Some Thoughts

As the summer of 2005 draws to a close, I’d like to share some thoughts.

First, one of Korea’s major holidays Chuesok, the lunar-based Fall Harvest festival, will be celebrated on September 18 (which is actually August 15 on the lunar-based Asian calendar).

Chuseok is celebrated for a total of three days, the day before and after the actual holiday (Sep. 17-19). Most Korean businesses are closed during this important holiday period. That means Koreans will take off from work next Friday and return to work on the following Tuesday. (For the U.S. that corresponds with the time zone difference to Korean being out of the office on Thursday September 15 (our time) and returning on Monday September 19, 2005. (Updates and details surrounding the holiday such as its traditions will be emailed in the next few days.)

BTW, I happy to say I’ve just completed my second book. In fact, it is currently at the publisher and is due to be released in mid-late October ‘05. The book is the first publication of its kind on early U.S.-Korean business and trade. It focuses on the important role Americans played in the introduction of western technology, capitalism, entrepreneurship to late nineteenth century Korea. This book pairs well with my first book on the rise of American entrepreneurship.