EPIK 2023 | Cost Of Living In South Korea | USA, UK, South Africa Comparison | English Teacher Pay

Hey Gorgeous Girlies🌻
In this video I break down the expenses of living in South Korea and converting currency from South Africa, USA and UK. I talk about how much I get paid being an English Teacher over here and give you an honest view about whether or not I find living in South Korea affordable.
Part 1
How Much I Get Paid - 1:47
Deductions - 3:59
Part 2
Living Costs - 7:17
Food Costs - 7:46
Alcohol - 8:51
Transport - 10:16
Accommodation - 12:13
Clothes - 13:14
Eating Out - 13:48
Things I Find Expensive - 14:37
Cheap Things To Do - 17:00
Closing Remarks - 18:49
For those of you that are new here:
Hello! My name is Alex and I'm currently an English Teacher at 2 elementary schools in Daegu, South Korea, as part of EPIK. I'm originally from Manchester, UK, and have made this channel to capture my life in South Korea and provide insight in to the EPIK process!
As always, if you have any question regarding life in South Korea, EPIK, or even myself - don't hesitate to ask me a question on Instagram or via email.
Instagram: itsalexmark
Email: [e-mail]
If you’d like to donate a coffee: ko-fi.com/itsa...
Thanks for watching!
Have a fantastic day :)

[@nebraskaaysen]

I love you included the South African Rand and seeing fellow Saffas watching your videos! Have my interview coming up and I've beenbrewatching your content!

[@itsalexmark]

Ahhh thank you! Best of luck with your interview - you'll have to keep me updated with how it goes :)

[@georgiataylor4467]

Great video! Well put together and very informative. Thank you :)

[@pinless_grenade]

This was so helpful. I hope I get a rural placement. Your channel has made me fall in love with the Korean countryside.

[@itsalexmark]

Hey! I'm glad that the video was useful! Fingers crossed that you get a rural placement as it really is the best of both worlds :)

[@StillStillness]

THANK YOU SO MUCH, IM FROM SA AND THIS IS SO HELPFUL 😭😭😭♥️♥️♥️

[@itsalexmark]

I'm so glad that you found this useful :) Have a great week!

[@nompilosibiya8373]

Thank you Soooo much Alex😍🔥loved this. Im looking forward to that karaoke things😅

[@itsalexmark]

I'm glad you enjoyed the video :) The karaoke places are by far the best things about Korea (in my opinion) haha!

[@MegaSanelisiwe]

Great informative video ❤ your videos have been so great for me especially as someone who is coming there soon 😉. Thanks for being so open and honest so consistently with all your content 🥰

[@itsalexmark]

Ahh I'm so glad that you found the videos useful! Best of luck with your journey to South Korea and if you have any more questions don't hesitate to ask :)

[@maddymuffins]

omg i’m abt to work in korea with travel bud and these videos are so helpful!!

[@itsalexmark]

Ahhhhh exciting times!! I'm glad you found these videos helpful :) Best of luck with your move to Korea!

[@user-rk4bd1er1h]

I’m from Boston, USA and I love your channel!! Planning on applying to EPIK (and maybe Jet ahh idk!) after I finish my Master’s in Education next year!!

[@itsalexmark]

Ahhh I'm so glad you stumbled across my channel and that you have found my channel useful! Best of luck with your EPIK journey :D

[@polasglobe]

Super useful video as always, darling 😃 The bill increase in the UK has been horrendous... thankfully I'm moving in with my sister at the end of November to prep for Korea in Feb so I'll be able to save some more money, cause these prices for a single person in a flat are just not it. Looking at the numbers you kindly shared with us, I know that even if I do get rural placement in the end, there's so many benefits to it - I'll be happy whatever I get! I also just saw your insta story about the parade - hope you didn't have to pay much? Absolutely disgusting that the city did not give permission for you guys to march! Proud of everyone that did it anyway 🏳‍🌈

[@itsalexmark]

Hey again Pola! I can't even fathom the cost of living over in the UK. It seems absolutely crazy and I know a lot of my friend who have had to move back home/in with friends as it's simply too expensive. And a rural placement is so great! It really is the best of both worlds! And Daegu Pride - it was an incredible experience!! Something I'll definitely not forget any time soon.

[@op8812]

Thank you so much this was so useful. I just passed my interview and I am now trying to get all my documents ready :)

[@itsalexmark]

Yay! I'm so happy that it was useful and that you managed to pass your interview - you go girlie!! Best of luck with getting your documents together and before you know it you will be in Korea in no time!

[@thaliadayal7980]

How long did it take for you to hear back from them after the interview and did you have to do a demo lesson during your interview

[@timonegovender4351]

@@thaliadayal7980 hey hope you don't mind me responding but I recently interviewed and they took about a week to respond and yes I had to do a short demo lesson. Good luck

[@sadiyahhoughton6254]

😂The alcohol part had me dying. You’re adorable.

[@itsalexmark]

Haha thank you so much! Have a great day😃

[@georgiataylor4467]

What would you say you spend on an average month? What do you manage to save? Thanks x

[@TerryFreak389]

Believe you me I stayed in Cambodia and it is super humid so you have your a/c the entire time and your electricity bill is super high because of that…😭

[@itsalexmark]

Yikes! Humidity really is the worst of the worst when it comes to weather isn't it! I hope you have a great day :)

[@Ampy8384]

Hearing you say that one bottle of soju has you sorted for the night made me feel like an alcoholic 😂 I have been in Korea for 13 years and one bottle of soju doesn’t even give me a buzz anymore

[@itsalexmark]

Oh wow! Haha! A bottle of soju works wonders for me😀

[@sho8631]

Korea's living costs were going up before the recent round of global inflation. Past generations of English teachers made over 3 million won per month when years of inflation are factored in. The pay due to years of inflation have been cut. China is paying nearly double nowadays. New teachers are ripped off.

[@mariya1207]

how was it teaching as a UK teacher? i've heard many brits have it a bit harder than americans because of pronunciation and spelling (sometimes vocabulary) and they tend to get "corrected" what is your experience?

[@itsalexmark]

Hey! Sorry about the slow reply. Teaching as a native English teacher from the UK was perfectly fine as long as you're willing to adapt to teaching American English and understanding grammar and spelling. It's also nice for the students to hear a different accent rather than American and they gain a different world view which is, in my opinion, really beneficial!

[@TheJumperReject]

Hi Alex, Great video. Love from South Africa. Quick question, can you get UK size 46 clothes in South Korea? I ask cause I'm hoping to get in for Fall 23 and I was wondering if I must buy all my clothes here or if I have flexibility in SK.

[@itsalexmark]

Hey! I'm glad you enjoyed the video! In terms of clothing sizes, you can get most clothes sizes over here in Korea however bare in mind that the average body size in Korea is a lot smaller than European sizes so it may be more difficult to find (although not impossible!). Best of luck with your journey to Korea!

[@genesisalexsandra9361]

Can we see the atmosphere outside of where you live and your day to day on route?

[@JaneSLee]

Could you please share details about the phone contract? I am going to Korea with EPIK in the spring and am so confused what to do with my phone! Thank you

[@itsalexmark]

Hey Jane! I hope you're doing well - how exciting that you're moving to Korea in the spring! So with your phone contract, you can't actually get a Korean phone number until you have your ARC (Alien Registration Card) which you get about after a month of arriving in Korea. Your co-teacher will more likely than not help you with your phone contract, help get it set up, and if they're very kind actually take you to the shop and help sort things out together. There are lots of different contracts you can choose from so you have lots of options. For the first month however, I would recommend ordering a Korean sim before you arrive to Korea, such as through Trazy, as you can get them delivered to your current home address and just as you get to Korea you can use this sim card. They're only meant for short term use so for the first month they're perfect :) Anymore questions just let me know. Best of luck with your journey to Korea! :D

[@JaneSLee]

Omg thank you so much!!

[@Liz_beth415]

Hey Alex does your school help you deduct your tax before you receive your pay.With regards to your bank account was it difficult to open it

[@itsalexmark]

Hey Elizabeth! So for tax reductions, your school will automatically take these out of your pay every month. And with your bank account, you co-teacher should take you to the bank after you've received your ARC card which is within the first month of arriving in Korea. They'll help you with everything! Best of luck with your journey to Korea! :)