From Hagwon to EPIK: A Guide to Transitioning to Public School

When moving from a hagwon (private academy) to teaching at a public school through EPIK in South Korea, there are important documents and details applicants must prepare. This guide covers key information about the transition process and the necessary documents you’ll need to submit during the EPIK application.

Is there anything I need to do before applying?

1. Recommendation Letters: A key part of your EPIK application is submitting two letters of recommendation. If you’re currently working at a hagwon or teaching ESL in South Korea, at least one letter must be from your current school. This could come from the school director, head teacher, or a Korean co-teacher. Without this letter, EPIK will not advance your application to the interview stage.
2. Performance Evaluation: When applying through an agency like Korvia Consulting, a performance evaluation from your current school is required. Be sure to inform your school about your application plans, as the agency will contact a supervisor for the evaluation. This is a mandatory EPIK requirement with no exceptions.
3. Passport Validity: Ensure that your passport is valid for at least one year from the time of your application. If it’s nearing expiration, renew it as soon as possible to avoid delays in processing.
4. Contract End Date: Make sure that the end date of your current contract aligns with EPIK’s start date, as public schools have fixed intake periods.

Which documents do I need to submit if I successfully pass the interview with EPIK?

Each applicant must submit the documents listed down below:

1. Copies of Apostilled/Notarized Documents
   • Apostilled Criminal Background Check (CBC) and University Degree
     1. Obtain Immediate Information Disclosure (즉시공개서, 정보공개청구서): You will need to go to the nearest immigration office to obtain official copies of your apostilled documents you have previously submitted. You may retrieve the copies along with 즉시공개서, 정보공개청구서. (Without 즉시공개서, 정보공개청구서, photocopies are invalid.)
     2. For U.S. applicants, if your FBI background check wasn’t apostilled at the federal level, you’ll need to obtain a new one and get it federally apostilled.
2. University Transcripts
   • If you did not submit transcripts to your hagwon, you will need to acquire your physical university transcripts. They must be sealed and not opened.
3. Proof of Full-Time Teaching Experience
   • A letter from your school that addresses your employment. The letter must include all of the following:
     1. Teaching subjects, grades/ages, teaching hours per week, employment period including starting date and end date (DD/MM/YYYY), your status (must be full-time), your full legal name, your working title, and the typed issuance date.
     2. Contact information such as an email and phone number of the writer, and the physical mailing address of the school.
     3. If the start and end date do not make 1 or 2 (or more) FULL CALENDAR YEARS (e.g. July 31, 2023-July 30, 2024), then the letter MUST state you taught for 1 or 2 (or more) ACADEMIC YEARS.
4. Copy of Residence Card (formerly Alien Registration Card)
   • We highly advise applying for an extension 45 days prior to the contract start date.
5. Copy of Passport
   • Make sure the passport will be valid for at least 13 months to the contract start date.

**Applicants may need to submit extra documents based on location placement or academic background. For a full list of the Final Documents, please head to our EPIK Final Documents page: Click Here