The Ministry of Justice from next year will start charging education fees for the Immigration & Social Integration Network (Soci-Net). Shown are students of the program on Aug. 18 at the compound of Geoje City Hall in Geoje, Gyeongsangnam-do Province. (Geoje City Hall)

By Xu Aiying

The Ministry of Justice from Jan. 1 will start charging fees for social integration education for immigrants.

The ministry's Immigration & Social Integration Network (Soci-Net) seeks to systematically teach immigrants the Korean language and culture so that they can adapt to and become self-sufficient members of society. The program is open to all expats registered as legal residents of the country and naturalized citizens who acquired Korean nationality within the last three years.

Per the changes, the first four parts of the five-stage program from next year will each require tuition of KRW 100,000. The fifth and final phase will incur a fee of KRW 70,000 for the basic course and KRW 30,000 for the in-depth course.

Those who have contributed to the national interest and the socially disadvantaged can get exemption from the fee. Those who attend all classes of a stage or are recommended by instructors as having an excellent learning attitude can get 50% off tuition.

Each fee is payable online through Soci-Net's website (www.socinet.go.kr) from the end of each stage until application for evaluation. One cannot get an evaluation without paying the fee.

xuaiy@korea.kr