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Korean Horizons

Why choose Korean Horizons?

Korean Horizons is an official provider of teachers for EPIK (English Program in Korea), SMOE (Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education), IMOE (Incheon Metropolitan Office of Education), BMOE (Busan Metropolitan Office of Education) GEPIK (Gyeongido Office of Education), GOE (Gyeongsangnamdo Office of Education) & the CNOE (Chungcheongnamdo Office of Education.) We provide government public schools for the peak seasons of March & September and also we provide government public schools for the off season periods as well. We have public school positions throughout the entire year.

We work with more education offices than any other recruitment company out there today.

Founded
2004

Reviews

Marcia Reolebogile Ntsie Profile Picture
Marcia Reolebogile
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Thank you for making this dream possible for me.

Alistair has been absolutely wonderful. The support has been out of this world. Moving abroad and taking this journey without your family and friends can feel lonely and overwhelming at times, but Alistair made sure I never felt alone throughout the process.

He constantly encouraged me to finish my application and submit my documents, and he even checked up on me when he felt I was falling behind or feeling discouraged. That level of care and support truly meant so much to me.

All I can say is wow. I’m incredibly grateful for all the guidance, patience, and encouragement. Thank you for helping make this dream possible.

What was the most unfamiliar thing you ate?
Hahaha an Octopus!
Matilda
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

I love it.

From when I submitted my application to the interview stage to me now being in Korea. Korean Horizons have been with me every step of the way and pushing me and encouraging me to be someone who is always on top of things. They help you prepare well and give solid advice and my favorite part about them is their swift response an if there will be any response delays which I doubt there was they will let you know. Their service is so personalized it feels like I'm the only one they are communicating with.

What was the most surprising thing you saw or did?
When we got to orientation and everyone was doing their best to take care of us and accommodate peoples specific needs and also the people who came to join to 10/10 experience would 100% do it again.
Pros
  • Great cultural experience
  • Good support system
Bongiwe
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Great work environment

I truly appreciate Mr Alistair’s help throughout my application process. I managed to get the job, and everything is just so perfect! I work in two schools, amazing Co teachers, and amazing students! I love it here! I am definitely not planning on leaving anytime soon! I feel so comfortable, and this dream became a reality because of Korean Horizon! It is a great agency and you will never regret applying with this agency! They helped me a lot and they are still helping even though I’m already working in South Korea!

PONATSHEGO
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Make that move, it is never too late to start anew

I would definitely recommend this move to anyone, leave your age behind. The application process was well supported by Alistair, with each step clearly explained, and all uncertainties answered. His dedication to finding only the best educators is well reflected and the professional ethics speak volumes.

The benefits offered by the EPIK program are top tier, relieving the worry of unemployment and financial instability behind. The bonus being that you are receiving all these benefits while in a new country, with new people, and a new culture.

What was your funniest moment?
I get lost almost every time I use the subway in Korea, only to wake up and use it one more time. At the rate I am going at, it is not getting any better, but I look forward to it every single time.
Pros
  • Convenience
  • Safety
  • Ice cream gallore
Cons
  • Air pollution
  • Poor drainage systems
  • Be ready to be stared at all the time, it becomes uncomfortable. but try your best to embrace every moment.
Thobeka
5/5
Yes, I recommend this program

Excellent service

If you wish to teach in South Korea, I highly recommend using the Korean Horizon agency. They are professional and provide continuous support and guidance throughout the entire process. From start of my Epik application to my final placement, Korean Horizon was there every step of the way. I also recently used their Gmart services, provided by Alistair, and was impressed by how efficient it was. My package was delivered to my apartment within just 3 days! Great experience with Alistair and he made the whole process less stressful. He was great, insightful, patient and professional and took time to answer any question I had. Thanks for the great service.

Programs

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Alumni Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with verified alumni.

Why did you choose this program?

I did not exactly choose this program. My TESOL/TESL/TEFL certification was through Oxford Seminars. Oxford Seminars offers graduate placement which lead to my contact with Korean Horizons. Korean Horizons services, prompt responses, and interests in me is what lead me to choose the EPIK program.

What did your program provider assist you with, and what did you have to organize on your own?

Korean Horizons provided me with all the information necessary to start teaching abroad. They emailed me the required paperwork in addition to advice on how to fill out the forms. This kind of help was invaluable for someone that had never left the country before. Moreover, Korean Horizons offered mock interviews and key feedback to prepare me for the interview process. That being said, there is plenty of leg work on the applicant end such as getting necessary paperwork notarized and having it apostille in a timely manner.

What is one piece of advice you'd give to someone going on your program?

The transition from a biweekly paycheck to a monthly salary was a new experience. So, be prepared to budget accordingly!

What does an average day/week look like as a participant of this program?

The workday is 8:20-16:20 Monday-Friday in addition to teaching a night class once a week at the local high school for 2 hours.

Note: The high school night class is not a typical requirement of EPIK teachers. I was offered the additional hours and accepted them.

Going into your experience abroad, what was your biggest fear, and how did you overcome it and/or how did your views on the issue change?

My biggest fear was teaching. I had no prior experience and was very concerned about my ability. Fortunately, I reflect on every class and constantly look for ways to improve. Moreover, if something does not work I change it and if something does work I make sure to take note of why it was successful.

What's the most important thing you need to remember when living abroad?

You have to be willing to laugh at yourself and not dwell on mistakes. You are going to fail a lot and that is okay. There's no way to improve without making a mistake. Be prepared to learn and grow with your experiences and remember why you came in the first place.

Staff Interviews

These are in-depth Q&A sessions with program leaders.

Alistair Wery

Alistair Wery is an English native recruitment agent living in South Korea. He represents Korean Horizons, a company, which is ranked highly. His advice has assisted many in finding teaching positions and he has received glowing reviews from the ESL community (which can be viewed on various ESL forums, blogs, social media websites, and throughout the Internet).
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What position do you hold at Korean Horizons? What has been your career path so far?

Alistair: I’m the consultant here at Korean Horizons and I’ve been working for the company for around 8 years now. I manage all of the incoming applications from new teachers, assist them during the application process, and provide support for all of those teachers currently living and teaching here in South Korea.

I love my job – speaking and meeting to people from all over the world – and it’s so fulfilling! Living here in South Korea, I feel set to remain here and I enjoy my career working for Korean Horizons, helping people achieve their professional teaching goals. Life is good.

Did YOU teach abroad?! If so, where and what inspired you to go?

Alistair: So, I had to get away from my boring job in England. I was in finance and I had enough of the regular boring, day-in-day-out life as an office worker. I needed excitement, so I started traveling and I made some Korean friends who suggested teaching in South Korea - that was it for me!

Before I worked for Korean Horizons, I worked for a private academy and a public school. My private academy was just awful – they didn’t honor the contract (i.e. didn’t pay me, no vacation, no medical) and made my life hell (I wanted honesty.) It seems that a lot of recruitment companies, who recruit for private academies, just care about making money. For my second job, I worked in a public school – it was bliss – and I got everything in my contract (so I was very happy). Though, with my background, teaching wasn’t for me and I began working for Korean Horizons!

What does the future hold for Korean Horizons - any exciting new programs to share?

Alistair: A lot! Have a search online and you will discover that Korean Horizons is probably the most recognizable recruitment company for public schools today, period. There is no other recruitment company that provides public schools to EPIK (nationwide public school program), SMOE (Seoul public school program), IMOE (Incheon public school program), GEPIK (Gyeongi public school program), and GOE (Gyeongsangnamdo public school program). We specialize in public schools and provide no other type of positions. As for the future, quite simply, we are just looking to remain where we are and continue to provide a professional and personalized recruitment service.

What about the future of the teach abroad industry? How do you think international education will change over the next 10 years?

Alistair: The industry is like a business cycle – jumping up and down all of the time. South Korea knows that English education is now a natural requirement for its educated labor force, thus, things will always be on the up!