The Center for Bulgarian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies is dedicated to promoting the understanding of Bulgarian language, culture, history, and contemporary society in Korea and beyond.

Established in 2019, the Center for Bulgarian Studies reflects the growing international interest in Bulgarian Studies and serves as a platform for academic research, cultural exchange, and international cooperation.

Our primary mission is to conduct in-depth research on various aspects of Bulgarian Studies while fostering collaboration among scholars and specialists from Korea and around the world. We are committed to advancing Bulgarian Studies as a dynamic interdisciplinary field and to creating diverse opportunities for students and emerging scholars interested in Bulgaria and the Balkan region.

One of our key objectives is to provide accurate and comprehensive expertise on Bulgaria, thereby strengthening academic, educational, and cultural relations between Bulgaria and Korea, as well as promoting cooperation between institutions and researchers in both countries.

The Center actively engages in a wide range of academic and cultural activities. These include organizing conferences and lectures that encourage scholarly dialogue, hosting cultural events that promote Bulgarian culture, and publishing the academic journal International Review of Bulgarian Studies annually in both print and online formats.

The Center works in close collaboration with the Department of Greek Studies and Bulgarian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. This partnership supports both teaching and research activities in Bulgarian Studies and contributes to the academic development of students and faculty members alike.

We maintain strong working relations with the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Republic of Korea and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of Bulgaria, both of which provide valuable administrative and logistical support for the Center’s activities.

A particularly important partnership is our cooperation with Sofia University “St. Kliment Ohridski”. Supported from the beginning by the Faculty of History at Sofia University, this collaboration played a significant role in the establishment of the Center and continues to serve as a cornerstone of our international activities. Through programs such as Erasmus+, the partnership facilitates student and faculty exchanges between HUFS and Sofia University.

We also maintain close ties with Sofia University’s Department of Korean Studies and Faculty of Philosophy through joint academic initiatives, virtual classrooms, collaborative research projects, and student exchanges, particularly in the fields of comparative area studies, politics, international security, and European Union studies.

In addition, the Center cooperates with the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, including the Institute of Literature, the Institute of Bulgarian Language, and the Council for Bulgarian Studies Abroad. These partnerships further strengthen our research and educational activities and contribute to a broader and more comprehensive academic environment.