Secretary Clinton Wishes Koreans a Happy Chuseok

"On behalf of President Obama and the people of the United States, I wish all the people of the Republic of Korea a wonderful holiday and a joyful Chuseok (Full Moon Harvest) festival this Sept. 22."

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton (photo) said this in a statement released Sunday, the first of its kind officially issued by the U.S. government.

"This is an opportunity for families to gather together in their ancestral homes, share traditional food and drink, and honor their history." Clinton said in the statement.

"Americans share the same values of family and tradition, similarly gathering each year to celebrate our harvest holiday of Thanksgiving and spending time with our loved ones," she said. "In this spirit of honoring our shared blessings, I wish all Koreans and their families a safe and happy Chuseok."

yhchoi65@donga.com