A Recognized Immunity Booster
As the COVID-19 pandemic has fueled people’s interest in immunity, a growing number of people are buying red ginseng as a gift for Lunar New Year's Day.
The reason why red ginseng is popular as a gift during holidays is that it is a health enhancement gift. Red ginseng is a health functional food certified by the Korean Ministry of Food and Drug Safety for its proven effects in boosting immunity, recovering from fatigue, improving blood circulation and enhancing people’s power of memory. This explains why red ginseng is the most preferred health functional food for Koreans. Since the 2000s, red ginseng has become the No. 1 holiday gift.
Secondly, red ginseng products are sold in a wide range of prices. Low-end products are in the 50,000 won range, while high-end products cost millions of won. In the case of CheongKwanJang Red Ginseng which accounts for 70 percent of the red ginseng market, the lineup includes dozens of products with varied contents and ingredients.
Thirdly, red ginseng has a long preservation period so that it can be safely stored for a long time. Unlike fresh products, red ginseng has a long storage period. Tough packaging makes red ginseng convenient to deliver. In particular, red ginsengs’ long preservation period allows consumers to enjoy red ginseng even after the end of holidays.
Lastly, the COVID-19 pandemic has made consumers turn their eyes to red ginseng. Since there is no magic bullet for the pandemic, boosting immunity has gained an added importance along with thorough personal hygiene. The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety recognizes red ginseng as an excellent immunity booster. For this reason, red ginseng sales swelled more than 20 percent on year during the Chuseok holidays in 2020, and its sales are expected to be strong during the Lunar New Year’s Day holidays that fall in the middle of February.
"Red ginseng is famous as a high-end medicine for health and energy not only in Korea but in other Asian countries such as China, Japan, and Vietnam," an official of Korea Ginseng Corp. said. "So many people buy red ginseng during the Lunar New Year’s Day holidays in Korea and China."