Korvia Alumni · Since 2006
A welcoming community of ESL teachers in Korea.
10,000+ teachers placed since 2006 across EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, and partner hagwons. Free events, a strong teacher community, and thousands of alumni already living across Korea.
Korvia Moments · Photo wall
Photos from the room.
Every Korvia gathering ends up here. Hundreds of photos uploaded by the people who were actually there — three taps from camera roll to the wall. Browse the latest, then add yours.
Want to add yours? Upload at alumni.korvia.com/moments
Stories from past placements
What the first months were actually like.
A handful of teachers wrote down what their first months in Korea felt like — the school day, the new city, the small things they didn’t expect. If you’ve taught through Korvia, we’d like to add yours too.
Journey from Port Elizabeth to Shenzhen, China
In April this year, I quit my job. I'd been working at the same company for nearly six years in my small, sleepy hometown of Port Elizabeth,…
— Cassidy Pautz
Journey to the Wild Wild East — From Seoul to Shenzhen with Korvia
It's a new year and resolutions all around us. What should you change about your life this year? Where do you want to be in January next yea…
— Erica Minix
From Pennsylvania to Honorary Citizens of Seoul — Monica & Benji's story
We met as seniors at Pennsylvania State University. Benjamin went on to pursue a Master's in Classical Semitic Linguistics at Oxford while M…
— Monica Cymerman & Benji Kostenbader
EPIK in Daegu — Qadirah Muhammad's story
Name: Qadirah Muhammad Nationality: American Age: 22 Major: Psychology, Africana Studies Sincere, quick learner, hard-working. My interest i…
— Qadirah Muhammad
Why we keep doing this
Korvia has been placing teachers in Korea since 2006 — and has stayed in touch ever since. Nearly 20 years later, the community is still here: teachers showing up to events, sharing apartment leads, and helping the next person settle into Korea.
We don’t just disappear when the contract ends
The party invites keep coming, even years after your placement or after you’ve returned home. Send us an email a few years later, and you’ll probably still get a reply within a day.
Mentorship from people who lived it
Our senior recruiters spent years inside EPIK, GOE, and hagwon programs. They’re who you ask about the parts that aren’t in the handbook.
Free parties, always.
Spring Party, Fall Party, Christmas, and 치맥 (chicken & beer) nights. Sponsors and Korvia handle the bill, the way it’s been since the first gathering.
Identity · Community
You’re not just alumni.
You’re part of a community that keeps helping the next person arrive.
We call them Korvians — teachers who came to Korea through Korvia, stayed connected, and chose to help others along the way.
Some answer questions from new arrivals.
Some share apartment tips or visa advice.
Some reconnect at parties years later.
Some simply show up and make new teachers feel less alone.
Over nearly 20 years, thousands of teachers have shared experiences, advice, friendships, and support with one another — online and offline, across Korea and beyond.
That’s what being a Korvian means to us.
Not a membership. Not a status. Just people helping people adjust to life in Korea a little more smoothly.
Once a Korvian, always a Korvian.
How Korvians help each other
Alumni-to-alumni introductions
Switching cities, looking for a roommate, weighing a program change? We try to connect you with a Korvian who has been there.
Earlier word on parties
Korvians hear about Spring Party, Fall Party, and 치맥 nights before the public RSVP opens — when seats are tightest.
Existing partner discounts
Active deals through Kimchi Mobile (eSIM), Korean Safari (culture trips), SentBe (remittance), and Monument Visa (US document service).
Small gestures from venues we know
Cafés and pochas we work with for parties sometimes extend a small thank-you to Korvians. Case by case, never promised.
Honest advice when things get hard
Visa renewals, lease questions, arrival hiccups. We share what we know, connect people with the right resources, and help make things a little easier. We don’t pretend to have all the answers.
More as we earn it
We're growing the partner roster carefully so each new perk holds up. If we don't have something yet, we'll say so.
What we’re building next · Roadmap
A Korvian badge on your phone
Mostly something to show partners when they have a small thing for our community. Not a status, not a tier — just a way to say you came through Korvia.
Restaurant & Partner Perks
Through Kimchi Mobile we offer eSIM and mobile plans at Korvian rates; with Korean Safari we plan domestic culture trips; through SentBe remittances home are simpler; and through Monument Visa US Korvians get discounted expedited document services. As the partner network grows, so do the perks — more in the works.
A wise advisor — not a fixer
We don’t pretend Korvia can solve everything. Our goal is to be a wise advisor when you hit hard moments — in your job and in life in Korea — and to let the Korvian community’s collective wisdom (집단지성) lift all of us together. Better Korvians, better lives.
Roadmap: These services are in active development — not yet available. We’re building them with the alumni community’s actual needs in mind. Sign up for Korvian updates to be the first to know when each launches.
20-Year Anniversary · 2006 – 2026
A small token for two decades together.
To celebrate Korvia’s 20th anniversary, we created a commemorative Korvia coin and pouch for the community.
Beginning in 2026, the coin is included in the Welcome Package for newly placed teachers and is also shared during Korvia gatherings and seasonal events as a small keepsake of the journey.
It’s not something we sell.
More than anything, it represents the people, stories, friendships, and experiences that have shaped the Korvia community over the past two decades.
See upcoming events
20 Years of Korvia
Founded November 1, 2006. Recognized nationally. Trusted by 10,000+ teachers.
2006Korvia Consulting founded
Henry Oh and Ann Park launch Korvia in Seoul, focused on Ministry of Education partnerships and ethical ESL placement.
2008Official EPIK Partner
Korvia begins its exclusive partnership with EPIK (English Program in Korea) — the recognized national program of Korea's Ministry of Education.
2013Seoul Mayor Citation
Korvia receives the Seoul Mayor's Citation (서울시장 표창) for its contribution to international education and ESL teacher placement in Seoul.
2018Excellent Employment Service Agency
Recognized by Korea's Ministry of Employment and Labor as an Excellent Employment Service Agency — a national certification of trustworthiness.
2021Re-certified Excellent Agency
Korvia re-earns the Ministry of Employment and Labor certification, making Korvia one of the few ESL agencies with multiple national recognitions.
202620-Year Anniversary
Korvia celebrates 20 years of placing ESL teachers in Korea — 10,000+ teachers placed, 5,000+ schools partnered, hundreds of friendships made along the way.
Community Events
Our community gathers, every season.
Twice-yearly major parties (Spring + Fall) plus Summer BBQ, Christmas Party, and casual 치맥 meetups. Always free, always sponsored, always open to teachers.
Spring Party
April – May
Our biggest evening of the year. 100+ teachers from EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, and partner hagwons. Drinks, raffle, K-culture games. Kesung Anderson on the mic.
Fall Party
October
A welcome night for the new EPIK Fall arrivals and a reunion for everyone already here. Same setup as Spring: free entry, raffle, sponsored drinks, MC.
Summer BBQ
Paused since COVID
An open-air BBQ tradition through the 2010s. We've been looking for the right outdoor venue to bring it back. When we find one, you'll see it back on the calendar.
Christmas Party
December
End-of-year evening with staff, our top contributors, partner companies, and alumni still in Korea. The night we thank the writers, photographers, ambassadors, and organizers who carried the year. Food, drinks, group photo.
치맥 Meetups
Year-round
Smaller chicken-and-beer (치맥) nights between the big parties. Easier to actually talk. A lot of the long-running mentorships started at one of these.
Latest party recap
See past parties on Facebook →
April 25, 2026 · Waikiki Beach Pocha, Itaewon
Spring Party 2026
100+ teachers · MC Kesung Anderson · AirPods raffle · Squid Game dalgona
Read full recap
Want to know about the next Korvia party first?
Get Alumni UpdatesMeet your hosts
The people you'll meet at every Korvia gathering.
Henry Oh
Founder & CEO
Korvia's founder since 2006. Hosts every Korvia gathering and personally welcomes incoming teachers each season.
Ann Park
Founder & Director
Korvia's co-founder. Builds and maintains relationships with schools across Korea — and brings teachers into the alumni community for life.
Steven Shin
Manager & Senior Recruiter
EPIK + GOE programs lead. Coordinates Korvia Pre-Orientation and walks every teacher through documents, visa, and arrival logistics.
Kesung Anderson
MC & Guest Host
Korean-American TV personality and former U.S. national track athlete. Recurring MC at every Korvia teacher event since 2024.
Past Highlights · @korviaconsulting
Moments from past Korvia parties.
Quick look at what our seasonal gatherings feel like. Tap any highlight for the full event hub, or open Instagram for the full archive.
Stay in the Korvia family.
Whether you're placed today or graduated five years ago, you're still part of Korvia Alumni. Follow Korvia anywhere — every party photo, every event, every recap is shared in the community.
Past partners we've loved working with: SentBe · Kimchi Mobile · Accurate Biometrics · Monument Visa
Korvia Contributors
Helping the next teacher arrive.
Most of what new teachers read in their first month was written, photographed, or filmed by someone who came before them. If you’ve got something to share — words, photos, video, or just a feel for your city — here are four ways in. Four more roles further down at /korvia-contributors.
Writers
Pitch articles or series on teaching, Korean culture, or the ESL community. We publish guides, op-eds, and personal narratives.
Photographers
DSLR or mirrorless? We feature original photography in articles, event coverage, and marketing. Photo credit is yours.
Videographers
Create video for event recaps, short documentaries, and YouTube features. Edit, color-grade, and publish under your name.
City Ambassadors
Love your Korean city? Share its food, festivals, and hidden corners with arriving teachers. One post a month plus event coverage.
Editors · Bloggers · Party organizers · Group moderators — four more tracks at /korvia-contributors.
Frequently asked
Who counts as a Korvia alumni?▾
Anyone placed in Korea through Korvia — EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, GOE, and partner hagwon programs — counts as Korvia alumni. Once placed, you stay in the alumni community for life. There is no fee, no application, and no expiration.
Are Korvia parties only for alumni?▾
No. Korvia parties are open to all current ESL teachers in Korea, incoming EPIK and hagwon teachers, Korvia applicants, and friends or partners of attending teachers (space-available basis). Free admission with RSVP. Korvia covers venue, programming, MC, raffle prizes, and a welcome drink for every guest.
When are the next Korvia parties?▾
Korvia hosts seasonal teacher meetups twice a year — one in spring (April – May) and one in fall (September – October) — plus occasional Summer BBQs, Christmas parties, and 치맥 (chicken & beer) meetups throughout the year. Sign up for Korvia alumni updates or follow Korvia on Instagram (@korviaconsulting) and Facebook (facebook.com/korvia) for announcements.
How do I join the alumni network?▾
If you're already placed through Korvia, you're already in. To stay connected, follow Korvia on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, and contact henry@korvia.com to be added to the alumni newsletter. Past attendees can also share their stories — submissions go to henry@korvia.com.
Is there a fee to attend?▾
No. Every Korvia teacher gathering — Spring Party, Fall Party, Summer BBQ, Christmas Party, 치맥 meetups — is free with RSVP. Korvia and its event sponsors cover venue, programming, MC, raffle prizes, and welcome drinks. Korvia does not charge teachers for placement, either; placement fees are paid by partner schools, not teachers.
Where can I see photos from past parties?▾
The Spring 2026 Party recap is published in the Korvia Magazine. Earlier party photos are archived on Korvia's Facebook page (facebook.com/korvia) and Instagram (@korviaconsulting). Aftermovies are published on Korvia's YouTube channel.
Can I sponsor or co-host a Korvia event?▾
Yes. Korvia partners with companies whose products genuinely help ESL teachers in Korea — current partners include SentBe (international remittance), Accurate Biometrics (FBI checks), Monument Visa (FBI apostille), Kimchi Mobile (eSIM), and Korea Travel Service (airport pickup). To explore partnership or sponsorship, see /partnership-opportunities-with-korvia.
Three ways to help
Help the next person decide.
Reviews and stories are how arriving teachers decide whether to trust Korvia. Two minutes goes a long way.
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A quick star rating + a sentence on Google reaches teachers researching their first move to Korea.
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Trustpilot
Rate Korvia on Trustpilot
Trustpilot is where prospective teachers go before booking a consultation. Your review carries weight there.
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Alumni Archive
Share your Korvia story
Long-form is welcome too. Your story lives on the public alumni archive after a 48-hour editor review.
Share your story
Already shared? Read other alumni stories · See more testimonials
If you haven’t placed yet, start here.
10,000 teachers placed in 20 years. The parties keep happening.