Which TEFL course is best for teaching in South Korea?

What EPIK and hagwons check differently

EPIK, the government-run public-school programme, has published minimum TEFL hour expectations in the past, generally around 100-120 hours from an accredited provider, though the exact figure and how strictly it's enforced has shifted between intakes — always check EPIK's current published requirements rather than an old blog's numbers.

Private hagwons vary more by owner. Some barely check the certificate beyond confirming it exists; others, especially larger well-known chains, want to see a specific hour count and a recognisable accrediting body before extending an offer, because they've had visa paperwork rejected in the past over weak certificates.

120-hour vs Level 5 vs CELTA for South Korea

A 120-hour accredited course satisfies the baseline most hagwons and EPIK list. Level 5 is worth considering if EPIK is your specific target, since public-school placement is competitive and a stronger paper qualification helps you stand out among similarly degree-holding applicants, or if you want access to Seoul's better-paying hagwon chains rather than smaller local ones.

CELTA isn't the norm for either route in Korea and is priced well above what the market expects for a standard E-2 teaching role — it only makes sense if you plan to use it outside Korea afterward.

The online-study question needs its own answer

Whether South Korea accepts online-only TEFL study, and how EPIK specifically treats it versus private hagwons, is detailed enough to warrant its own guide rather than a short summary here — the answer differs by route and has changed over past intakes.