The English Program in Korea (EPIK), run by the Korean Ministry of Education, places native-English-speaking teachers in public schools across 16 provinces to improve students’ English skills and foster cultural exchange.
EPIK is one of the most popular ways to teach English in Korea, but it is also highly competitive due to limited spots and a large number of applicants. To help you prepare, OnTESOL created this short guide with practical tips to improve your chances of being accepted.
1. Meet the EPIK Requirements:
To qualify for EPIK, applicants must:
- Be under the retirement age of 62 in South Korea
- Be a citizen of one of seven native-English-speaking countries
- Hold at least a three-year bachelor’s degree from an accredited university
- Complete (or be in the process of completing) a 120-hour TEFL / TESOL / CELTA certification. Those with education-related degrees are exempt
- Have a clean criminal record
- Be in good physical and mental health, assessed before departure and again upon arrival
2. Apply Early
EPIK hires teachers on a first-come, first-served basis. Submitting your application early greatly increases your chances of securing a placement.
- Spring intake (start late February): applications open the previous August
- Fall intake (start late August): applications open February 1 of the same year
Late-intake options are available if spots remain, but they carry increased risk due to limited vacancies
3. Submit Your Documents on Time
The EPIK application is a lengthy process that requires candidates to pass different stages, so ensure you submit all your documents on time for each stage.
For example, if you are applying to start teaching in August, the general timeline is:
Phase | Approx. Timing |
Application submission & interview | Feb–May 2025 |
Required documents submitted | Mar–Jul 2025 |
Receive final placement/NOA | May–Jul |
Visa & travel | Jul–Aug |
Orientation & contract begins | ~late August |
Teacher Review: Teaching English With EPIK In South Korea
Curious about teaching with EPIK? Read an inspiring review from an OnTESOL graduate on her first year in South Korea—orientation, classroom life, and how EPIK changed her career.
4. Ace the Job Interview
Interviews are typically 20–30 minutes via Zoom or Skype, scheduled in Seoul time. Dress professionally (suit or dress shirt) and ensure your equipment works well.
Be prepared to discuss teaching philosophy, classroom management, adaptability to Korean culture, and your lesson plan approach.
The questions on the EPIK interview will prompt you to show how excited you are about teaching English in South Korea and your reasons for choosing EPIK.
Sample interview questions include:
- “Why do you want to teach in Korea?”
- “Why do you want to teach with EPIK?
- “How would you adapt your lesson for varying student levels?”
Candidates should emphasize the reasons they want to become teachers over travel. If EPIK is your first ESL teaching job, emphasize your career goals in Education and how EPIK will support you in launching your teaching career
Showing basic knowledge of South Korean culture and being open to teaching in different regions outside Seoul is highly recommended. Rural placements may offer easier acceptance and sometimes support via the new EPIK Plus option (expedited processing and workshop) for some provinces like Jeju and Jeonnam.
Read: The Best Cities to Teach English in South Korea
5. Ace the Lesson Plan
A key part of the application is the lesson plan submission. EPIK uses the Cheonjae textbook series, which follows the Presentation–Practice–Production (PPP) framework under the Communicative Approach.
Your lesson plan should demonstrate that you can apply communicative teaching methods effectively. If you completed your TESOL or TEFL certification with OnTESOL, you’ll already be well-prepared to design a strong lesson plan for the application.