"Do Not Eat Wild Mushrooms Carelessly"

Jeonnam Forest Research Institute Warns:
Even Small Amounts Can Be Fatal

Yellow-orange Amanita muscaria. Provided by Jeonnam Forest Research Institute

The Jeonnam Forest Research Institute has issued a warning to prevent accidents related to the consumption of wild mushrooms during the autumn season, when the number of visitors to ancestral graves and hikers increases.

According to the National Standard Mushroom List by the Korea Forest Service, there are approximately 2,313 species of wild mushrooms. Of these, only about 416 species are edible, while the majority are either of unknown edibility or poisonous.

Recently, the egg-shaped mushroom has been discovered in various regions of Jeonnam, including Yeonggwang and Gangjin. This mushroom primarily appears from summer to autumn, growing under park or garden trees and in grassy areas as it decomposes organic matter.

The fruiting body is spherical and varies in size from a baseball to a soccer ball. When young, the mushroom is firm and white inside, making it edible. However, as it matures, it becomes crumbly, the interior changes color, and it develops a foul odor and toxicity, making it unsafe to eat.

In the Jeonnam region, about 55 species of poisonous mushrooms grow naturally, including the red antler deer mushroom, the deadly white reed mushroom, and the yellow-orange Amanita mushroom.

In particular, the red antler deer mushroom is a highly toxic species that closely resembles the young Lingzhi mushroom and can be fatal in severe cases. The deadly white reed mushroom looks similar to the edible large cap mushroom and can cause gastrointestinal issues such as vomiting and diarrhea. The yellow-orange Amanita mushroom induces hallucinations.

Oh Deuksil, Director of the Jeonnam Forest Research Institute, stated, "Recent research shows that new poisonous mushrooms are being discovered in the Jeonnam area due to climate change. Therefore, wild mushrooms should not be collected whenever possible, and if collected, they must be checked by an expert."

The Jeonnam Forest Research Institute is conducting a survey of forest mushroom resources in major forests throughout the region to collect and identify superior genetic resources. Based on these efforts, the institute published a booklet titled 'Wild Mushrooms of Jeonnam' in 2024, featuring 179 species of wild mushrooms, which is being used as promotional material.

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