What changed for the Korea Immigration & Integration Program (사회통합프로그램). New tuition fees, test formats, and updated schedules.
Starting January 1, 2025, KIIP classes are no longer free. The Ministry of Justice introduced tuition fees for all levels. The fees cover about 20% of the actual program cost. The government still subsidizes the rest.
The amounts are small, and Level 0 (basic Hangul) is still completely free.
| Level | Hours | Tuition | Per hour |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 0 · Basic Korean | 15h | Free | - |
| Level 1 · Beginner 1 | 100h | ₩100,000 | ₩1,000 |
| Level 2 · Beginner 2 | 100h | ₩100,000 | ₩1,000 |
| Level 3 · Intermediate 1 | 100h | ₩100,000 | ₩1,000 |
| Level 4 · Intermediate 2 | 100h | ₩100,000 | ₩1,000 |
| Level 5 Basic · Permanent Residency | 70h | ₩70,000 | ₩1,000 |
| Level 5 Advanced · Naturalization | 30h | ₩30,000 | ₩1,000 |
When do you pay? Fees are paid after completing each level, before you can register for the level assessment. You pay through socinet.go.kr (My Page → Status → Payment) via credit card or bank transfer.
Not everyone pays the full amount. The Ministry of Justice offers both full exemptions and 50% discounts for eligible students.
Recipients of basic living subsidies (기초생활수급자), individuals with severe disabilities, and minors on specific visa categories. For the full eligibility list, see the official gazette (고시 제2024-434호, 2024.9.30.) or the announcements board on socinet.go.kr.
Students with perfect attendance for the level, or those who receive an instructor recommendation. Ask your teacher about this before the level ends.
KIIP tests exist in two formats: computer-based (CBT) and paper-based (PBT). The official 2026 nationwide evaluation calendar runs on PBT, held on weekends in regions across Korea. CBT sessions at the dedicated centers run separately in smaller batches — check kiiptest.org for current CBT availability before counting on it.
Offered at three dedicated CBT centers (session details change — verify on kiiptest.org):
Mid-term evaluations (중간평가) are available on select weekdays. Naturalization comprehensive test (귀화용 종합평가) runs Thursdays only. Seats are limited and fill within minutes of registration opening. Check kiiptest.org for the current batch schedule.
The format used for the 2026 nationwide evaluation calendar. Held on weekends in regions across Korea. More seats available. Same test content as CBT.
Tip: Test registration opens at 9:00 AM on the registration day and slots fill up within minutes, especially for CBT. Set an alarm. Have your Socinet login ready. Don't refresh the page mid-registration.
KIIP runs on a semester system, but tests no longer run monthly. The Ministry of Justice published a fixed 2026 evaluation calendar (December 2025): 20 test rounds for the whole year — 8 placement tests (사전평가), 4 mid-term evaluations (중간평가), and 8 comprehensive tests (종합평가). Every test costs ₩38,000 per attempt. Miss an application window and you could wait months, so plan around these dates.
| Test | Application period | Test date |
|---|---|---|
| 사전평가 (placement) | Jul 7 – Jul 11 | Jul 25 |
| 종합평가 (comprehensive) | Aug 4 – Aug 8 | Aug 22 |
| 중간평가 (mid-term) | Aug 18 – Aug 22 | Sep 5 |
| 사전평가 (placement) | Sep 1 – Sep 5 | Sep 19 |
| 종합평가 (comprehensive) | Sep 29 – Oct 3 | Oct 17 |
| 사전평가 (placement) | Oct 13 – Oct 17 | Oct 31 |
| 사전평가 (placement) | Nov 3 – Nov 7 | Nov 21 |
| 종합평가 (comprehensive) | Nov 17 – Nov 21 | Dec 5 |
| 중간평가 (mid-term) | Dec 7 – Dec 9 | Dec 19 |
Remaining 2026 dates as of July 2026. Earlier rounds (January–June) have already passed. Always confirm on kiiptest.org before applying.
Class registration typically opens 1 to 2 weeks after each semester begins. Exact dates and available locations are posted on socinet.go.kr. Check the announcements board regularly.
Stay up to date: Specific test dates change each year and are posted on Socinet. We recommend bookmarking socinet.go.kr and checking it at the start of each month. You can also follow KIIP community groups on Facebook and KakaoTalk for real-time registration alerts.
The program itself is the same. Six levels (0 through 5), same curriculum, same benefits for visa applications. Completing KIIP still lets you skip the naturalization written test. The placement test still determines your starting level. Attendance requirements haven't changed.
The tuition and test format updates are adjustments, not an overhaul. If you were planning to do KIIP, nothing here should change that plan.
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