EPIK Contract Information (2026)
Working hours, vacation days, renewal terms, and everything in your EPIK contract.
1 Year
Contract
Mon–Fri
8:40–4:40
22 hrs
Teaching/week
What's in Your EPIK Contract
Contract Term
1 Year
All EPIK positions are for one (1) year in length. Renewal for a second year is possible.
Working Days & Hours
Mon–Fri, 8:40 AM – 4:40 PM
Exact times vary slightly depending on the school. These are standard office hours — not teaching hours.
Teaching Hours
Up to 22 hrs/week
EPIK teachers teach up to 22 hours per week. Teaching hours may vary depending on the school and semester.
Vacation
26 Days
26 paid vacation days per contract year, separate from national holidays and sick days. Schools may offer additional flexibility during winter/summer breaks.
National Holidays
15+ Days
All Korean national holidays (Seollal, Chuseok, Independence Day, Children's Day, etc.) are additional paid days off — NOT counted against the 26 vacation days.
Renewal
1 Additional Year
Teachers can renew for one additional year at the same province, often with a renewal bonus of ₩700K–₩2M.
Teaching Hours vs Total Work Hours
How the official 22 / 40 split (epik.go.kr) plays out in a real school week, plus overtime rules under moel.go.kr.
Teaching Hours — up to 22 / week
Cap defined in the EPIK standard contract
- Per epik.go.kr, classroom teaching is capped at 22 class periods per week across all schools.
- One "class period" = 40 min (elementary), 45 min (middle), or 50 min (high school).
- Homeroom, morning assemblies, and bulletin-board prep are NOT counted as teaching hours.
- English Camp sessions during school breaks are counted as teaching hours for that week.
Total Work Hours — 40 / week
Mon–Fri, 8:40 AM–4:40 PM
- Standard 40-hour workweek aligned with Korea's Labor Standards Act (moel.go.kr).
- Non-teaching hours = lesson prep, co-teacher meetings, grading, staff duties.
- "Desk-warming" during school breaks still counts toward your 40 hours.
- A 1-hour unpaid lunch break is standard; 15-min morning break is typical.
Overtime Compensation (근로기준법 제56조)
The Labor Standards Act (moel.go.kr) requires 1.5× pay for any work exceeding the 40-hour week or the 22-hour teaching cap, 1.5× pay for work on statutory holidays, and an additional 0.5× premium for night-shift work between 10 PM and 6 AM. Overtime must be recorded and approved by your co-teacher or administration, and is paid in the following month's payslip.
Standard Overtime
1.5×
Hours beyond 40/week or 22 teaching
Holiday Work
1.5×–2×
National holidays, weekends
Night Shift
+0.5×
10 PM – 6 AM premium
Source: moel.go.kr 근로기준법 제56조 (Labor Standards Act, Article 56), epik.go.kr standard contract.
Korean Public Holidays & Contract Renewal
Paid Public Holidays You Observe
- • New Year's Day — Jan 1
- • Seollal (Lunar New Year) — 3 days, late Jan / early Feb
- • Independence Movement Day — Mar 1
- • Children's Day — May 5
- • Buddha's Birthday — May (lunar, varies)
- • Memorial Day — Jun 6
- • Liberation Day — Aug 15
- • Chuseok (Thanksgiving) — 3 days, autumn
- • National Foundation Day — Oct 3
- • Hangeul Day — Oct 9
- • Christmas — Dec 25
When a holiday falls on a weekend, a substitute weekday (대체공휴일) is granted. Total ~15-16 paid days/year, stacked on top of the 26 vacation days and sick days.
Renewal Terms & Conditions
- When decided: 3-4 months before your current contract ends.
- Who decides: Jointly — the teacher, the school's co-teacher and principal, and the provincial Office of Education.
- Eligibility: Satisfactory performance review, completed 1-year contract, E-2 visa in good standing (epik.go.kr).
- Renewal Bonus: ₩700K–₩2M depending on province (highest in GEPIK per goe.go.kr-style standardization).
- Benefits retained: Same housing, same school (usually), same salary scale — plus potential Level Up.
- Re-orientation: Skipped for renewing teachers — you start the new year directly.
- Max consecutive years: No hard cap; many teachers renew 2-4 times at the same province.
Contract FAQ
Q.Is EPIK really a 1-year contract only?
The base EPIK contract is 1 year, but most teachers renew for a second year (and sometimes a third). Renewing at the same province earns you a Renewal Bonus (₩700K-₩2M depending on province). Many EPIK teachers teach 2-3 consecutive years; some stay for 5+ years by transferring provinces.
Q.What does a typical EPIK workday look like?
Arrive at school by 8:40 AM. Teach 3-5 classes during the morning and early afternoon. Use 'deskwarming' hours between classes for lesson planning, co-teacher meetings, and preparation. Take a ~1-hour lunch with staff. Finish by 4:40 PM. Total: about 4-5 teaching hours per day, with the rest reserved for prep work — you teach up to 22 hours/week across a 40-hour workweek.
Q.Can I take vacation outside of summer/winter breaks?
Generally no. EPIK vacation days are tied to the Korean school calendar and must be taken during summer (August) or winter (January) school breaks. Taking vacation outside these periods requires explicit school approval and is typically only granted for emergencies or family events.
Q.What happens if I teach more than 22 hours per week?
Teaching hours beyond 22 per week are subject to overtime pay under the official EPIK contract. This is uncommon, as schools plan their curriculum to stay within standard hours. If it happens regularly, discuss with your co-teacher and school — you are entitled to additional compensation.
Q.Can I break my EPIK contract early?
Breaking an EPIK contract early is possible but has consequences: you typically forfeit your Completion Bonus, Exit Allowance, and severance pay. It may also impact future E-2 visa sponsorship in Korea. If there is a serious reason (medical, family emergency), discuss with your Korvia recruiter and school before acting — often a mutual release is possible.
Q.How does EPIK contract renewal work?
Renewal decisions are typically made 3-4 months before your contract ends. Your school and Korvia confirm your interest, then the provincial Office of Education issues a renewal contract. Renewing at the same school earns you the Renewal Bonus (amount varies by province); transferring to a new province requires a full re-application.
Q.How is overtime calculated under the EPIK contract?
Per epik.go.kr and Korea's Labor Standards Act (근로기준법 제56조 on moel.go.kr), any work beyond the standard 40-hour workweek — or teaching beyond the 22-hour cap — is compensated at 1.5× (150%) of the hourly base rate. Work on Korean national holidays is paid at 1.5× as well (rising to 2× for excess hours). Night-shift work (10 PM-6 AM) adds another 0.5× premium on top, though this is rare for EPIK teachers. English Camps that fall outside standard school days typically count as overtime if they exceed the 40-hour weekly cap.
Q.What Korean public holidays do EPIK teachers observe?
EPIK teachers receive all legally-mandated Korean public holidays in addition to their 26 paid vacation days and sick days. Per Korea's holiday calendar, these include: New Year's Day (Jan 1), Seollal / Lunar New Year (3 days), Independence Movement Day (Mar 1), Children's Day (May 5), Buddha's Birthday (May, varies), Memorial Day (Jun 6), Liberation Day (Aug 15), Chuseok (3 days, autumn), National Foundation Day (Oct 3), Hangeul Day (Oct 9), and Christmas (Dec 25). When a public holiday falls on Saturday or Sunday, a substitute weekday holiday (대체공휴일) is granted. Total: roughly 15-16 public holidays per year on top of the 26 vacation days.
Q.How are the 26 vacation days split between summer and winter?
Per the EPIK standard contract (epik.go.kr), the 26 paid vacation days are distributed across the two school breaks: typically 12-14 days during summer vacation (late July through August) and 12-14 days during winter vacation (January through early February). Exact splits are negotiated with your co-teacher and principal. During non-break periods, vacation is not normally granted. Unused vacation does not roll over to a renewed contract and is generally not cashed out — schools strongly prefer you use it.