Discovered 5 Generations of 'Family Wild Ginseng' Worth Over 100 Million Won... 9 Roots Including 100-Year-Old Mother Ginseng Found in Jirisan, Hamyang, Gyeongnam

A five-generation family of wild mountain ginseng discovered at the foot of Jirisan in Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam. [Image source=Korean Traditional Simmani Association]

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporters Kim Yong-woo and Choi Soon-kyung] A family of wild mountain ginseng worth over 100 million won has been discovered in the foothills of Jirisan Mountain. This time, a herbalist found a rare five-generation family of Cheonjong wild mountain ginseng.

According to the Korea Traditional Simmani Association on the 20th, Mr. Hwang, in his 60s from Hamyang, Gyeongnam, discovered a family of Cheonjong wild mountain ginseng in the foothills of Jirisan in Hyucheon-myeon, Hamyang County.

On the 15th, while hiking in the foothills of Jirisan in Hyucheon-myeon, Mr. Hwang found nine roots of family mountain ginseng spanning five generations and requested an appraisal.

All nine roots were appraised at 120 million won.

The mother root is over 100 years old with a pure root weight of 83g, and the second and third generation ginseng showed clear signs of multiple brainhead grafts.

The fifth generation is estimated to be 20 years old, the fourth generation over 35 years, the third generation over 50 years, and the second generation between 70 and 90 years old.

In the foothills of Jirisan in Hamyang, four discoveries of family Cheonjong wild mountain ginseng have been made this year alone, including eight roots of a four-generation family found in June.

The frequent discovery of Cheonjong wild mountain ginseng growing naturally is believed to be due to recent heavy rains and snowfalls.

Mountain ginseng that had been dormant without sprouting is revitalized by sufficient moisture supply, revealing itself.

A representative of the Korea Traditional Simmani Association said, “Domestic mountain ginseng has been recognized for its efficacy since before the Three Kingdoms period, but its price is significantly lower than Chinese mountain ginseng, so it is very undervalued.”