Korean Law, Systems and Civic Life (법과 제도, 이민·체류)
What this domain tests
This domain covers the practical law a resident must know: status of residence, registration and renewal duties, routes to permanent residence and naturalisation, workplace rights, social insurance, and civic participation. Items are procedural - they ask what a person in a given situation must do, by when, and at which office.
Core rules
- 외국인등록: anyone staying more than 90 days must register at the 출입국·외국인청 within 90 days of entry. Address changes must be reported (via 주민센터 or Hi Korea).
- 체류기간 연장: apply before expiry; late applications bring fines and count against future applications.
- Statuses: F-6 (marriage migrant), F-5 (permanent residence), F-4 (overseas Korean), E-9 (non-professional employment under the 고용허가제), H-2 (working visit).
- 국적: general naturalisation normally requires five years' continuous residence; a marriage migrant may qualify after two years of marriage and residence, or three years of marriage with one year's residence, plus KIIP completion or a pass on the naturalisation assessment.
- Work rights: 최저임금, the 52-hour week, severance after one year, and the four insurances (건강보험, 국민연금, 고용보험, 산업재해보상보험). Unpaid wages are reported to the 노동청.
- Help lines: 1345 (출입국·외국인 종합안내센터), 1350 (외국인력상담센터).
Worked example
An F-6 holder married in 2021 asks when she can apply for naturalisation. Reasoning: her route is 간이귀화 - two years of marriage while residing in Korea, or three years of marriage plus one year of residence - and she must also show KIIP completion or a naturalisation test pass, plus income and conduct requirements. The answer is not "five years", which is the general route and does not apply to her.
Traps that cost marks
- Applying general five-year rules to marriage migrants.
- Assuming a visa renewal can be filed comfortably after expiry.
- Confusing 1345 (immigration) with 1350 (labour).