GOE Teacher Benefits & Allowances (2026)
GOE positions in Gyeongnam Province follow EPIK's nationally standardized benefits package. Here's what's included.
GOE teachers receive the full EPIK benefits package: free furnished housing, settlement allowance of ₩300,000, entrance allowance of ₩1.3-1.8M, health insurance with 50% employer contribution, and a contract completion bonus of ₩1.3-1.8M. With Gyeongnam's lower cost of living compared to Seoul, GOE teachers often achieve the highest savings-to-salary ratio among all Korean public school programs.
Complete Benefits Breakdown
Free Furnished Housing
Single-occupancy apartment or studio provided at no cost. Includes basic furniture, appliances, and bedding. Utilities (electricity, water, gas, internet) are the teacher's responsibility — typically ₩100,000-200,000/month in Gyeongnam.
Settlement Allowance
₩300,000 one-time payment upon arrival. Covers initial expenses like grocery shopping, household items, and transportation cards.
Entrance Allowance
₩1,300,000 – ₩1,800,000 depending on province. Paid at the start of the contract. Note: if you leave within the first 6 months, this amount must be repaid.
Contract Completion Bonus
₩1,300,000 – ₩1,800,000 paid upon successful completion of the full 12-month contract. This is in addition to severance pay.
Severance Pay
Approximately one month's salary, paid at contract end. Required by Korean labor law for contracts of 12 months or longer.
Health Insurance
National Health Insurance (NHI) enrollment. Employer pays 50% of premiums (approximately ₩100,000-150,000/month). Covers hospital visits, prescriptions, dental, and most medical procedures.
Renewal Bonus
₩700,000 – ₩2,000,000 for teachers who renew for a second year at the same province. Renewing also qualifies you for the Level 1+ salary tier (₩2.5-3.0M/month).
Vacation & Holidays
26 paid vacation days per year as stated in the GOE/EPIK contract (Article 14). Vacation must be taken during school recess periods (summer: late July–August, winter: late December–February). All Korean national holidays (~16 days/year) are also off. During school breaks, teachers may run English camps within regular working hours.
Source: EPIK (epik.go.kr), March 2026. Benefits are standardized across all EPIK-affiliated programs including GOE.
What Benefits Does GOE NOT Include?
Airfare
Round-trip airfare is NOT included in the standard EPIK/GOE package. Some individual schools may offer partial flight reimbursement, but this is not guaranteed.
National Pension
Depends on your country's bilateral agreement with Korea. Teachers from USA, Canada, and Australia contribute to and can withdraw Korean pension upon departure. UK and Irish citizens are exempt.
Orientation Salary
The mandatory EPIK orientation (approximately 1 week) is unpaid. Accommodation and meals during orientation are provided.