2018 JB LIFE! Magazine Winter Edition

KIIP Interview with
Silayan Casino
Story by Aaron Snowberger
Silayan Casino (Sil) is a US expat who
came to Korea over 10 years ago to
teach English in an academy. Fast
forward to today and now she's pursuing a more
permanent stay. The following is an interview
with her about her pursuit through the Korean
Immigration and Integration Program (KIIP).
Can you explain the KIIP program?
The KIIP Program was initiated on behalf
of spouses of Koreans who arrived in Korea
and had no understanding of the language,
customs, culture, and life. It can be a daunting
experience to land somewhere new and feel
inhibited in every direction. So this program
evolved around what was most important for
future foreign spouses to learn about living in
and adjusting to Korean life. It is a nationwide
program with multiple learning institutions
in each province where KIIP candidates can
take the classes throughout the year.
The program consists of six levels. Levels
0-4 are practical language and some culture.
Level 5 is to be done after the formal language
training is complete and focuses entirely
on Korean society, culture, and history, and
includes a citizenship "training" for foreign
spouses. Level 0 is a 20-hour Korean alphabet
and language primer course whereas the
following 4 Levels run for 100 hours each.
There is an annual schedule of level tests
and placement tests. Interested participants
should first register for the placement test.
Once they have taken that, they will be
placed into a level based on their current
Korean proficiency. If they choose, they may
also simply start at Level 0 and go through
the whole program. Upon completion of
each level, there is a test to advance to the
next level. Upon completing Level 5, KIIP
participants take a comprehensive exam,
which, if passed, will enable them to be
eligible for a naturalization or permanent
residency interview with Korean immigration.
How did you first hear about KIIP?
I can't remember exactly when I first heard
about KIIP, but I believe it was sometime
between 2011-2014. I decided to pursue
the program because I want to get an F-visa
(permanent residency) in order to stay longterm
in Jeonju.
How many times have you done
KIIP and what do you think of it?
I have completed Levels 3 and 4, though I
did not yet pass the Level 4 test. I think the
program is a good effort to help foreigners
adjust to Korean life, and assimilate into
their new living environment.
What's your final goal in KIIP?
My final goal is to get my permanent
residency visa. Jeonju has become a home
for me and I have become part of a caring,
multi-cultural community. My biggest
obstacle is the language barrier, though over
time, I believe I will break that barrier down
so that things like going to the phone shop,
bank, or government office on my own won't
feel like climbing a mountain.
Do you have any other tips,
information, or resources about KIIP?
Other tips? I suggest incorporating regular
application of what you learn in your
language classes into your daily life. As
a language teacher, and multi-language
learner, I feel that application is key. Learning
and not applying what you learn takes you
nowhere in life. Find ways to use Koean daily,
whether it is practicing speaking with your
neighbors, buying groceries in Korean, or
talking with your Korean co-workers. One
thing I have found especially helpful is
keeping a Korean journal. Mine's still rather
simple, but the more I learn, the more I
can try to incorporate different sentence
structures and expressions into my writing.
It's easier for me to express myself in writing
than speaking, because I have more time to
think about how to say what I want to say.
There are also many online resources
(Facebook pages and YouTube channels) for
learning Korean to supplement what you
learn in the KIIP classroom.
As the saying goes, "Where there is a will,
there is a way." Set your goals, steadily pursue
them with focus and you shall achieve.
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