(LEAD) S. Korea opens 2 honorary consular offices in Bulgaria

(ATTN: ADDS number of honorary consuls at bottom)

SEOUL, Oct 14 (Yonhap) -- South Korea has opened two "honorary" consular offices in major economic and logistical regions of Bulgaria, according to the country's local embassy.

The consular offices were launched in eastern Burgas on Thursday (local time) and northeastern Varna on Friday, the South Korean Embassy to Bulgaria said.

The two areas are Bulgaria's economic and logistical hubs on the Black Sea. They are also known as popular tourist destinations for South Korean travelers.

The offices will be led by local businesspeople chosen by Seoul's foreign ministry as "honorary" consuls early this year. Their appointments were approved by the Bulgarian government last month.

The embassy explained that the new consular offices were launched to help boost exchanges and bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The foreign ministry here said that South Korea has around 150 honorary consuls in countries around the world, mostly in medium-size cities with no consulate.

kokobj@yna.co.kr
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