I think you are correct , I am no doubt stuck in the past .

1996 is the newest I have had to mess with fuel pump / fuel filter . Have not had to do so on our newer cars .

But if you have to remove the pump from the tank on that schedule , sounds like another way to screw the end user by increasing service costs ! Unless it is covered under warranty . Which I suspect , it is not .

The Kia does not have an external filter ?

Best of luck with it .

God bless
Wyr