



Bulgaria hallyu fans pose with then-Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik in this Sept. 28, 2011, file photo. Spurred by the popularity of Korean dramas, Bulgaria's state television plans to air three Korean dramas consecutively starting July 30. Korea Times



3 Korean dramas set to air during prime time



By Kwak Yeon-soo



Three Korean TV series will be aired consecutively in prime time on Bulgaria's state television from late July, according to local media. The three are historical drama "Jewel in the Palace," "Dr. Romantic" and "Descendants of the Sun."



The rare back-to-back Korean dramas set to hit the small screen in the southeastern European country comes amid the rise of K-pop on the global music market following the stunning success of superstar boy band BTS in the U.S. mainstream market.



Earlier this week, Bulgarian National Television (BNT) said "Jewel in the Palace" will air from July 30, which will be followed by the two other Korean TV series.



"I've been in Korea for almost 20 years since I left Bulgaria, so I'm not familiar with what's happening there recently," said Lyudmila Atanasova, a professor in the Department of Greek Studies and Bulgarian Studies at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.



"As far as hallyu is concerned, however, I know hallyu is quite popular in Bulgaria, particularly among young people. I even know a Bulgarian who started learning Korean, then majored in Korean Studies, because she loves Korean dramas. I know Korean drama fans in their 20s and 30s who meet regularly to watch and discuss them. The fans even celebrate birthdays of actors and actresses together."



Atanasova said Bulgarian TV channels have shown many Korean dramas before "Jewel in the Palace." One TV channel aired espionage series "Iris" a few years ago. "High school romance 'Boys over Flowers' was a hit too," she said.





Image for historical drama 'Jewel in the Palace'

"Jewel in the Palace" consists of 54 episodes and stars Lee Young-ae. It depicts the spectacular rise of a girl named Jang-geum, who became the first woman to be the supreme royal physician during the Joseon Dynasty. Considering women's social status was low in the patriarchal society, the drama portrays Jang-geum as a trailblazer.



Following "Jewel in the Palace," medical series "Dr. Romantic" and romance series "Descendants of the Sun" will be aired, according to BNT.





Image for medical series 'Dr. Romantic'

"Dr. Romantic" tells the story of a famous surgeon named Boo Yong-joo who moves to a remote countryside hospital and builds it into a top institution.



"Descendants of the Sun" tells the story of a Special Forces captain and a doctor who fall in love while providing aid in a country dealing with a natural disaster and civil war.





Image for romance series 'Descendents of the Sun'