1. The first-ever regular Korean language program has been set up at a secondary language school in Europe. Starting from September 15, the day of its entrance ceremony, William Gladstone, the 18th High School in Sofia, Bulgaria, with 105 years of history, offers the first-ever regular course in the Korean language as a first foreign language in Europe.

2. William Gladstone Secondary Language School, with the support of the Korean Embassy in Bulgaria and Sofia University’s Korean Studies Program section, won permission to establish a regular Korean language program from Bulgaria’s Ministry of Education, Youth and Science last March.

* The Korean Embassy in Bulgaria provides Korean language textbooks to William Gladstone through the Korea Foundation, an affiliate of the Foreign Ministry.

* Sofia University first established a course in Korean studies with the support of the Korea Foundation in 1995 when the Department of East Asian Studies was launched, upgrading it to Korean Studies Program in 2010.

3. Some 160 students had applied to the Korean language program established this year, out of which 22, or one out of every six applicants, were granted admission. Principle of William Gladstone Stoicheva commented that it was very unusual for 160 students to apply to study Korean as their first foreign language, adding that Bulgaria’s Education Ministry expressed surprise over the youth’s keen interest in Korea.

4. The launch of a regular Korean language program at the secondary language school in Bulgaria is viewed as a spin-off of “hallyu” (Korean Wave).

° The students admitted to the Korean language program are said to have developed an interest in Korea and the Korean language through their exposure to Korean soap operas, movies and K-pop.

                Spokesperson and Deputy Minister for Public Relations of MOFAT

* unofficial translation