Why is it still a challenge for Bulgarian students to follow their Korean dream?

Deyana visiting Seoul for the first time © Deyana Dencheva

Korean culture is conquering the world stage, and the number of its fans is growing. This popularity is reflected in a survey, showing that the number of international students in South Korea has more than doubled. But how many of them are Bulgarians?

It appears that it is still difficult for Bulgarians to go to their dream destination and have the Korean experience. Deyana Dencheva, who is going to Seoul for a one-year university exchange, faced various challenges in her path, waiting around two months for the documentation to be clarified and established. 

Bulgarians cannot stay in South Korea for more than 90 days without a visa. Interestingly, despite the huge Korean Wave, no official figures indicate the exact number of Bulgarians residing in the country. In Bulgaria, although, as Deyana told The Glass Room, there are lots of possibilities to explore and learn the Korean language from an early age. Deyana, whose interest in K-pop started back in 2013, began studying Korean in high school in her hometown as an extracurricular activity. Later she finished her Bachelor's degree in Korean language in the capital city, Sofia. 

©Karina Karagyoz

Deyana is currently pursuing a Masters program in Korean Studies at the University of Leiden, due to the opportunities offered in Dutch universities to study in South Korea. She is one of roughly twelve students, who are enrolled in a program that includes a one-year exchange in South Korea. “In the Netherlands, there are many more opportunities for exchanges with other countries than in Bulgaria,” says Deyana. 

The challenge doesn’t end there. “From my own experience and that of friends, I know that Bulgarian origin unnecessarily complicates and delays some documents, but it is all due to the relations between Bulgaria and Korea,” Deyana tells The Glass Room. As Bulgaria is not part of The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), Deyana was an exceptional case among her other Dutch colleagues. After weeks of waiting and communication noise, she found out that the Korean university only requires a document that can be issued in seconds, not weeks, as it was initially understood. 

Deyana is not the first one to face challenges. “Exchange is a great educational and personal development experience. But it comes with many processes, at home and host institutions, that students have to mind,” says Jaclyn Connoly, Exchange Officer and Academic Advisor at University College Groningen. Dutch universities try to provide the support and assistance needed. “It is simply feasible to prepare the student as best as possible beforehand and understand they are human, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed, lost, confused, and stuck. I think the role of an Exchange Officer is not merely helping them with academic problems, but to bear an understanding of these feelings and find a proactive solution in cooperation with the student,” she tells The Glass Room.

The Hendrick Hamel Museum, dedicated to the first Dutchman who explored Korea © Deyana Dencheva

There is an interesting cultural juxtaposition between the three nationalities, according to Deyana. While the attitude towards foreigners in Bulgaria and South Korea is more reserved, she feels like people in the Netherlands are much more welcoming. Dutch and Koreans are more organized, on the other hand, in Bulgaria, people are more relaxed.

In the end, excitement overcomes the stress. “Each of these countries has been, is, and will be my home, which is a strange feeling. Looking at the bigger picture, my dream is coming true exactly as I wanted,” she says. She encourages every Bulgarian who wants to go to South Korea to follow their dreams, despite the difficulties.