs, private recruiters and hagwon-placement agencies also operate in the market — treat any individual recruiter or agency with the same scrutiny as a direct hagwon employer, and verify claims about salary and benefits independently rather than taking a listing at face value.
