Letters of Recommendation
Two letters written by an employer, supervisor, or past professor commenting on your working ability — a required part of every EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE, and GOE application.
Letters of Recommendation — sometimes referred to as LORs — are letters written by an employer, supervisor, or past teacher to comment on your working ability. To teach in South Korea, two letters of recommendation are required. EPIK only accepts letters from direct supervisors or managers at past or current workplaces, or academic professors at colleges and universities.
The letter must have an issuance date from within the past two years of the EPIK application start date. Older letters will not be accepted.
Article updated 12 December 2024.
Who Should Write Your LOR?
EPIK only accepts letters from people in a position to speak to your work ethic and abilities. Choose referees who know you professionally or academically.
Academic Professors
Professors from colleges or universities you attended. Ideal if you are a recent graduate or still in academia.
Direct Supervisors
Current or previous managers who directly oversaw your work. They must be able to speak to your work ethic and abilities.
Past or Current Employers
Employers from workplaces where you held a meaningful role. Teaching, tutoring, or childcare experience is especially valuable.
Who Cannot Write Your Letter
- ✗Family members or relatives
- ✗Friends or personal acquaintances
- ✗Colleagues of equal or lower rank (peers)
- ✗Anyone without direct supervisory or academic relationship
What Must My LOR Contain?
Each of your two letters must include every element below. Missing any one of these will cause your letter to be rejected.
Official Letterhead or Business Card
Must be printed on official company or university letterhead. If letterhead is unavailable, the writer's physical official business card must be attached to the letter.
Typed Date of Issuance
Include the date the letter was written in DD/MM/YYYY format. The letter must have been issued within the past two years from the start of the EPIK application period.
Writer's Full Name
Full first name and surname of the writer. Initials alone are not acceptable.
Writer's Position or Title
Clearly state the writer's official job title or academic position (e.g. Director, Principal, Professor).
Writer's Contact Information
A mailing address, email, and phone number of the writer must be listed so the program can verify the reference if needed.
Ink Signature
The writer must sign with an actual pen (pen-to-paper). Scanned or digital signatures will not be accepted for final documents, even if an ink signature appears somewhere on the paper.
Statement of Work Relationship
The letter must clearly describe the writer's relationship to you and their superiority (i.e. how they supervised or taught you).
When and How You Submit
Letters of Recommendation are submitted twice during the EPIK application process — once digitally, and once as originals on paper.
Initial Documents
A clear scanned PDF copy is acceptable at the initial document stage. The signature may appear scanned or digital in this version, provided the original has been signed in ink.
Final Documents (after interview)
After passing your interview, the original paper letter with a genuine ink (pen-to-paper) signature must be mailed in your Final Documents package. Letters with only scanned or digital signatures will be rejected.
Sample Letter of Recommendation
A downloadable template you can share with your referee. It already contains every required EPIK element — they just need to personalize and sign it.
Tips & Common Mistakes
Do
- ✓Ask your referee at least 3–4 weeks in advance
- ✓Provide your resume and EPIK program summary to the writer
- ✓Confirm the letter includes every required element before scanning
- ✓Keep the original paper letter safe — you will mail it later
- ✓Use the Korvia sample template to guide new writers
Don't
- ✗Don't use letters older than 2 years
- ✗Don't accept letters with only a digital or scanned signature for final docs
- ✗Don't submit a letter on plain paper without letterhead or business card
- ✗Don't ask friends, family, or peers to write the letter
- ✗Don't forget the writer's full contact details
Frequently Asked Questions
Q.What if my school or workplace won't print on official letterhead?
If your referee cannot print on official letterhead, they can attach their official business card with the company information. Obtain the referee's business card and submit it together with the corresponding letter of recommendation.
Q.Does it really have to be an ink signature?
For the EPIK program, a scanned file with a digital or scanned signature is fine at the initial application stage. However, when submitting the physical letter with your Final Documents after passing the interview, the letter must have an ink (pen-to-paper) signature only. Letters will be rejected at final documents if they contain any digital or scanned signature at all — even if an ink signature is also present.
Q.Can the same person write both of my letters?
No. Each of your two letters must come from a different referee. Ideally the two writers should cover different aspects of your background — for example one academic and one employer — to give the program a fuller picture.
Q.Does the letter need to be in English?
Yes. EPIK requires letters in English. If your referee writes in another language, the letter must be professionally translated and notarized, which adds time and cost. It is far easier to find a referee who can write in English directly.
Q.I'm currently teaching in Korea — do I need a letter from my current school?
If you are currently teaching or have recently taught in Korea, one of your two letters must come from your current or most recent Korean school. Speak with your Korvia recruiter before requesting the letter.
Need Help Preparing Your Letters?
Apply through Korvia and your recruiter will review each letter before you submit — catching missing elements before EPIK ever sees them.