A total of 38 roots of Cheonjong ginseng were discovered in a pile on the slopes of Jiri Mountain in Hamyang County, Gyeongnam.
According to the Korean Traditional Herbalist Association on the 2nd, a herbalist surnamed A in his 50s found a total of 38 roots, including a mother ginseng (mo-sam) bearing red berries and offspring ginseng (ja-sam) that have been passed down for four generations or more.
The ginseng discovered this time is part of a family group that has continued in a natural state for four generations or more, with the oldest ginseng estimated to be around 50 years old. The total weight of the roots is 282 grams, which is enough for four adults to consume. The appraised value is estimated to be about 150 million won.
Cheonjong ginseng refers to ginseng that has grown naturally in the deep mountains without artificial cultivation or intervention. This is the second large-scale discovery in the Jiri Mountain area this year.
An official from the association noted, "This is meaningful as traditional herbalists have continuously explored the rugged mountains in a situation where most ginseng in the domestic market is sourced from China."