GEPIK Teacher Benefits
Housing, allowances, insurance, vacation, and severance — the full benefits package included in every current GEPIK contract, based on the official Gyeonggi-do Office of Education terms.
Free
Furnished Housing
₩1.8M
Entrance Allowance
26
Paid Vacation Days
50%
Health Insurance
The following benefits are offered to every teacher placed in the GEPIK program. Some benefits — such as the Entrance Allowance and Settlement Allowance — are available only to first-year teachers. Others, like the Renewal Allowance and Severance Pay, reward returning teachers. Please inquire with your Korvia recruiter about which benefits apply to your specific placement.
The 9 GEPIK Benefits
Free Single Furnished Housing
₩500,000 / month stipend (alternative)GEPIK teachers are entitled to rent-free single housing furnished with basic furniture and appliances. If your school cannot provide housing, they will provide a housing stipend of ₩500,000 per month in lieu of accommodation.
Key money (deposit) is not provided by GEPIK.
Entrance Allowance
₩1,800,000 one-timeUnder the 2026 Gyeonggi contract (Art. 9), GEPIK pays a ₩1,800,000 Entrance Allowance within one month (30 days) of you submitting proof of your flight to Korea: a ticket or receipt with your name and dates, plus a boarding pass or passport entry stamp. Arrive no more than 15 days before your contract starts. Renewing teachers and teachers hired from inside Korea do not receive it.
Settlement Allowance
₩300,000 one-timeGEPIK provides a one-time ₩300,000 Settlement Allowance to help you purchase supplies, groceries, and other furnishings for your apartment during your first weeks in Korea.
Renewal Allowance
₩2,000,000 one-time (per renewal)Teachers who renew their contract for another year at the same school receive a ₩2,000,000 Renewal Allowance. This benefit applies only to those continuing at the same school.
Teachers transferring to a different school within GEPIK are not eligible for the renewal allowance.
Exit Allowance
₩1,300,000 one-timeUnder the 2026 Gyeonggi contract (Art. 9), teachers who complete the full contract term and leave Korea within 10 days of the end date receive a ₩1,300,000 Exit Allowance within one month (30 days) of submitting a one-way ticket or itinerary and receipt plus a boarding pass or passport exit stamp.
Severance Payment
~1 month's salary per completed contractUpon completing each 1-year contract, you are entitled to an additional full month of salary as a severance bonus. The amount is cumulative across contracts and is paid upon final departure from Korea.
Paid Vacation
26 working days per contractGEPIK teachers receive 26 working days of paid annual leave per contract term (standard contract Art. 15). Weekends, Korean public holidays and Labor Day (May 1) are not counted. Leave needs the principal's approval 3 days in advance and is generally taken during the summer (August) and winter (January) school breaks. A school break is not leave in itself: on break days without approved leave, you work at school as normal.
Sick Days
Up to 11 days per contractUnder the 2026 GEPIK contract (Art. 16), teachers may take up to 11 paid sick days (working days) per contract term, with the school's approval. No medical certificate is needed for the first 3 sick days of your contract year, consecutive or not; any sick leave beyond those 3 days needs a doctor's certificate, handed in on your first day back. The 11 days are allotted per contract term. (The handbook's rule that unused days don't carry into a renewal contract is written for paid vacation.)
National Health Insurance
50% employer-paidIn accordance with the National Medical Insurance Act, your employer pays 50% of your monthly medical insurance premium; the remainder is automatically deducted from your paycheck. Coverage includes health, vision, and dental. Enrollment is automatic at the start of your contract.
Benefits FAQ
Q.Is GEPIK housing really free?
Yes. Your school provides single furnished housing (bed, table, refrigerator, washing machine, etc.) with no rent payments required. If housing cannot be provided, you receive ₩500,000/month housing stipend instead. Key money (deposit) is not paid by GEPIK, so it is not your concern.
Q.When do I receive the Entrance Allowance?
You pay for your flight first. Under the 2026 Gyeonggi contract (Art. 9), the ₩1,800,000 Entrance Allowance is paid within one month (30 days) of you submitting your flight ticket or receipt and a boarding pass or passport entry stamp.
Q.Can I combine the Settlement and Entrance Allowances?
Yes. First-year GEPIK teachers receive both the ₩1,800,000 Entrance Allowance and the ₩300,000 Settlement Allowance (moving-in costs) — a total of ₩2,100,000 in one-time allowances. Teachers renewing or hired from inside Korea do not receive the Entrance Allowance.
Q.How does severance pay work?
For every completed 1-year contract, you are entitled to approximately one additional month's salary as severance. If you teach for 3 years, you receive about 3 months of severance pay upon final departure. This is separate from the Exit Allowance (flight reimbursement home).
Q.What does the health insurance cover?
The National Health Insurance covers general medical care, hospitalizations, prescription drugs, and basic dental and vision. You pay 50% of the premium (the other 50% is paid by your school), and co-payments at clinics are typically very low (₩5,000–15,000 per visit).
Q.Do I get paid during vacation?
Yes. Your 26 days of paid leave are in addition to weekends, Korean public holidays and Labor Day (May 1). You receive your full monthly salary while on approved leave.
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