Stages, hours, who it is for and what it gives you
KIIP (Korea Immigration & Integration Program, 사회통합프로그램) is the Korean Ministry of Justice's FREE Korean language and Korean society course for foreign residents. Only people legally living in Korea with an alien registration card (외국인등록증) can join. Registration is through socinet.go.kr; classes run nationwide at approved centres (운영기관) — universities, multicultural family centres, churches and community organisations.
Stage 0: 15 hours (Hangul and the most basic words).
Stage 1: 100 hours (beginner 1).
Stage 2: 100 hours (beginner 2).
Stage 3: 100 hours (intermediate 1).
Stage 4: 100 hours (intermediate 2) → ends with the 중간평가.
Stage 5: Understanding Korean Society — basic course 70 hours (for the 영주용 종합평가) + advanced course 30 hours (for the 귀화용 종합평가).
Each stage ends with a test; someone who fails repeats that stage (재수료) and then moves on.
There are three routes. (1) From stage 0 — no test, from the very beginning. (2) Through the 사전평가 (placement test) — your score places you in stage 0–5. (3) With a valid TOPIK certificate — no test: TOPIK 1 → stage 2, TOPIK 2 → stage 3, TOPIK 3 → stage 4, TOPIK 4–6 → stage 5. Entering with TOPIK is the most economical route: someone with TOPIK 4 skips all 400 hours of the language stages.
Completing the stage 5 basic course and passing the 영주용 종합평가 fully satisfies the Korean language and Korean society requirement for F-5 permanent residency. Completing the advanced course and passing the 귀화용 종합평가 exempts you from the naturalisation (귀화) test and interview (면접). Completed stages earn extra points on the F-2-7 points visa, when moving from F-6 to F-5, and for visa extensions, and waive certain documents. And above all — a free, structured 500-hour Korean course.