Naturalization Written Test in Korea: What Replaced It
Korea's naturalization written test became the KIIP comprehensive evaluation in March 2018. Who sits it, who sits the interview, and who is exempt.
Search for the "naturalization written test" (귀화 필기시험) while preparing to apply and you will find practice books, pass reports, and study plans. The test under that name no longer exists. As of March 1, 2018, the naturalization written test was replaced by the KIIP comprehensive evaluation (종합평가).
So the real answer to "how do I prepare for the written test" lives in the comprehensive evaluation. This article sets out when the change happened, and — by naturalization type — what you sit and what you are exempt from, based on the provisions themselves.
When, and what changed
The basis is an amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act (국적법 시행령). The stated reason for Presidential Decree No. 28255 (promulgated August 29, 2017) was "to replace the naturalization written test with the Social Integration Program comprehensive evaluation, so that foreigners seeking nationality are given a more systematic opportunity to study."
The effective date is not the promulgation date. The proviso to Article 1 of the Addenda made these particular provisions take effect six months after promulgation, which is March 1, 2018. Article 2 of the Addenda provides that anyone who applied before that date stays under the former provisions. Everyone applying now is on the comprehensive evaluation side.
The provision has since moved once more. At the time of the amendment it was Article 4(3) of the Enforcement Decree; a December 2020 amendment made it a standalone article, Article 4-2 (Comprehensive Evaluation for Naturalization Applicants). If an older article cites "Article 4(3)," it is not wrong — it is the old article number.
What you take now
Article 4-2(1) of the Enforcement Decree provides that, to review the naturalization requirements, the Minister of Justice conducts two things for an applicant: the comprehensive evaluation and the interview (면접심사). The comprehensive evaluation took the place of the old written test; the interview was there before and is still there.
| Former system (applied by Feb 28, 2018) | Current (applied from Mar 1, 2018) | |
|---|---|---|
| Knowledge test | Naturalization written test | KIIP naturalization comprehensive evaluation |
| Interview | Interview | Interview |
| Basis | Former Enforcement Decree Article 4 | Enforcement Decree Article 4-2 |
The comprehensive evaluation is the Social Integration Program evaluation defined in Article 48(2)3 of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act. In other words, naturalization screening did not build a separate exam — it uses the evaluation the already-running Social Integration Program had. The naturalization comprehensive evaluation is 45 questions in 70 minutes, out of 100 points, and 60 or more is a pass. Under Article 4-2(3) you must sit it within 1 year of the naturalization application date.
What the interview covers is in the provisions too. Article 4(4) of the Enforcement Rule provides that it examines "Korean language ability, the applicant's attitude as a national of the Republic of Korea, and their conviction in the free democratic basic order."
General, simplified, and special naturalization
This is where the misreading starts. Simplified and special naturalization ask for fewer requirements, so it is easy to read that as "no exam either." The requirements they waive do not include the exam.
Basic qualities is a general-naturalization requirement set by Article 5(5) of the Nationality Act: "having the basic qualities of a national of the Republic of Korea, including Korean language ability and an understanding of Korean customs." Simplified naturalization (Article 6) waives only Article 5 subparagraph 1 (five years of residence) and subparagraph 1-2 (permanent residency status); special naturalization (Article 7) waives subparagraphs 1, 1-2, 2 (majority age), and 4 (ability to maintain a livelihood). Neither touches subparagraph 5.
| Naturalization type | Requirements waived | Comprehensive evaluation | Interview |
|---|---|---|---|
| General (Article 5) | — | Sits it | Sits it |
| Simplified (Article 6) — marriage, descent, birth | Residence period, permanent residency | Sits it | Sits it |
| Special (Article 7(1)1) — parent is a national | Residence, permanent residency, majority age, livelihood | Sits it | Sits it |
| Special (Article 7(1)2 and 3) — special merit, outstanding talent | Same as above | Exempt | Sits it |
So even someone applying through simplified naturalization as the spouse of a Korean national still takes the comprehensive evaluation and the interview. "Marriage-based simplified naturalization exempts you from the exam" has no basis in the provisions. Conversely, the special-merit and outstanding-talent applicants who are exempt from the comprehensive evaluation are not on the interview exemption list, so they still sit the interview.
Keep preparing in the app
Exemption follows the ground, not the type
Exemption is decided by the grounds listed in Article 4 of the Enforcement Rule of the Nationality Act, not by naturalization type. Exemption from the comprehensive evaluation (paragraph 1) and exemption from the interview (paragraph 3) are set out in separate paragraphs, and the lists are not the same.
| Ground | Comprehensive evaluation | Interview |
|---|---|---|
| Completed the Social Integration Program (KIIP) | Exempt ((1)5) | Exempt only if you completed it and scored 60+ ((3)3) |
| Scored 60+ on the comprehensive evaluation within the last 3 years | Exempt ((1)5-2) | Not applicable |
| Minor | Exempt ((1)2) | Exempt only if under 15 at the time of application ((3)2) |
| Aged 60 or over | Exempt ((1)3) | Exempt only as the spouse of a person who reinstated nationality ((3)1) |
| Special merit / outstanding talent (Article 7(1)2, 3) | Exempt ((1)4) | Not applicable |
| Special grounds recognized by the Minister of Justice | Exempt ((1)6) | Exempt ((3)4) |
Put the two lists side by side and the gaps show. A 15-year-old minor is exempt from the comprehensive evaluation but still takes the interview. Someone who completed the Social Integration Program is exempt from the comprehensive evaluation — yet to be exempt from the interview as well, they have to go and sit that same waived evaluation and score 60 or more. It is one of the rare cases where not using an exemption is the better move.
Three explanations you will see that are wrong
"Simplified naturalization exempts you from the written test." It does not. As above, what simplified naturalization waives is the residence period and permanent residency requirements.
"Complete the Social Integration Program and the interview is automatically waived too." It is not. Article 4(3)3 of the Enforcement Rule narrows the group to completers who scored 60 or more on the comprehensive evaluation.
"You can only take the comprehensive evaluation three times." That rule was repealed. Since January 1, 2023, additional attempts may be granted without a cap within the 1-year window. This is covered in Naturalization comprehensive evaluation: attempts and deadline.
Key summary
- For applications from March 1, 2018, the naturalization written test was replaced by the KIIP comprehensive evaluation.
- The current basis is Article 4-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act, and two things are conducted: the comprehensive evaluation and the interview.
- General, simplified, and special naturalization all keep the basic-qualities requirement (Article 5(5)). Only special-merit and outstanding-talent applicants are exempt from the comprehensive evaluation.
- Exemption is decided by the grounds in Article 4 of the Enforcement Rule, not by naturalization type, and the two exemption lists differ.
- Completing the Social Integration Program exempts you from the comprehensive evaluation, but to be exempt from the interview you must score 60 or more on it.
Eligibility, test structure, and the fee for the comprehensive evaluation are covered in the Comprehensive Evaluation (Permanent Residency / Naturalization) Guide, and what completing the Social Integration Program changes is covered in KIIP completion benefits and costs.
If you would like to learn the Korean-society and culture vocabulary that appears on the comprehensive evaluation in advance, try using the KIIP Study app.
Sources checked
- Nationality Act (국적법) (Act No. 18978, effective Oct 1, 2022) — Articles 5, 6, 7
- Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act (국적법 시행령) (Presidential Decree No. 33082, effective Dec 20, 2022) — Article 4-2
- Enforcement Decree of the Nationality Act — amendment reasons (Presidential Decree No. 28255, promulgated Aug 29, 2017) — the amendment that replaced the written test with the comprehensive evaluation, and its Addenda
- Enforcement Rule of the Nationality Act (국적법 시행규칙) (Ministry of Justice Decree No. 1076, effective Apr 29, 2024) — Article 4
- Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act (출입국관리법 시행령) (Presidential Decree No. 35540, effective Jun 1, 2025) — Article 48(2)
This article is a guide meant to aid understanding and is not official information. It does not determine whether any individual application is possible or what its outcome will be, and KIIP Study is a learning and test-prep app, not a visa or naturalization application agency. Regulations may change and their application may differ depending on your personal circumstances, so to find out how they apply to you, check with the Immigration Contact Center (1345) or your local immigration office. (Written as of September 2026)