KIKS Refund and Cancellation Policy

This Refund and Cancellation Policy sets out the terms for purchases, payment, cancellation, refunds, and plan changes for the KIKS (Kakehashi International Korean System) Korean-learning service. In this document, KIKS is referred to as "the Service."

By purchasing or using a paid plan of the Service, users are deemed to have agreed to this Policy.

Article 1　Basic Policy

The Service is a digital, online learning service that provides lesson videos, learning audio, practice quizzes, assignments, the Practice Bank, progress-tracking features, and members-only content.

Once a paid plan has been purchased, the user gains access to members-only content. For this reason, cancellation and refunds after payment has been made are generally not possible.

However, an exception may be made where the Service judges it necessary, or where a serious problem has arisen on the part of the Service.

Article 2　Plans Covered by this Policy

This Policy applies to the following plans and services:

1. BASIC
2. SILVER
3. GOLD
4. PLATINUM
5. EPS-related plans
6. Other paid plans offered by the Service
7. Content, courses, study materials, and paid membership services that may be added in the future

Article 3　No-Refund Policy

In the following cases, a refund is generally not available:

1. Cancellation for reasons personal to the user
2. The user purchased a plan but did not begin studying
3. The user purchased a plan and accessed any part or all of the content
4. The user has viewed or used a video, audio, practice quiz, assignment, or document
5. An issue caused by the user's own device, internet connection, or browser settings
6. The user cannot find time to study
7. The lesson content differs from what the user expected
8. The user did not pass an exam
9. The user did not obtain a job, a visa, a chance to travel, or pass an interview
10. A refund request based on BASIC / SILVER being a self-paced course
11. A refund request from a different person after payment was made on behalf of the learner
12. The user made a purchase by their own mistake
13. The account was suspended due to account sharing, unlawful use, or a violation of the Terms of Use

Article 4　Note on Self-Paced Courses

BASIC and SILVER are, in principle, self-paced courses.

Unless explicitly stated otherwise in the plan description, the following are not included:

1. Personal answers to questions about lesson content
2. Correction of answers by a teacher
3. One-on-one consultations
4. Personalized study planning
5. A guarantee of passing an exam
6. A guarantee of obtaining a job
7. A guarantee of obtaining a visa

A refund request based on BASIC or SILVER being a self-paced course is generally not accepted.

Article 5　Cases Where a Refund May Be Considered

In the following cases, the Service may review the situation individually and consider a refund, an extension of the access period, an alternative arrangement, or other support:

1. A serious system problem caused by the Service that makes content unusable for an extended period
2. Payment was made, but access rights were not granted, due to an issue on the part of the Service
3. A clear case of duplicate payment by the same user
4. The Service charged an incorrect amount
5. Other cases the Service judges to require a refund or an alternative arrangement

However, the above does not mean the Service guarantees a refund in every such case.

Article 6　How to Request a Refund

If a user wishes to request a refund or cancellation, they should contact the Service through its designated contact channel.

The following information should be provided with the request:

1. The name used for registration
2. The registered email address or contact number
3. The name of the plan purchased
4. The date of payment
5. The payment method
6. Information confirming the payment
7. The reason for requesting a refund or cancellation
8. If there was a problem, a detailed explanation of it

If the information provided is insufficient, if identity cannot be verified, or if the payment cannot be confirmed, the Service may be unable to process the refund.

Article 7　Refund Method

Where a refund is issued, the Service will generally refund it using the same payment method the user used to pay.

However, the refund method or timing may be limited due to the nature of the payment service, fees, processing times, international transfers, exchange rates, or banking procedures.

If there are payment fees, transfer fees, or exchange-rate differences, the Service may deduct these from the amount refunded.

Article 8　Refund Processing Time

Even once a refund has been approved, processing it may take some time.

The processing time depends on the payment service, bank, payment method, country, currency, and verification status.

The Service is not liable for delays caused by an external payment service or financial institution.

Article 9　Plan Changes

If a user wishes to change plans, the Service may consider this on a case-by-case basis, at the Service's discretion.

Any price difference, the remaining access period, usage rights, and how prior payments are treated will be decided by the Service on a case-by-case basis.

A refund resulting from a plan change, downgrading to a lower-tier plan, or a mid-term change made for reasons personal to the user is generally not available.

Article 10　Cancellation Mid-Term

Users may request to withdraw their membership or stop using the Service through the method the Service specifies.

However, if a user withdraws or stops using the Service partway through their access period, there is generally no pro-rated refund by day, by month, or for the unused portion of the period.

Article 11　Refunds When an Account Is Suspended

If a user violates the Terms of Use, the Privacy Policy, this Policy, or any other rule set by the Service, the Service may suspend the account, restrict its use, or delete the membership.

In such cases, fees already paid will not be refunded.

In particular, the following are not grounds for a refund:

1. Account sharing
2. Recording, copying, or saving content by video, audio, or screenshot
3. Sharing content to social media, Telegram, Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, Google Drive, or other platforms
4. Accessing the system without authorization
5. Using an unlawful payment method
6. Sharing study materials with others
7. Interfering with the operation of the Service
8. Any other action the Service considers a serious violation

Article 12　Trial Access and the Level Check

Where the Service offers a trial, a level check, sample videos, or a sample lesson, users can review the content of the Service before purchasing a paid plan.

After purchasing a paid plan, a user may not request a refund on the grounds of "not having previewed it first" or "the content differs from what I expected."

Article 13　Suspension or Change of the Service

The Service may change, add to, suspend, or discontinue content, lesson structure, pricing, plan content, features, or the manner of providing the Service, as needed.

Routine system maintenance, brief interruptions, temporary issues with an external service, or technical changes are generally not grounds for a refund.

If major content becomes unusable for an extended period due to an issue on the part of the Service, the Service may consider an extension of the access period, an alternative arrangement, or a refund on a case-by-case basis.

Article 14　Issues Caused by External Services

The Service may use external services such as Vimeo, Google, Telegram, WordPress, MemberPress, LearnDash, and payment providers.

Temporary unavailability of the Service caused by an issue, change, suspension, account restriction, change of terms, or network issue on the part of an external service is generally not grounds for a refund.

However, if the Service is unable to offer an alternative arrangement for an extended period, the Service may consider a response on a case-by-case basis.

Article 15　Changes to this Policy

The Service may change this Policy as needed.

An amended policy takes effect from the time it is published on the Service, or from a time separately specified by the Service.

If a user continues to use the Service after this Policy has been amended, the user is deemed to have agreed to the amended policy.

Article 16　Inquiries

Questions regarding refunds, cancellations, or plan changes should be directed through the contact channel specified by the Service.

End