Hagwon vs EPIK
Almost every English teacher in Korea works in one of two places: a private academy (hagwon) or a public school, usually through the government's EPIK program. They are different jobs. Here is how.
Side by side
- Hiring — Hagwon: All year round, as openings come up. EPIK: Fixed intakes a couple of times a year.
- Where you work — Hagwon: You pick the school and the neighborhood. EPIK: You state preferences; the program places you.
- Schedule — Hagwon: Afternoons into evenings. EPIK: Regular school day.
- Classes — Hagwon: Smaller groups, often the same students for a long time. EPIK: Larger classes, often with a Korean co-teacher.
- Who you deal with — Hagwon: The school directly — or a recruiter, if you go through one. EPIK: A government program and your local education office.
Choose EPIK if…
You want a school-day schedule, you're happy to be placed wherever there's an opening, and your timing fits the next intake.
Choose a hagwon if…
You want to live in a specific city — Seoul especially — pick the school and team yourself, start sooner, and teach smaller classes you get to know well.
The question that matters most
With a hagwon, ask whether you are talking to the school or to a recruiter. Applying straight to the academy means you meet the people you'll work with, see the contract early, and know exactly where you're going.
Next step: check the E-2 visa requirements.
Teaching with us
Teach Seoul is the hiring page of our own academies — not an agency. Right now that means KRW 3,200,000 a month with housing money already included, and a four-day week on site at our Seocho branch with one day from home. We sponsor the E-2 visa and walk you through the paperwork. Hours, holidays and the rest of the contract are agreed in writing before you sign.
FAQ
Is EPIK better than a hagwon?
Neither is better across the board. EPIK suits people who want a school-day schedule and don't mind where they're placed. Hagwons suit people who want to choose their city and school and start without waiting for an intake.
Are hagwons risky?
Quality varies, so check before you sign: talk to a current teacher, get the full contract in writing, and know exactly which school and neighborhood you are going to.
Do both need the same visa?
Both usually run on the E-2 visa with the same core documents: an apostilled degree and an apostilled national background check.