▲ Yongmunsan Sanyang Sansam / CEO Namsang Jo

The wide and fast spread of COVID-19 is arousing people’s interest in healthy food as well as health functional food that can help increase immunity. Talking of immunity, many people in South Korea have this belief in ginseng. Unlike in the past, ginseng, and even wild ginseng, is not difficult to find as they are being cultivated today.

Located in Yangpyeong County, Yongmunsan Sanyang Sansam (Yongmun Mountain wild cultivated ginseng) has been selling a variety of healthy functional foods themed on ginseng, deodeok (root), honey and golden sunflower.

Deodeok contains large amounts of saponine which is known to improve blood related diseases and to prevent cancer. Wild ginseng contains a variety of organic matters and minerals as well as saponine and is known to be good for anti-cancer, anti-oxidation and lowering cholesterol. Golden sunflower is rich in collagen and vegetable estrogen which are good for skin health and menopause diseases. 

Namsang Jo, CEO of Yongmunsan Sanyang Sansam, has grown mushrooms, roots, golden sunflower and many more for 55 years. He finished an instructor’s course of agricultural management at Seoul National University and has served a number of roles at the Korea New Intellectual Farmers Association Gyeonggi branch, the Korea Forestry Successor Association Gyeonggi branch, and the Korea Sanrimbohak Managers Association. 

Jo is the one who first succeeded the cultivation method of spreading deodeok seed on the mountain to grow in South Korea. Back then, he had debt of 2.8 billion won ($2.3 million) but he paid back within 3 years of succeeding this method. 

The news spread fast and he was busy making appearance on numerous TV shows. He then was received as a leader of complex forest management. Complex forest management means to manage forests while growing crops to make short term profits at the same time. 

Having proved his talent, Jo now is working with his two sons to push forward a cooperative cultivation project of deodeok, wild ginseng and golden sunflower that comes with an opportunity to learn the skills.