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Kang & Kriel Recruitment
A complete comparison of teaching at a Korean hagwon versus a public school program (EPIK/GEPIK/SMOE) — salary, schedule, vacation, job security, and which fits your lifestyle.
Hagwons pay more (2.1–2.8M KRW) but have evening hours and no summer vacation. Public schools (EPIK) offer stable 8am–5pm schedules, 6–8 weeks vacation, and government backing.
Hagwons typically offer 2.1–2.8M KRW/month, while EPIK public school salaries range from 1.8–2.5M KRW — but public school total packages often exceed hagwon when benefits are included.
At first glance, hagwons appear more lucrative, with experienced teachers at premium academies in Seoul or Busan earning up to 2.8M KRW. However, EPIK salaries come bundled with a furnished apartment, round-trip airfare, 50% health insurance subsidy, and a settlement allowance of 300,000 KRW on arrival. When these benefits are monetized, the EPIK total compensation package is frequently comparable to or exceeds many hagwon offers. Hagwons also provide housing and airfare but at varying quality — public school housing is standardized and inspected.
Hagwons typically run afternoon-to-evening shifts (1pm–10pm), while public school teachers follow the Korean school day of approximately 8am–5pm with actual teaching hours of 22 per week.
The hagwon schedule is one of the biggest lifestyle differences. Most private academies operate when students are out of regular school. That means your working hours run from early afternoon through evening, making a normal social life difficult on weekdays. Public school teachers work standard business hours and have lunch provided by the school cafeteria. They can socialize evenings and weekends like any other professional. EPIK teachers average 22 teaching hours per week with remaining time spent on lesson planning during school hours. Hagwon teachers may teach 25–30 classes per week with prep expected outside paid hours.
Public school teachers receive 6–8 weeks of paid vacation aligned with school holidays; hagwon teachers typically receive only 10 days of contractual vacation per year.
This is one of the starkest contrasts between the two paths. EPIK teachers benefit from Korean school vacation calendars. Summer vacation (July–August) and winter vacation (December–February) provide genuine time off for travel, rest, or professional development. Hagwons operate year-round because they serve students during school breaks. That means hagwon teachers work while public school peers are traveling. Hagwon contracts typically specify 5–10 vacation days per year, often taken on days the hagwon chooses. Korean national holidays (11 days) apply to both, but hagwons sometimes require makeup classes after holidays.
Choose a hagwon for higher pay, city flexibility, and faster hiring; choose a public school for stability, regular hours, long vacations, and government-backed contracts.
Hagwons suit teachers who want to choose their city, prefer a faster application process (as quick as 2–4 weeks vs EPIK's 3–5 months), and prioritize immediate income. Public school programs like EPIK, GEPIK (Gyeonggi Province), and SMOE (Seoul Metropolitan) are ideal for teachers who value predictability, work-life balance, and career stability — the government backing means salary is never in question and the school cannot close overnight. EPIK also provides a structured community of fellow foreign teachers, which many newcomers find invaluable for their first year in Korea.
List what matters most: salary, location choice, schedule, vacation time, job security, or community. Rank them — this will narrow your decision quickly.
Duration: 1 hourCheck current eligibility requirements — degree field, criminal background check, and TEFL certification requirements differ slightly between programs.
Duration: 2–3 hoursAdd housing value, airfare, pension, and health insurance to raw salary for both options before comparing. The gap is smaller than it first appears.
Duration: 1 hourCheck the hagwon's registration status, read teacher reviews on forums, and ask for references from current or former teachers before accepting any offer.
Duration: 3–5 daysEPIK applications open twice yearly (spring/fall intakes). Hagwon applications are year-round. Apply 3–6 months before your target start date.
Duration: 1–3 weeksESL Recruitment Specialists
10+ years of experience
Yes, and many teachers do. Each EPIK application cycle is evaluated independently. Hagwon teaching experience is viewed positively. You'll need to resubmit all documentation including a new background check.
No. EPIK assigns you to a school within the province you apply for (e.g., Gyeonggi), but the specific city and school are determined by the program. City-specific programs like SMOE give you Seoul placement but are more competitive.
Generally yes. Hagwons are private businesses that can close, change ownership, or fail to pay salaries. Public school programs are government-administered with no equivalent risk. Research any specific hagwon carefully before signing.
They offer different types of advancement. Hagwons may promote to head teacher or curriculum developer roles. EPIK experience is valued for graduate programs in TESOL and international education careers.
EPIK teachers average 22 teaching hours per week with a 40-hour contracted workweek. Hagwon teachers typically teach 25–30 hours per week, with prep time often expected outside those hours.
ESL365 Editorial Team. (2026, March 17). Hagwon vs Public School in Korea: Which is Right for You? (2026). ESL365. https://esl365.com /knowledge-hub/hagwon-vs-public-school