▲ View of the Ginseng Expo site

Chungcheongnam-do has decided to enhance the status of the annual World Ginseng Expo in Geumsan, Korea as an international event starting 2017.

On April 30, ginseng growing in Geumsan-gun was designated as Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage No. 5 by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (MAFRA).

Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage is a system for the designation and management of leading agricultural heritage worth preserving at the national level considering the traditional and cultural value.

The designation of ginseng growing in Geumsan-gun as Nationally Important Agricultural Heritage is in recognition of the excellent quality and symbolism of Geumsan ginseng and the status of the region of playing a leading role in ginseng distribution in the country.

Chungcheongnam-do plans to use the designation as the basis for the central government's approval of the World Ginseng Expo as an international event. It will also use the designation as core contents of efforts made for the planning and publicizing of the expo.

In addition, Chungcheongnam-do will take positive steps so that ginseng growing in Geumsan-gun may be registered as Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS) by 2017 through its selection by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), at the same time enhancing the status of the 2017 World Ginseng Expo, Geumsan, Korea as an international event in conjunction with the need to invigorate the ginseng industry of Geumsan and promote the superb quality of Goryeo Ginseng all over the world.

The World Ginseng Expo, Geumsan, Korea is expected to serve as an occasion for helping people -- Koreans and foreigners alike -- understand the various beneficial effects of ginseng including prevention of cold, anti-cancer effects, immune system enhancement, anti-aging, etc.