Social Integration Program Level Placement Guide: Which KIIP Level Should You Start From
When you first start looking into the Korea Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP, 사회통합프로그램), the question you get stuck on is "Which level do I start from?" This article shows the entire KIIP structure at a glance, how levels are assigned, and how to decide whether to work up step by step from Level 0 or skip ahead with the pre-evaluation. Details such as the evaluation you take at each level and the completion benefits are covered in the other articles in this series.
The whole KIIP structure at a glance
The Social Integration Program consists of the Korean-language course (Levels 0–4) and the Understanding Korean Society course (Level 5). The type of evaluation you take when finishing each level also differs by level.
| Level | Course name | Required hours | Evaluation after the level |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level 0 | Basics of Korean Language and Culture | 15 hours | None |
| Level 1 | Beginner 1 | 100 hours | Level 1 evaluation |
| Level 2 | Beginner 2 | 100 hours | Level 2 evaluation |
| Level 3 | Intermediate 1 | 100 hours | Level 3 evaluation |
| Level 4 | Intermediate 2 | 100 hours | Mid-level evaluation (KIIP-KLCT) |
| Level 5 Basic | Understanding Korean Society (Basic) | 70 hours | Permanent-residency comprehensive evaluation |
| Level 5 Advanced | Understanding Korean Society (Advanced) | 30 hours | Naturalization comprehensive evaluation |
If you complete everything from Level 0 to Level 5 Advanced, the study time comes to 515 hours in total. Level 5 Advanced (for naturalization) can be taken once you finish the basic course. If you are aiming for permanent residency, you complete up to Level 5 Basic; if you are aiming for naturalization, you go on through the Advanced course.
There are three routes for level placement
There are broadly three ways to decide which level to start your education from.
- Start right from Level 0: Apply for Level 0 placement, the most basic, without a test. This suits those learning Korean for the first time.
- Placement by pre-evaluation score: Take the pre-evaluation and be placed into the level that matches your score. If you already have some command of Korean, you can start from a higher level.
- Linked placement: There is also a placement route tied to tests such as the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK). This route places you using another qualification, without taking the pre-evaluation.
Both application and placement are handled online at the Social Integration Information Network. Detailed guidance on the pre-evaluation is covered in the Complete Pre-evaluation Guide article.
Level placement by pre-evaluation score
When you take the pre-evaluation, your level is determined as shown below based on the total score combining the written and oral tests.
| Total score | Assigned level |
|---|---|
| 0–2 points | Level 0 (Basics of Korean Language and Culture) |
| 3–20 points | Level 1 (Beginner 1) |
| 21–40 points | Level 2 (Beginner 2) |
| 41–60 points | Level 3 (Intermediate 1) |
| 61–80 points | Level 4 (Intermediate 2) |
| 81–100 points | Level 5 (Understanding Korean Society) |
Placement always goes by the total score from the written and oral tests combined. The higher your score, the higher the level you start at, which cuts the hours and cost you need to finish.
Start from Level 0, or take the pre-evaluation
Which is better depends on your current Korean-language ability.
- If you have barely started Korean, start from Level 0: If reading Hangul is still hard or basic conversation is not there yet, even the pre-evaluation is likely to place you at Level 0–1. In that case, rather than spending the pre-evaluation fee and time, applying for Level 0 placement and working through in order is the lighter path.
- If your Korean is already at a decent level, take the pre-evaluation: If you can already handle beginner- or intermediate-level Korean, the pre-evaluation can place you straight into Levels 2–4 and skip the earlier levels. That saves you hours and tuition, so if you have the ability, the pre-evaluation is the way to save time.
There is no single right answer. Based on your own ability, choose whether to go slowly without a test or skip ahead with the pre-evaluation.
With 85 points or more, you can go straight to the comprehensive evaluation
If you score 85 points or more on the pre-evaluation, there is a special case. Even without having completed the Level 5 basic course (70 hours), you can take the permanent-residency comprehensive evaluation right away. However, this only applies within 2 years from the date you scored 85 points or more. Once this period passes, this route is no longer available.
For those preparing for permanent residency who already have sufficient Korean-language ability, this can be a shortcut to challenge the comprehensive evaluation directly without going through the education courses.
The evaluation you take at each level
The evaluation you take differs each time you finish a level. Knowing in advance which evaluations lie ahead of you depending on your starting point makes it easier to prepare.
- Placement test before you start — Complete Pre-evaluation Guide: the test that decides your starting level.
- End of Levels 1·2·3 — Level Evaluation Guide: the evaluation you take when you finish each level's education.
- End of Level 4 — Mid-level Evaluation (KIIP-KLCT) Guide: the evaluation for moving up to Level 5.
- End of Level 5 — Comprehensive Evaluation (Permanent Residency / Naturalization) Guide: the final evaluation needed for permanent residency and naturalization.
The benefits upon completion and the tuition by level are covered in detail in the KIIP Completion Benefits and Costs article.
How to apply and the cost
Applications are made online only at the Social Integration Information Network (socinet.go.kr). You just sign up, log in, and apply for level placement. If you apply for the pre-evaluation, you are automatically connected to the dedicated evaluation website, kiiptest.org.
Tuition became paid starting in 2025. Level 0 is free, Levels 1–4 are KRW 100,000 each, and Level 5 is KRW 70,000 for the basic course and KRW 30,000 for the advanced course. The evaluation test fee is KRW 38,000 per session regardless of type. Some people, such as persons of national merit and basic living-security recipients, can have their tuition waived or reduced. The costs are organized in the KIIP Completion Benefits and Costs article.
Key summary
| Item | Content |
|---|---|
| Overall structure | Korean-language Levels 0–4 + Level 5 Understanding Korean Society, 515 hours total |
| Placement routes | Direct to Level 0 / pre-evaluation score / linkage such as TOPIK |
| Pre-evaluation placement | Total score 0–2 / 3–20 / 21–40 / 41–60 / 61–80 / 81–100 points |
| Choice criteria | Korean beginners at Level 0; those with ability skip levels via the pre-evaluation |
| Special case | With a pre-evaluation score of 85 points or more, direct entry to the permanent-residency comprehensive evaluation within 2 years |
| Application | socinet.go.kr online only; tuition paid starting in 2025 |
Set your starting level to match your current ability. If you are a beginner, start from Level 0; if you are comfortable with Korean, skipping ahead with the pre-evaluation is the way to save time and cost.
If you would like to learn the vocabulary that frequently appears on KIIP tests just 5 minutes a day, take a look at the KIIP Study app.
This article is a guide meant to aid understanding and is not official information. Regulations may change, so check the latest details on the Social Integration Information Network (socinet.go.kr) and the evaluation website (kiiptest.org). (Written as of July 2026)