KGC Ginseng Corporation Registers 1.8 Times More Patents in Last 5 Years... "Strengthening R&D"

23 Patents Registered from January to May This Year
Approximately 431 Patents Registered to Date

KGC Ginseng Corporation announced on July 2 that the number of patents it registered from 2020 to 2024 increased by approximately 1.8 times compared to the previous five-year period (2015?2019).

This year as well, from January to May, the company registered 23 patents, about 2.3 times more than the same period last year. Among them, two patents that enhanced the functionality and applicability of red ginseng oil demonstrated technological advancements in the fields of oral health and improved skin absorption.

KGC Ginseng Corporation R&D Center exterior. KGC Ginseng Corporation

The company also registered four patents that enable the identification of varieties of herbal ingredients. The technology, "Gene marker with single nucleotide polymorphism for distinguishing Cervi Parvum Cornu, Paeoniae Radix, Rehmanniae Radix, and Polygonati Rhizoma," is a DNA-based plant identification method. This not only increases the reliability of raw materials, but can also be used to secure high-quality ingredients.

To date, KGC Ginseng Corporation has registered approximately 431 patents. Of these, about 250 are related to ginseng and red ginseng research, while about 181 pertain to non-ginseng and non-red ginseng materials. Until 2013, most patents focused on the traditional functionalities of ginseng and red ginseng, such as immune system support, cardiovascular health, and memory improvement. However, since 2014, the company has also been filing patents for functionalities related to modern diseases and aging, including gut health, eye health, and hormones.

The company is also strengthening the protection of its proprietary ginseng varieties. As of 2025, KGC Ginseng Corporation holds a cumulative total of 19 ginseng variety protection rights?17 in Korea and 2 overseas. This accounts for about 60% of the 40 ginseng varieties registered with the Korea Seed & Variety Service.

A KGC Ginseng Corporation representative stated, "We are securing intellectual property rights for ginseng and red ginseng, and establishing unrivaled competitiveness through differentiation in quality and technology," adding, "We will continue to accelerate R&D based on intellectual property rights from raw materials to finished products, as well as the revitalization of the health functional food market."