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| Wallace and Gromit's dedicated fans in South Korea | Wallace and Gromit's dedicated fans in South Korea |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Why South Korea loves Bristol’s Wallace & Gromit. | |
| They are much loved in the UK, but Aardman characters Wallace & Gromit now also have a huge following on the other side of the world. | They are much loved in the UK, but Aardman characters Wallace & Gromit now also have a huge following on the other side of the world. |
| Gromit, in particular, has become a huge phenomenon in South Korea. | Gromit, in particular, has become a huge phenomenon in South Korea. |
| Because Wallace's sidekick and faithful helper is able to communicate through his facial expressions, Gromit has become a useful tool in schools to teach English to children. | Because Wallace's sidekick and faithful helper is able to communicate through his facial expressions, Gromit has become a useful tool in schools to teach English to children. |
| And he's also a merchandise moneymaker - pens, keyrings and soft toys of him can be found in the capital Seoul and other large cities in the country. | And he's also a merchandise moneymaker - pens, keyrings and soft toys of him can be found in the capital Seoul and other large cities in the country. |
| Students Sunwoo Chung (L) and Sangweon Han have grown up with Wallace and Gromit in South Korea | Students Sunwoo Chung (L) and Sangweon Han have grown up with Wallace and Gromit in South Korea |
| Susan Bolsover, Aardman's Senior Licence Manager, said about 20 to 25% of the commercial revenue from Wallace & Gromit currently comes from South Korea. | Susan Bolsover, Aardman's Senior Licence Manager, said about 20 to 25% of the commercial revenue from Wallace & Gromit currently comes from South Korea. |
| She said the Bristol-based company "loves" that the pair have travelled across the world. | She said the Bristol-based company "loves" that the pair have travelled across the world. |
| "I think that's one of the great things about Wallace and Gromit - because Gromit communicates everything through his face, he travels around the world because there's no language barrier," Ms Bolsover said. | "I think that's one of the great things about Wallace and Gromit - because Gromit communicates everything through his face, he travels around the world because there's no language barrier," Ms Bolsover said. |
| "They're [Wallace and Gromit] very loyal to each other and I think that's something they really love and embrace about them as well." | "They're [Wallace and Gromit] very loyal to each other and I think that's something they really love and embrace about them as well." |
| South Korean student Sunwoo Chung, who is studying in Bristol, first encountered the Aardman characters in primary school. | South Korean student Sunwoo Chung, who is studying in Bristol, first encountered the Aardman characters in primary school. |
| She told the BBC's Andy Howard that she couldn't believe it when she saw a statue of Gromit on her first visit to Bristol. | She told the BBC's Andy Howard that she couldn't believe it when she saw a statue of Gromit on her first visit to Bristol. |
| She said: "In elementary school we started learning English from year three. | She said: "In elementary school we started learning English from year three. |
| "Because we were young, the teacher had to use some animation and one of those materials was clay animation - Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run or Wallace and Gromit for sure." | "Because we were young, the teacher had to use some animation and one of those materials was clay animation - Shaun the Sheep, Chicken Run or Wallace and Gromit for sure." |
| Gromit has gained particular popularity in South Korea | Gromit has gained particular popularity in South Korea |
| The student said people in South Korea "love dogs" and thinks that was a trigger for the Gromit craze. | The student said people in South Korea "love dogs" and thinks that was a trigger for the Gromit craze. |
| She said: "I think because we also have animation - there's a dinosaur that doesn't talk - so I think we were all quite familiar with non-talking characters. | She said: "I think because we also have animation - there's a dinosaur that doesn't talk - so I think we were all quite familiar with non-talking characters. |
| "But who would have known it came from here! The first time I came here, it [Gromit statue] was around the BRI [Bristol Royal Infirmary] and I was like - why is this thing here? | "But who would have known it came from here! The first time I came here, it [Gromit statue] was around the BRI [Bristol Royal Infirmary] and I was like - why is this thing here? |
| "It's embedded in our childhood memory," she added. "Korea loves Wallace and Gromit." | "It's embedded in our childhood memory," she added. "Korea loves Wallace and Gromit." |
| The human-dog partnership has featured in several Aardman films | The human-dog partnership has featured in several Aardman films |
| Lewis Hooper, a Bristolian now living in South Korea, said he was "quite surprised" to see Wallace & Gromit figures in some many shops when he arrived five years ago. | Lewis Hooper, a Bristolian now living in South Korea, said he was "quite surprised" to see Wallace & Gromit figures in some many shops when he arrived five years ago. |
| He said: "You have Gromit pretending to be a pilot, with the goggles, and a few different outfits to cater or upsell more of the key chains. | He said: "You have Gromit pretending to be a pilot, with the goggles, and a few different outfits to cater or upsell more of the key chains. |
| "I think a lot of products have been tailored to the Korean market to upsell and gain interest that way. | "I think a lot of products have been tailored to the Korean market to upsell and gain interest that way. |
| "Coming from Bristol, you can be quite proud that some local animation made its way to South Korea" | "Coming from Bristol, you can be quite proud that some local animation made its way to South Korea" |
| Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. | Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. |