Teach Abroad for 1 Year in South Korea

The EPIK program is honestly such an amazing opportunity. Having housing provided and all government benefits that public employees have is such a wonderful thing to have when making such a big transition to a foreign place. Having the support of a co-teacher as well is a very nice benefit as well!! Most importantly for me though, I just wanted to highlight how amazing and easy it has been working with RVF international!! The staff was so wonderful with helping me with the ENTIRE process from start to finish. I am 100% I would not have been as motivated to continue the application process if it were not for the help of RVF!! I would recommend the EPIK program to anyone, and I would double recommend working with and applying through RVF international!!

In February of 2026 I decided I wanted to apply to teach English in South Korea for a year, and decided I would specifically apply using RVF International to help me. It was a great decision to use them because my advisor, Harrison Fowler, was very prompt in his responses to my questions, very encouraging about my application progress (as it does take some months before you are fully accepted into the program and there lots of steps in the application process), and always proactive about informing me on my application process and the next steps after passing a phase. He also included very specific, informative documents and examples of the application process phases/steps. I would not have been able to apply as easily or confidently without RVF International.

I can not talk more highly of Georgie and recommend her enough. I had the pleasure of having Georgie as my trainer while doing the TEFL course. I can not thank Georgie enough for everything. She is more then just a trainer. She is a mentor a friend and someone who is always there to help. Georgie has an abundance of knowledge, teaching experience and travel experience so I can promise you, you are certainly in the best hands, for completing the TEFL course and having fun at the same time - her teaching technique is something special!! While finding your feet when completing the course, settling into a new country and dealing with different changes Georgie makes it a million times easier for you. As well as her training you to become the best teacher and guiding you along the way she will also encourage you and give you confidence and always there to help in any situation. Georgie will also go above and beyond which makes her stand out from any other trainer. She believed in me when I didn't believe in myself and I am now living my best life on the other side of the world thanks to Georgie.

I have raised all my children my youngest one just finished the University of Nevada Las Vegas with a Criminology major and now will be working on her master's. Now it's my turn to live my life for myself and do what I love to do. It teaches preschool four years olds in Korea. That has been one of my dreams as many others have. Dara Ann Garcia

Approaching this new job at first felt very nerve racking and overwhelming, however I do not regret a single thing! The whole process before moving to Korea was a very smooth transition. I had a lot of help and support from Aubrey, who was very sweet and was always able to help straight away when I had a worry, question or concern! Teaching here now has allowed for me to change my lifestyle for the better. I’ve experienced so many new foods, sites and made loads of life long friends! I used to have a voice in the back of my head that told me to not do it, but I’m glad I decided to not listen to it because moving to Korea to teach is probably one of the best things I’ll have ever done in my entire life!

TravelBud responded to this reviewNovember 22, 2022

Teacher Zoyaa, Thank you kindly for sharing your South Korean Teach Abroad experience thus far! Just over a year ago, you enrolled in our program full of excitement and anticipation for your upcoming journey. It has been an absolute joy to see that excitement grow as your departure date neared and to watch your South Korean adventure come to fruition! I am so glad that you did not listen to the voice in your head telling you not to move forward with this opportunity, and instead challenged yourself to embark on a life-changing experience that will bring you unforgettable adventures, push you to grow in ways you haven't imagined, and provide you with memories to be cherished for a lifetime. Enjoy every moment, Zoyaa! Kind regards, Aubrey

Moving to another country can be daunting regardless of how adventurous you may consider yourself. I have travelled before, however, moving to South Korea to teach felt particularly scary! I am so glad that I chose to use TravelBud to support my move, and I can honestly say I’m not sure I would’ve been able to get here without them! From the first email I sent to enquire about the opportunity the support has been endless. I first contacted Kim regarding my thoughts and feelings about teaching abroad as I hadn’t yet graduated university and it was a tumultuous time given Covid. Kim was a fantastic mentor and guide as she discussed her own experiences with me and helped me to make a decision on where I might want to go. After this she helped me to prepare my documents, and was so understanding of my (often) late responses given that I was completing my degree. I have a tendency to be rather unorganised, however, Kim and Enzo were both incredibly patient and sent me helpful reminders to gather my documents to send off to Korea. One aspect of TravelBud that I found incredibly beneficial for me was that I didn’t have to search for a school that fit my criteria, they did it all for me. They were both so helpful in preparing me for my interviews, and they sent me many examples of questions that I might be asked. I felt so prepared for my interviews and never felt as though I was having to go in blind. It can be incredibly difficult to manoeuvre all of the documents, and interviews, and time-zones, so having somebody that could guide me definitely helped a lot. The most difficult aspect of preparation for my move was the anticipation! I have truly enjoyed my time out here, and I can’t advise the move to go and teach abroad enough. During the week I work with the most amazing children, who have taught me as much as I have taught them. They have such big hearts, and I adore being their teacher. Then I get the wonderful opportunity to travel and experience South Korea on the weekends (which I have taken full advantage of!). From spending days on the beautiful beaches down south in Busan and Yeosu, to traversing the beautiful and dystopian city streets of Seoul, every weekend has been packed with something to do. Perhaps the highlight of my time here so far has been this ability to travel around the country so easily and so comfortably. One of my favourite places has been a small city named Jinju that I stumbled upon whilst finding new places to visit on my weekends. Most recently I attended the lantern festival in Jinju which lined the palace gardens and river with the most beautiful painted lanterns. Despite trying to see somewhere new every weekend, I still feel like I have so much more to discover, and I look forward to each new adventure! With more and more adventures to go on every weekend, and a Christmas trip to Tokyo in the works, I truly cannot stress what an amazing opportunity and experience this has been. I also have to give thanks to TravelBud, Kim, and Enzo for the support that guided and helped me be able to take this massive step and have the best year experiencing all of these amazing things! If you’re even considering the prospects of teaching in South Korea, my advice would absolutely be to do it, and make your life easier, do it with the help of a company like TravelBud!

TravelBud responded to this reviewNovember 04, 2022

Dear Teacher Tierney, Thank you for sharing your experience both pre-departure and currently, whilst you are in-country. I am so thrilled that your students have such a wonderful teacher. From our first call and throughout this experience, you have been kind and open to experiencing all that the journey has to offer, challenges, and all. I will never forget our first call when you went into teacher mode demonstrating how to pronounce your name and that still sticks with me every time I see your name in my inbox:) I have no doubt that your students will continue to teach you new things about the world and yourself, that is part of the joy of being a teacher. We teach and impart knowledge and we learn simultaneously. Oh, Jinju! I can 100% relate to that amazing lantern festival and city. You should check out the Seoul lantern festival too. Jinju was one of my highlights during my time in Korea, ending that experience with the elaborate fireworks at the end of the festival was definitely one of the many moments where you think, ‘wow, is this really my life right now?!' Continue embracing all that this journey has to offer and all the adventure that comes with it. I will always be an email or call away if you ever want to chat. Best regards, Kim

TravelBud was the saving grace to my travels abroad. After getting in contact with them in 2016 after I had completed my degree - they helped me with every little thing that I needed from the very beginning of initial questions right until I was actually in Korea and at my school. They were professional, prompt with responses, and incredibly friendly with every conversation that we shared. I would recommend TravelBud as the company that you choose to help you to get abroad. They made the whole experience stress-free and easy. Truly the best 4 years of my life!

TravelBud responded to this reviewOctober 20, 2022

Jessica- thank you so much for your lovely review. It truly warms my heart that your time in Korea was such a memorable chapter of your life and that TravelBud got to be a part of it. I know (and you know!) how daunting it can be to take the leap, put your faith in a team of people and head overseas- but with reviews like yours, you may just give someone the courage to do the same. I'm so pleased that our team was able to help make your journey a successful one- but I hope you know that YOU and your positive attitude made it the success it was. Warm Regards, Saskia

I'm currently in my second year teaching in South Korea through GOE in the same position Korean Horizons helped me secure. Korean Horizons made everything from the very first steps in the application process, dealing with moving logistics, arriving in South Korea, and settling in very simple and straightforward. Alistair (of Korean Horizons) was very responsive, and went the extra mile to make the transition abroad as smooth as possible. I couldn't have asked for more support and communication than what he provided. If you're considering applying to teach in South Korea, I highly recommend going through Korean Horizons. You won't regret it!

It was not too long ago when I was too reading reviews on different recruiting agencies and now here I am! Choosing Korean Horizons to be apart of my journey to teach English in Korea was the best choice I made! Alistair was there from the beginning of the process to the very end and beyond. He guided me from filling out my application form to applying for my Visa. I cannot thank KH (Alistair) enough for all of his hard work, patience, dedication, commitment and his continued support throughout and beyond the whole process. If I had to somehow do this all over again, I would 1000% choose Korean Horizons. You won't regret it! :)

I am glad I chose to teach abroad with Korean Horizons! I feel comfortable knowing Alistair is there for me. He made the entire process enjoyable. Even during my time in Korea he made sure I was doing okay. The information he gave me made my experience more enjoyable. I am very happy with my time teaching abroad.

Alistair was extremely helpful during my application process with EPIK. I found it especially helpful to be able to practice for my interview with him beforehand. He was able to point out some things to me that I never would have thought about. I think he really helped me strengthen my application. He also made it easy to understand what information needed to be submitted and when and answered all of my questions quickly and clearly. I highly recommend Alistair and Korean Horizons as a recruiter.

There is no day that goes by that I'm not thankful for choosing Korean Horizons (KH) as my agency. If you are unsure on which agency to go with, I am here to tell you to choose KH and assure you that you won't regret that decision. Alistair was professional from the get go and went above and beyond to support us throughout this process. I appreciated his honesty and transparency with regards to the process of my application. I cannot even to begin to imagine how I would have made it into the EPIK program without Korean Horizons. I am here because of their relentless support and will be forever grateful.

But in this case I will gladly. KH or more specifically Alistair, did a great job of preparing me (and from what I've heard from other KH teachers, them as well) and making sure I had everything I needed to teach here in South Korea. Even when we got here he did not stop reaching out and making sure we knew he is around if you have any questions or need any support while you are in another country. I've spoken to other teachers that went through different agencies and they were a little jealous of what he does for us. I 100% would recommend KH to anyone that wanted to teach in South Korea. You will be taken care of that much is sure.

I can truthfully say that Alistair/Korean Horizons really is as great as everyone says. He works with you from the very first to the very last step of the entire process and is available all the time to answer questions or provide guidance. At some point, I was probably annoying with how many questions I was sending him, but he always replied quickly and kindly. The process can be daunting and difficult (and long!), but he makes it seem easy. The reason their success rate is so high is because Alistair really goes out of his way to make sure that you're fully prepared for each step as it comes, so I wasn't nearly as stressed about things like the interview as others were because I felt really prepared going into it. Another cool aspect of working with Korean Horizons is the community that you get to be a part of before you even come to Korea. It was so nice being able to meet a bunch of other teachers like me on social media (facilitated by Alistair) and then to arrive a day early and spend some time with them before we met EPIK and the other incoming teachers, and I felt like I made some really good friends that will stick with me during my time in Korea. I've had such a positive experience overall and I'm really thankful for all of Alistair's help. I really can't recommend Korean Horizons highly enough if you want to come work in South Korea!

When deciding to move to the other side of the world, it can feel nerve-wracking and somewhat overwhelming. But Alistair and Korean Horizons definitely helped to ease the overwhelmingness of everything. He answered all questions that I had and was always available when needed. He also ensured that all the documents that I sent were correct and that I was in the loop about the process, every step of the way. I would definitely recommend Korean Horizons for anyone that is interested in teaching in South Korea.

As the title says, I really cannot recommend Alistair from Korean Horizons enough. He is all you could ask for and more in regards to a recruiter for applying to EPIK. Alistair walks you through every stage of the process from the application to getting to the EPIK orientation. The EPIK process is long, complicated and stressful, but working with Alistair I have never felt like I lacked information, help or support! Honestly, if you are reading or have read these reviews you already know that Alistair is your guy!

I've been looking for a job with Alistair and Korean Horizons since July of 2019 and he has helped me immensely. He truly tries his best and doesn't give up on people, every step of the way he is ready to assist. He gives tips on just about everything from lesson planning to practicing the interview with you. You will for sure feel secure and ready to teach! So far I'm loving my placement in Dalseong-gun Daegu, I feel very comfortable and at home. Thank you Alistair I wouldn't of got here without your help! If you are needing a little extra support I would go with a recruiter and I cannot suggest Korean Horizons enough.

I thought about directly applying for a teaching position, but after going through the process with Korean Horizons, I realize exactly how much we have to accomplish before being considered for hire and even after that! Alistair kept me on track and provided a group that helps answer many questions we may have about the application process. I asked questions all the way up to the orientation date. I sure I would have been either lost or behind if I didn't have help. Now, I am at my school(s) and happy to start at the beginning of the school year!

Working with Alistair from Korean Horizons was hands down the best experience I could have hoped for. From the initial conversation, to the day I left on the bus for the Winter 2020 EPIK orientation, Alistair was there to not only encourage me, but to also put things into a realistic perspective. I found out just how blessed I was when I heard some of the stories from my peers during the orientation. Alistair works tirelessly to support all of his candidates, including myself. He also is very communicative, both one on one and on the Facebook group. If you are looking for someone who will be straightforward, will walk you through the process, work with you on your interview skills and still be there for you even after their mission has been completed, then you need to choose Korean Horizons.

Alistair works tirelessly to provide support and has a meticulous attention to detail. At each step he provides guidance, so you don't feel lost or worried. Unlike other recruiters, the support is not only when you are in your home country but continues throughout your stay. Going through Korean Horizons was also a great way to meet people from the moment you land in South Korea.