The KIIP comprehensive test: a practical guide

Last reviewed October 2026. Rules change – always confirm with the official notice on kiiptest.org or socinet.go.kr, or call 1345.

1. What the test is

The Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP, 사회통합프로그램) is run by the Ministry of Justice. It teaches Korean language (levels 0–4) and Korean society (level 5). The comprehensive test (종합평가) comes at the end. There are two versions: one for permanent residency (영주용) and one for naturalization (귀화용). Passing it can count toward those applications; exactly which requirement it replaces depends on your status and the current rules.

2. Who can take it

According to current guides, you can sit the comprehensive test if you have completed Level 5 of the program, or if you scored high enough on the pre-evaluation (사전평가) to be exempt from the course. Registration is online, and the fee has been ₩38,000 per attempt. Check the current eligibility and fee before you register.

3. Format and scoring

Third-party guides report this split; question counts and times have varied slightly between sources and years.

What this means: the oral interview is worth a quarter of your score. Many candidates prepare only for the multiple-choice part and lose easy points in the interview. If you get 70% of the multiple-choice questions right (about 45 points), you still need about 15 of the remaining 35 points from writing and the interview.

4. What is asked

The test is in Korean, but it is not only a language test. Expect questions about:

• Politics – the President (one 5-year term), the National Assembly (4-year terms), the courts, the Constitutional Court, elections and local government.
• Law – alien registration, labour rights (40-hour week, severance pay, paid leave), drunk driving, marriage registration, age of adulthood.
• History – Gojoseon, the Three Kingdoms, Goryeo, Joseon and King Sejong, the March 1st Movement, liberation in 1945, the Korean War and democratisation.
• Economy – the four social insurances, the minimum wage, banking, taxes, jeonse and wolse housing.
• Society – schools, public services, emergency numbers (112, 119, 1345), waste separation.
• Culture – Seollal and Chuseok, national days, the flag, etiquette, UNESCO heritage.
• Geography – regions, climate, major cities, mountains, rivers and coasts.

See the key facts summary for the most-asked facts in one page.

5. A 4-week study plan

1. Week 1 – find your gaps. Take the free diagnostic. Read the key facts for your two weakest topics.
2. Week 2 – topic drills. One topic a day. Keep English help on at first, then switch it off.
3. Week 3 – speaking and writing. Answer one interview question aloud each day and record yourself. Write one 200-character answer in the written -다 style.
4. Week 4 – mock tests. Two timed mock tests, plus daily review of the questions you got wrong.

6. On the day

• Bring your alien registration card or passport and your registration details.
• In the written test, answer every multiple-choice question – an empty answer is always wrong.
• In the interview, answer in full, polite sentences (-습니다/-요). Short answers like "네" lose points. A simple structure works: answer → reason → example.