Hi! To everyone considering teaching in Korea through the EPIK program I heavily recommend going through Korean Horizons.
The support the agency gave me throughout my entire application was phenomenal: from applying to EPIK, interviewing, sorting out the necessary documents, general inquiries, down to arriving in Korea and getting to orientation successfully; Korean Horizons helped every step of the way.
Their help made my application and success seamless and as pain-free as it could possibly be.
I ended up in a rural town in Gyeongsangbuk-do. However, don't let the word 'rural' scare you from the job. While the town does not have everything a major city would, living here is very comfortable and beautiful. There are plenty of restaurants, clothing stores, convenience stores and friendly people that make staying here very nice. I've only been here a couple days and I already feel welcome and at home (of course with the help of the other EPIK teachers who took me under their wing when I arrived).
The only flaw I can think of when it comes to the EPIK program so far is that if you have a strong preference for where you live, you might find yourself disappointed. You do not really get a choice in your placement - you can give your preferences but that does not necessarily mean that will happen; especially if you want to live in a major city. However, fret not. Public transport here is affordable and accessible so traveling and weekend get-aways are definitely on the cards if you end up in an area you wouldn't have preferred to have been placed.
I would love to write more but as of now I have only been here a couple days. On a final note I would like to say that everyone is welcoming and kind - the teachers at my school, the other EPIK teachers in the area as well as the orientation staff. Genuinely one of the best experiences of my life so far! I hope you can have a great experience too if you decide to give this a shot.
