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.
Students with perfect attendance for the level, or those who receive an instructor recommendation. Ask your teacher about this before the level ends.
Since March 2022, KIIP tests are available in two formats: computer-based (CBT) and paper-based (PBT). This applies to all three test types: the placement test (사전평가), mid-term evaluations, and the comprehensive test (종합평가).
Available on weekdays at select testing centers. Faster results. Limited seats, so register early.
Available on weekends in all 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. The 2026 schedule follows the same structure as previous years, with placement tests (사전평가) offered monthly and comprehensive tests (종합평가) offered twice monthly.
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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