One of the many benefits of teaching with EPIK is that they provide FREE single furnished housing for all their teachers. Here’s a quick run-through of the EPIK housing situation as well as a video tour of my apartment in Seoul.
Description
Housing provided are generally studio-type apartments. Size depends on location but usually the bigger the city the smaller the apartments.
I had a loft-style apartment with a large window. It came with a heating and air conditioning unit. It had ondol (floor heating) which was my favorite amenity.
My bathroom was a wet room (no separate section for showering just a shower head on the wall) which is common in Korea.
Location
Provided housing are usually located in close proximity to your school.
My apartment was located in Junggye-dong which is on the northeastern side of Seoul. It was about a 15-minute walk to my school.
It was in a busy area packed with hagwons conveniently situated near eateries, supermarkets, banks, shops, convivence stores, and more.
It was also located near subway Line 4 so I was able to easily commute to most major neighborhoods in Seoul. Lots of buses stopped on my street as well.
Essentials
It depends on the school but you’re typically provided with the necessities such as furniture (bed, table, chairs, closet) and appliances (gas range, microwave, refrigerator, TV, washing machine).
In addition to the standard essentials, I also got a ton of other items including toiletries, dinnerware, a vacuum, a rice cooker, and much more.
Utilities
Although your apartment is indeed rent-free, utilities are not included. This means you will have to cover gas, electricity, and water. Internet is also not included.
Good news is that utility bills are usually not that high especially compared to Western countries.
Security Deposit
There is a security deposit of 500,000 KRW but you get it back at the end of your contract as long as your place is in good condition.
Optional Rent Subsidy
If you decide to choose your own housing then a rent subsidy of 500,000 KRW per month will be given.
Schools will not supply furniture nor key money.
EPIK Apartment Tour Video
Overview
I was extremely pleased with my EPIK apartment. My biggest fear was getting stuck in a tiny shoe box so I was fortunate especially for someone placed in Seoul. My apartment pretty much came with everything I needed so I didn’t have to buy much. I was in a great location. My landlord was friendly and helpful whenever maintenance was required.
My housing situation was unique because in most cases the new teacher would take over the previous teacher’s apartment. That usually entailed a lot of cleaning. But since the former teacher at my school had his own place (not provided by employer) I ended up with a brand-new apartment.
I taught English abroad in Seoul for 2 years from March 2016- February 2018 and had a magnificent time!
For additional content on EPIK, check out my overview of orientation, the list of questions from my EPIK interview, and my breakdown of the EPIK application process.
Read about how I came to the decision to drop everything in America and move halfway across the world to Korea.
*Stay up to date with the latest information found on EPIK’s official website
What do you think of my apartment? Is it bigger or smaller than you envisioned? Let me know in the comments!
