Korean Immigration and Integration Program

The Ministry of Justice, which oversees Korean Immigration, has set up their own offline and sometimes online class series called the Korean Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP, 사회통합정보망, 社會統合情報網, sahoe tongham jeongbomang -or- 사회통합프로그램, 社會統合프로그램, sahoe tongham peurogeuraem). Please note that the main KIIP website and the KIIP test signup website (level test, finals) are separate websites but use the same ID and password.

Funded by taxpayers, the program is nearly entirely free as only the textbooks cost money at 6,000 won to 16,000 won per book. The book and workbork series were completely redone for 2021 classes, so keep an eye out for study guides that were made after the change. If you visit the Center for Teaching and Learning Korean you can view the current textbooks after doing a search for "사회통합프로그램" with the exception for Level 5 at time of this writing. The KIIP program was created by Immigration after they saw issues occurring with interracial married couples and decided to create free Korean culture classes to bridge the divide. During these initial classes they then learned that language was also a common issue between many of these married couples. The program was then changed from a cultural program to a language program heavily focused on culture. This is the reason the name of the program does not sound like a language program as the name did not change. As their target group are international women who have married Korean men, many students are married and sometimes childcare is provided. Classes are primarily offered during workhours but some weekend options also exist. Immigration makes contracts with universities and other education centers, including multicultural family centers, so everywhere from cities to rural locations are covered.

Their website is difficult to navigate and only some sections are translated, but after registering on the website, applicants take a level test for placement (사전평가, 事前評價, sajeon pyeongga) which is offered around 10 times a year. The website Korean TOPIK has step-by-step guides for how to register for the KIIP website and also how to sign up for Level 0 or for a KIIP test. Key to Korean also has a good overview in PowerPoint format on how to join the KIIP site and how to register for classes.

Level 0 (0단계 or 초급) is a 15-hour beginner class designed to give a basic reading and writing foundation. Levels 1 and 2 (1, 2 단계 or 초급1, 2) are beginner, 3 and 4 are intermediate (3, 4단계 or 중급1, 2), and all are 100 hours each. Level 5 (5단계 or 한국사회의 이해) is the highest level, contains no new grammar, focuses on conversation and debate on given topics, is offered in a 70-hour version (helps with F-2-7 or F-5 visas) with an optional additional 30-hour class (helps with changing citizenship). Formerly level 5 and the additional class were 50 hours and 20 hours, respectively, prior to August 2021.

The Ministry has uploaded 50 videos to YouTube pertaining to the final level. The website KIIP Grammar has a number of resources for individual levels, including grammar guides and samples exams. At the end of 2020, the website Raw Korean was launched as the replacement for KIIP Grammar.

In additional to the language acquisition, going through some or all of the program can also assist in obtaining points for the F-2-7 points-based visa and make applicants exempt from proving Korean language competency for a naturalization process or for changing from certain visas to other visa types.

Keep in mind who this program was created for; international people living in Korea who are completely immersed in Korean society and language. Translation: if you don't use much Korean in your workplace and don't use it a lot after work in your spare time, you'll find the class going at a fast speed. In order to keep on top of everything being taught in the class, you may need to study the textbook ahead of time, both vocab and grammar, and then ask questions in the class. There is not enough class time for you to look up all the new words. If you are concerned about looking up grammar by yourself, it isn't that hard once you get the hang of it. Do an internet search by typing the grammar form and visit a site or two to get a good idea of what the form means and how it is used. Using this method will lead to you finding a website or two that you like and can visit for further self-study if you are so inclined.

Attendance is taken, and a minimum number of hours are required to take the final exam. The required number of hours, as well as some other details of the program, change on occasion. The names of the exams can also be a bit confusing. For levels 1 to 4, they have an exam called 중간평가 (中間評價, junggan pyeongga) which is offered around four times a year. While this directly translates as "midterm evaluation", is it not a midterm but is in fact the final exam for those levels. Level 5's exam is called 종합평가 (綜合評價, jongham pyeongga) which is normally translated as "final exam" or "comprehensive exam". This exam is held around 10 times a year.

During the exam, some students make a mistake with the answer sheet which therefore fails them and they need to take the class again. Officials have been so concerned about this that the test proctors take a lot of time checking the answer sheets, called OMR card, and answering questions pertaining to those answer sheets before and sometimes during the exam. However, they do all the explaining in Korean and only in Korean. As test takers are often nervous right before an exam, this explanation only in Korean can create confusion which only adds to their stress. Therefore, they have uploaded a three-minute video to that same YouTube account detailing exactly what information goes where on the answer sheet. They made this video in Korean, English, Vietnamese, Cambodian, Mongolian, and Chinese. Save yourself a lot of grief and watch the video simply so you can be more focused for the exam.

When classes are offered there is usually one online class open to the entire country, so you need to apply around midnight when class registration begins as it fills very quickly. The purpose of this online class is to help some of the mothers who are unable to visit an offline class as they are taking care of a child so young that transportation is no longer an option. If you do not have a young child or are not currently pregnant (and you may need to visit a local government office for paperwork proving you are pregnant), they may kick you out of the class before it begins to allow those with mobility issues to be able to attend. Students in these online classes are still expected to have the textbook, which can be purchased online from several websites, and also have a mic, a headset, and a computer with decent enough internet speed and CPU power to do video classes. If you have a mic and separate headset, the teacher may ask you to get a combo headset with mic, which is a small price to pay for these classes.

Chances are you'll have questions during the program relating to your class or the program as a whole. Sometimes students make a dedicated Kakao Talk group chat so everyone can know announcements or changes or to answer that occasional question. If your class doesn't set that up, or if you simply want to connect with other people taking the program, it is very useful to find an online group with others in the same program. There are two Facebook groups you might consider joining; Korean Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP) and KIIP Korean Program Unofficial Support Group. Both of these are very active with over 4,500 and 2,500 members, respectively, and have very up-to-date information. Both are a closed groups so you'll need to apply and get permission to join. These seem to currently be the biggest English-based online community for KIIP students.

If you need help studying vocabulary the website and app Memrise has user-created digital flashcards and multiple users have created their own custom flashcards for various KIIP classes. The quality and breadth of each set depends on the creater.