🇰🇷 South Korea: TOPIK isn’t the whole story anymore

F-5 permanent residency

Since a rule change on 31 March 2019, TOPIK alone no longer satisfies F-5’s integration requirement by itself. You need either:

• Complete KIIP (사회통합프로그램) Level 5 — the Korea Immigration & Integration Program, specifically its Basic component — and pass the comprehensive evaluation (종합평가) with a score of at least 60/100; or
• Score 85 or higher on KIIP’s own pre-evaluation (사전평가, valid 2 years), which lets you skip the classes entirely and sit the PR-specific comprehensive evaluation directly.

Don’t confuse F-5 with the separate F-2-7 points visa — a different route requiring 80 of a possible 100+ points across age, education, income and Korean ability, where TOPIK level does contribute directly to the score (reportedly TOPIK 5–6 worth the most points, scaling down from there).

Naturalization (귀화)

Requires KIIP Level 5 “Advanced” completion, or passing the standalone Comprehensive Evaluation (종합평가, sometimes called KINAT) with 60+/100 — roughly 36 multiple-choice questions, a short written response, and an oral interview. Score 80 or above with KIIP Level 5 already completed, and the oral interview is reportedly waived.

More reading

• Moving to South Korea: Your Korean Language Checklist