Job Description
As a Guest English Teacher (GET) you are employed in the Korean public school system on 12 month renewable contracts. GET’s enjoy the same salary scales as professional Korean teachers. Work hours are Mon-Fri 8 hours per day with an average of 22 contact (classroom) hours per week. Saturday, Sunday and public holidays are time off.
GET’s get Summer (July/Aug) and Winter (Jan/Feb) vacation breaks of 8 & 10 working days respectively. Most public school contracts also include an additional 1-2 week paid vacation for contract renewal.
You will teach students in collaboration with Korean co-teachers. You will learn how to prepare teaching materials and methodologies during the preliminary training at orientation. You will be informed about your assigned classrooms, teaching materials, and teaching methods from the Korean co-teacher.
All issues related to class work will be consulted with your Korean co-teachers.
Your duties as directed by the Local Office of Education will be:
To conduct English conversations classes for Korean teachers & students.
To prepare teaching materials for English language education.
To assist in developing teaching materials for English language education.
To assist with activities related to English language education & other extracurricular activities.
To demonstrate a good command of the English language, written & spoken.
To assist Korean teachers with their English classes & or jointly conduct English classes.
To perform other duties as specified by the host Education Office.
Korean Public Schools
SCHOOL
GRADES
START AGE
LESSON DURATION
Elementary
1-6
6
40min
Middle
7-9
12
45min
High
10-12
15
50min
Korean Public School Salaries
SALARY LEVEL
DESCRIPTION
KRW MILLION
1+
After two (2) consecutive years
as Level 1 with the renewing province
2.5 - 2.8
1
Two (2) years of full-time
teaching experience
+ ONE of the Level 2 requirements
or
After one (1) year as Level 2+
with the renewing province
2.4 - 2.6
2+
One (1) year of full-time
teaching experience
+ ONE of the Level 2 requirements
or
Master's degree in any discipline
with a Bachelor's degree in
Education / major in Teaching,
TESOL, Second Language Studies,
or Education
or
Master's degree in Education / major
in Teaching, TESOL,
Second Language Studies,
or Education with a Bachelor's degree
in any discipline
or
After one (1) year as Level 2
with the renewing province
2.3 - 2.4
2
Bachelor's degree in
Education / major in Teaching,
TESOL, Second Language Studies,
or Education
or
Bachelor's degree in any discipline
+ TEFL/TESOL/CELTA certificate
(100+ hours)
or
Bachelor's degree in any discipline
+ Teacher's License
2.2 - 2.35
Vacations
The academic year typically begins on March 1st. Korea has all four seasons, and vacation periods fall within the summer and winter seasons. Summer vacation begins end of July and finishes end of August, lasting approximately one month. Winter vacation begins end of December and finishes end of January or early February. These dates can vary depending on each schools vacation plans. During vacation, GETs may be required to teach programs such as an English Camp, since it is common for students to participate in special school activities that are held during these vacation periods.
Accommodation
Each Guest English Teacher placed at a public school is provided with a private, fully furnished, rent-free apartment. Private means you will have your own apartment. Fully Furnished means your apartment will have a bed, chair, closet, stove, refrigerator, microwave, washing machine & TV. Rent Free means the school that hires you will pay the key deposit and monthly rental on the apartment. Your only financial obligations with respect to accommodation are the utilities and occasionally a small landlord maintenance fee.
Health Insurance
As a government teacher you automatically eligible to become a member of the National Health Insurance Service paying ±3% of your salary as a monthly premium with your school pay a further ±3%. While the cover is comprehensive it does not cover optical and dental work nor does it provide cover while you are on vacation outside of Korea. It is therefore prudent to take special Travel Insurance to cover you during your vacations outside of Korea. Medical care in Korea is of a very high standard and dentists & opticians are very reasonably priced and easily accessible should you require these services.
Work Visa
& Residence Card
Guest English Teachers are issued a pre-approved E2 Working Visa by the Korean Embassy in their country of residence before they fly to Korea to commence their contract. If required arrangements can be made to acquire the E2 Visa from the Korean embassy in another country. The E2 Visa enables the GET to enter Korea for a year to work at the school/s that sponsor the visa. Whilst Guest English Teachers may engage in voluntary work in Korea the visa does not permit them to work for financial gain in Korea beyond work stipulated in their contract. If found to be teaching or doing other work for financial gain in Korea you are liable for deportation after the cancellation of your contract and working visa.
On arrival all Guest English Teachers are issued an ARC Card which empowers them to open bank accounts and open internet and mobile phone contracts and is a fully functional Multiple Entry Visa for the duration of their contract.
Class Working Hours
Generally, each class meets for 40 minutes for elementary school, 45 minutes for middle school, and 50 minutes for high school. This is subject to change, however, according to the season, weather, or the individual environment of each school. Some schools have special classes after regular class work, in which GETs are required to teach English for specific subjects or fields.
The following applies to all EPIK teachers, regardless of level, unless otherwise stated:
Settlement Allowance
300,000 KRW (one-time payment)
All EPIK teachers will be provided with a settlement allowance of 300,000 KRW within the first month of their first contract only.
Accomodation Provided
A leased house/apartment/studio-type room provided by your MOE/POE.
Utilities and maintenance fees are not provided for and are the responsibility of the EPIK teacher.
Due to variations in housing costs in different regions of Korea, the size and location of the provided housing can vary from region to region.
Severance Pay
All EPIK teachers who successfully complete their contract will be entitled to receive severance pay. Severance pay is equal to approximately one month's salary.
Entrance Allowance and
Contract Completion Bonus/Exit Allowance
All EPIK teachers will be provided with 1,800,000 KRW as the Entrance Allowance at the end of their first contract month.
Note: For applicants placed in Busan, Daegu, Jeju, Incheon and Chungbuk the entrance allowance will be provided after the first six months of the contract.
In Chungbuk, the Entrance Allowance is 1,300,000 KRW.
The Entrance Allowance is issued as a loan from the employer to the EPIK teachers. In the event that the contract is terminated within the first six months, regardless of the course or grounds, the EPIK teachers will be required to repay the aforementioned loan to your school immediately. A contract completion bonus of 1,300,000 KRW is provided at the end of each contract period.
In Gangwon this is referred to as an exit allowance when completing your final contract.
In Chungbuk, the contract completion bonus is 1,800,000 KRW.
No contract completion bonus is provided for Seoul, Jeju, and Gyeonggi. However, a 1,300,000 KRW exit allowance will be provided at the end of the final contract.
For Gyeonggi, the renewal bonus listed below is higher to compensate for this.
Renewal Bonus
A renewal bonus of 700,000 KRW will be provided upon completion of each renewed contract.
A 2,000,000 KRW renewal bonus will be provided for Gyeonggi, divided into two payments: 1,300,000 KRW at the start of the renewed contract and 700,000 KRW at the end of the renewed contract.
The Jeju Office of Education pays a flat 1,300,000 KRW renewal bonus at the start of the renewed contract.
Compulsory Medical Insurance
50% of your premiums paid by your employer
In accordance with the National Medical Insurance Act, your MOE/POE will pay 50% of your medical insurance premiums.
Current medical insurance premiums are approximately 5.89% of your salary and are payable monthly.
Your host MOE/POE will pay half of this amount (approx. 2.945%) with the remaining amount being deducted from your monthly salary.
This medical insurance will allow you to receive medical attention and prescription medicine at a fraction of the cost.
In the event that EPIK teachers have dependents living with them in Korea, the MOE/POE will pay 50% of their medical insurance premiums in addition to the EPIK teacher.
EPIK Orientation
An excellent transition and networking opportunity
All EPIK teachers will receive orientation and training related to living and teaching in Korea. During this orientation, EPIK teachers will be exposed to various subject areas and activities related to teaching and living in Korea.
The orientation is conducted by EPIK at the orientation venue, prior to your contract start date.
The orientation period is not included in the term of employment and, as such, is unpaid.
Orientation is mandatory for all EPIK teachers. If you are not present at the orientation, you will not be eligible for employment.
Lodging and meals will be provided during the orientation free of charge for all EPIK teachers.
Standard Benefits
