How to participate in the social integration program in Korea?

The Social Integration Program is a program that supports foreign residents to quickly learn the Korean language and culture, so that they can communicate with the public and easily adapt to the local community.

After undergoing a pre-evaluation process, they participate in the program in stages from 0 to 5, and are also used as a tool to measure the Korean language fluency and understanding of Korean society of foreign residents.

The Ministry of Justice is operating a total of 366 social integration programs operating institutions across the country so that foreign residents can conveniently participate in social integration programs.

How to Participate

You can apply only online through the Social Integration Information Network (www.socinet.go.kr).

In the Social Integration Information Network, you can select an operating institution that you want to receive training from among several operating institutions that have jurisdiction over your place of residence and apply for the training course.

Foreign residents who apply for the social integration program for the first time will participate in a stage suitable for their level, such as 0-5, after undergoing a pre-evaluation.

The pre-evaluation, which is conducted approximately 8 times a year, must be conducted in person at a designated place. In fact, there are cases where people can apply for the pre-evaluation, but the number of people who can view the evaluation is limited, so the evaluation is not available due to the deadline.

Each stage must complete 80% or more of the attendance time, and after the stage is completed, a stage evaluation (20 questions in the written test, 5 questions in the oral exam) must be completed to obtain a score of 60 or more out of 100 to proceed to the next stage.

TOPIC System Integration

Those who have completed the Korean Language Proficiency Test (TOPIC) can participate in the social integration program more conveniently.

Those who pass the TOPIC 4th to 6th level will be assigned to the 5th stage of the social integration program without prior evaluation, and the 3rd level of TOPIC will be assigned to the 4th stage, the 2nd level of TOPIC will be assigned to the 2nd stage.

 To get the TOPIC test recognized as a social integration program, you can visit the social integration program operating institution with your topic transcript and submit it together with the ' system integration application'.

Comprehensive Evaluation

In order to acquire permanent residence (F-5) or nationality (naturalization) in Korea, it is essential to complete or evaluate the social integration program.

Like the pre-evaluation, the comprehensive evaluation for permanent residents or naturalization is not available immediately when you want, but there is a set application period and evaluation schedule, so you must check the schedule in advance before applying. There are many applicants who want to take the assessment, so you need to apply as early as possible on the start date of the assessment period to be able to take the test.

For the comprehensive evaluation for permanent residents, those who have either ① completed 70 hours of the social integration program stage 5 basic course or ② have not completed the social integration program but scored 85 points or more in the pre-evaluation can apply within 2 years from the score date.

The comprehensive evaluation for naturalization must be taken and submitted within one year from the date of application for naturalization permit. You will be given three chances to take the test, and if you do not pass the comprehensive evaluation for naturalization within one year from the date of application for naturalization, your application for naturalization will be rejected.

Both exams require a score of 60 or higher out of 100 to pass.