EPIK Teacher Benefits (2026)
Free housing, health insurance, 26 vacation days, and more. Here's everything included in your EPIK contract.
Free
Housing
26 Days
Paid Vacation
50%
Health Insurance
₩300K
Settlement
Complete Benefits Package
Benefits included in EPIK contracts across all provinces. Some benefits are first-contract only.
Free Housing
Fully furnished single apartment provided by your school. Includes basic utilities setup. Located near your school.
Entrance Allowance
₩1,300,000–₩1,800,000. EPIK policy is payment with your first paycheck, but in practice it is often delayed to month 3–6 while your Residence Card and Korean bank account are being issued. First contract only; amount varies by province.
Completion Bonus
₩1,300,000–₩1,800,000 paid upon successful contract completion. Equivalent to entrance allowance in most regions.
Health Insurance
50% of National Health Insurance covered by your school. Covers medical, dental, and hospital visits across Korea.
26 Vacation Days + Holidays + Sick Days
26 paid vacation days, plus all Korean national holidays, plus sick days as provided by the EPIK contract. Vacation days are typically taken during winter/summer school breaks.
Settlement Allowance
₩300,000 one-time payment upon first arrival. Covers initial expenses like groceries and household items.
National Pension
50% of National Pension contributions covered by your school. Refundable for citizens of countries with pension agreements.
Flight Settlement Allowance
One-way ticket to Korea. You pay upfront; a settlement allowance is paid per contract terms — this is not a reimbursement of your actual ticket.
Contract Renewal Bonus
₩700,000–₩2,000,000 for teachers who renew for a second consecutive year at the same province.
Rural Allowance
₩100,000/month extra for teachers in designated rural areas. Available in Gyeonggi and some other provinces.
Insurance, Pension & Severance Breakdown
How the official EPIK benefit package translates into actual won on your payslip — per epik.go.kr and moel.go.kr.
National Health Insurance (NHIS)
Under Korea's National Health Insurance Actadministered by the Ministry of Employment & Labor (moel.go.kr), EPIK teachers are enrolled in NHIS from day one of employment. The total premium is roughly 7.09% of monthly remuneration, split 50/50 between school and teacher. For a Level 2 teacher earning ₩2.1M, that means the school pays about ₩74,500 and the teacher pays about ₩74,500 — deducted directly from payroll. Coverage includes primary care, specialist visits, hospitalization, dental, and prescriptions at roughly 30% co-pay. A separate Long-Term Care Insurance premium (12.81% of NHIS premium) is also deducted.
National Pension Service (NPS)
Per the National Pension Act (moel.go.kr), contributions are 9% of monthly salary, split 50/50 with the school. A Level 2 teacher contributes ~₩94,500/month and the school matches. Citizens of the USA, Canada, Australia, and about 30 other bilateral-treaty countries can claim a lump-sum refund of both sides (teacher + school contribution) within 2 years of departing Korea. UK and Irish citizens receive only their own contributions due to treaty specifics. Over a 1-year contract, this typically returns ₩2.0-2.4M cash to the teacher after leaving Korea — effectively a 13th-month salary.
Severance Calculation Example (1-Year EPIK Contract)
Korean labor law (근로기준법 제34조, moel.go.kr) guarantees severance (퇴직금) equal to ~30 days of average wage × years of service. For EPIK teachers completing their first 12 months, this is functionally one extra month of base salary, paid within 14 days of contract end.
Level 2+ (₩2.1M base)
~₩2.1M
Severance after 1 year
Level 1+ (₩2.3M base)
~₩2.3M
Severance after 1 year
3-year total
~3× base
Paid at final departure
Source: epik.go.kr standard NEST contract, moel.go.kr 근로기준법 제34조.
Important Notes
Benefits FAQ
Q.Is EPIK housing really free?
Yes. Your school provides a single furnished apartment (bed, desk, refrigerator, washing machine, basic appliances) with no monthly rent. You pay only utilities (~₩80-150K/month for electricity, gas, water, internet). Some provinces offer a housing allowance (₩400-500K/month) as an alternative if you prefer to choose your own place.
Q.When do I receive the Entrance and Settlement Allowances?
The ₩300,000 Settlement Allowance is paid in your first month's paycheck after arrival. The ₩1.3–1.8M Entrance Allowance is policy-due with your first paycheck, but in practice most teachers receive it between month 3 and month 6 — the delay is because the payment cannot be processed until your Residence Card (RC, formerly ARC) is issued and your Korean bank account is set up. Both allowances are for first-contract teachers only — renewing teachers receive different bonuses (e.g. ₩2M Renewal Allowance in Gyeonggi).
Q.How many vacation days do I really get?
EPIK teachers get 26 paid vacation days, plus all Korean national holidays (추석, Seollal, Independence Day, etc.), plus sick days as provided by the contract. Vacation days must be taken during summer (August) or winter (January) school breaks. Weekends, national holidays, and sick days do not count against your 26-day vacation allotment.
Q.Is my EPIK income taxed in Korea?
Under Korea's bilateral tax treaties, teachers from certain countries can claim an income-tax exemption for their first 2 years in Korea — but you must submit a Residency Certificate (issued by your home country's tax authority) to your school to activate it. Ireland and Canada are NOT eligible for this exemption under current treaty terms. After 2 years (or for ineligible countries from day one), standard Korean income tax (~6-15%) applies. National Pension and Health Insurance (50% each employer/employee) are deducted regardless.
Q.Can I get my National Pension refunded?
Yes, if you are a citizen of a country with a pension agreement with Korea: USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and others. Submit a lump-sum refund application at the Korean Pension office within 2 years of leaving Korea. You receive both your contributions and your school's contributions. UK and Ireland have specific treaty rules — check before applying.
Q.Do I get severance pay?
Yes. After completing a 1-year EPIK contract, you receive approximately one month's base salary as severance pay. If you teach 3 years, you receive ~3 months of severance upon final departure. Severance is separate from the Completion Bonus (₩1.3-1.8M) and the Exit/Flight settlement allowance.
Q.How is severance pay actually calculated?
Under Korea's Labor Standards Act (근로기준법 제34조) and the EPIK standard contract (epik.go.kr), severance equals approximately 30 days of 'average wage' (평균임금) for each year of continuous service. For a Level 2+ teacher earning ₩2.1M base, a full-year contract yields roughly ₩2.1M in severance — deposited to your Korean bank account within 14 days of contract end. Taxes on severance are favorable (lower rate than ordinary income). A contract that ends before 12 months typically does not qualify.
Q.What can I realistically buy with the ₩300K Settlement Allowance?
The one-time Settlement Allowance (정착지원금) from epik.go.kr is intended to offset initial arrival costs. Typical usage: bedding & pillows (₩60-80K from Daiso/IKEA), kitchenware & cookware (₩50-70K), cleaning supplies and bathroom essentials (₩30-40K), a SIM card plus one month of mobile service (₩30-50K), transit card (T-money) top-up (₩20K), and groceries for the first two weeks (₩80-100K). Most teachers report spending the full ₩300K within their first 30 days — it is a reimbursement of real setup costs, not a bonus.
Q.How much does the Renewal Bonus actually pay?
Per the official EPIK contract (epik.go.kr), Renewal Bonuses range from ₩700,000 on the low end to ₩2,000,000 on the high end, depending on the province. GEPIK (Gyeonggi) pays up to ₩2M; SMOE (Seoul) pays a structured renewal package; GOE (Gyeongnam) and most rural provinces sit in the ₩1-1.5M range. The bonus is paid within the first 1-2 months of the renewed contract and is separate from the original Completion Bonus from your first contract. Teachers who renew also retain their existing housing and skip re-orientation.