50 Million Won 'Daenggual Mushroom' Discovered in Hongseong-gun...Folklore Says 'Good for Men'

Discovered While Going to Clear Graves Ahead of Chuseok
Rare Not Only in Korea but Also Globally

In a hill in Hongseong-gun, Chungnam, a resident who went to perform traditional grass-cutting for ancestral rites discovered the 'Daenggual mushroom,' known worldwide as a rare species.

According to Hongseong-gun on the 6th, Seo Gi-seok (73), who lives in Hwayang-ri, Geumma-myeon, found two white Daenggual mushrooms?a large one and a fist-sized one?while going to cut grass ahead of Chuseok.

The Daenggual mushroom is called 'Daenggual,' meaning eyeball candy, due to its round appearance.

[Photo by Hongseong-gun, Chungnam]

The mushroom discovered this time has a diameter of about 30 cm and weighs 2 kg. The Daenggual mushroom blooms when climate or environmental conditions change rapidly and grows dramatically overnight. It usually grows in organic-rich bamboo groves, grasslands, or thickets. It is known to be effective for hemostasis and detoxification.

It is rare not only in Korea but also worldwide, and is not commonly consumed as food. Further research is still needed on its specific components and effects.

According to a mushroom guide published in Switzerland, it can be eaten in its hard state before it grows larger.

The Daenggual mushroom is known to be traded at prices around 50 million won for large specimens. There is a rumor that it improves male sexual function, which has led to high prices, but its clear efficacy is not yet known.

Daenggual Mushrooms Found for 10 Consecutive Years in an Apple Orchard at the Foot of Jirisan

[Photo by Jeonbuk Namwon-si]

Earlier in July, a Daenggual mushroom was found for the 10th consecutive year in an apple orchard at the foot of Jirisan in Namwon-si, Jeonbuk.

According to Namwon-si, a Daenggual mushroom with a round ball shape, about 22 cm in diameter and light brown in color, was found in the apple orchard of Ju Ji-hwan (60) in Ipseok Village, Sannae-myeon.

Ju said, "Usually, they appear from late July to early August, but due to climate change, this year they appeared about 10 to 15 days earlier."

Since 2014, Daenggual mushrooms have been found every year in this orchard. There were 2 in the first year, 2 in 2015, 8 in 2016, 2 in 2017, 3 in 2018, 1 in 2019, and 2 in 2022, totaling more than 20 so far.

Experts believe that the Daenggual mushroom mycelium remains in this orchard and grows each summer when growth conditions are met.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.