Compare EPIK with Hagwons
The EPIK program is affiliated with the Korean Ministry of Education and is operated by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) responsible for hiring 700+ native English teachers annually to teach ESL in public schools.
Hagwons are for-profit ESL institutes that offer a variety of ESL classes for children and adults throughout South Korea, including General English, after school ESL, IELTS or TOEFL preparation, and Business English programs.
Both EPIK and hagwons offer high-paying entry-level TEFL positions that allow teachers to travel in South Korea and save money. Both EPIK and hagwons have similar set of requirements for entry-level teachers. All you need is a BA degree in any area and an accredited TESOL or TEFL certification of at least 120 hours!
EPIK is only for K-12 teaching positions. Hagwons offer more variety for ESL teachers who prefer teaching English to adults. EPIK is more competitive in cities such as Seoul and Busan, where most teachers want to go. Hagwons offer more opportunity for entry-level teachers looking to teach English in the biggest cities in South Korea.
The Best Hagwons to Teach in South Korea
Hagwons come in all forms and sizes. Apply to teach with a large established corporate hagwons or family-owned hagwon. The key to choosing the best hagwon for you is to learn about the facilities, textbooks, technology, and other expat ESL teachers. Look for their teachers on LinkedIn or other social media apps. Ask them about the employer, the kind of support they provide to new ESL teachers, if they pay on time, and anything you want to learn about teaching with the hagwon. Here is a list of the most popular hagwons in South Korea:
This hagwon has more than 100 locations across South Korea. Apart from being able to pick a job anywhere you want in the country, this hagwon pays very well. The average salary is 2.65 million won/month plus round-trip airfare and end-of-contract bonus. The downside is that rent is not included, so the extra money you are making goes to paying for your apartment. If you are a new teacher looking to teach abroad in a metropolitan city, this place is a great start.
Established in 1961, YBM Education is the first hagwon that opened in South Korea. They run a wide range of TESOL services, including language schools, testing centers, study abroad programs, and publishing. The best reason to teach at this hagwon is the many career advancement opportunities you can pursue in different sectors of the TESOL industry. The wage they offer is very similar to EPIK and accommodation is included in the package.
This hagwon offers after-school programs for elementary and middle-school children. The benefit of teaching English with Avalon is that native-English speakers are hired to teach communication skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking), which lessons take less time to prepare and are generally more fun than a grammar or vocabulary lesson.
What’s the Best TEFL Certification for Hagwons?
For hagwon teaching jobs in South Korea, OnTESOL recommends the 120-hour Advanced TESOL/TEFL Certificate — academically equivalent to CELTA — paired with the 20-hour Teaching English to Young Learners (TEYL) specialist. This combination prepares you to teach both adults and young learners in South Korea and beyond.
OnTESOL’s certification is recognized by TESL Canada and accredited by ACCET, which means it’s valid for teaching jobs in hagwons and EPIK schools across South Korea, in other countries, and when you return home to Canada or the United States. You won’t need another TEFL course to continue teaching abroad or at home.