"The First Nationwide" Why the Ultra-Large Wild Ginseng Valued Over 100 Million Won Is Special

Form Abnormality, Estimated Quantity Unverifiable

A giant wild ginseng with four stems extending from its root was discovered in Jirisan.

On the 19th, according to the Korea Traditional Simmani Association, recently a 50-year-old herbalist named Mr. A found a wild ginseng root shaped like several ginseng roots fused into one at the foot of Jirisan in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongnam.

Wild ginseng with four stems discovered in Jirisan
[Photo by Korean Traditional Simmani Association]

The wild ginseng root weighs 150g, which is enough for four adults to consume.

The association evaluated the ginseng, saying, “It is common for wild ginseng to have a single stem, so having four stems is a very rare form.” In cases where the soil is good or nutrients are abundant, it is sometimes possible to have two stems, but that is also rare.

However, due to the unusual shape of this wild ginseng, it is said that the age (wild ginseng age) cannot be estimated without dissecting the entire root.

Compared to regular wild ginseng of similar weight, the appraisal value is estimated to be over 120 million KRW.

Jung Hyung-beom, president of the Korea Traditional Simmani Association, said, “In the past five years, giant wild ginseng has been discovered about three times, but this is the first time nationwide to find one with four stems,” adding, “Since the root of the ginseng discovered this time is large, it is possible that it grew four stems to maximize photosynthesis.”

Last month, a wild ginseng estimated to be over 80 years old was also found at the foot of Jirisan in Hyucheon-myeon, Hamyang-gun, Gyeongnam.

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