This study aims to trace the history of ginseng cultivation in Jinan, Jeollabuk-do, to restore the region’s identity and lay the foundation for research on the local history of ginseng. To achieve this, the study utilized archival records, oral histories, and field investigations to uncover significant materials that reveal the historical development of ginseng cultivation from the late Joseon Dynasty to the Japanese colonial period. In particular, Gwarok (課錄), a diary by Yi Byeong-hang from the late Joseon period, provides insight into the hardships of ginseng farming, while Sampo Gosa (蔘圃告辭) sheds light on the cultivation and harvest rituals of ginseng. Furthermore, newspaper articles covering the inaugural meeting of the Yongdam Ginseng Cooperative Association (龍潭蔘業組合), established during the Japanese colonial period, along with testimonies from Kang Yeong-gyu, who served as the cooperative’s secretary, confirm Jinan’s emergence as a central hub for ginseng cultivation.
This study is significant in that it reconstructs the history of ginseng cultivation in Jinan from the late 19th century to the modern era and retrieves lost historical links by uncovering various records documenting ginseng’s transformation into a commercial crop. Additionally, by rediscovering hidden historical materials and reexamining the shared memories of local residents, the study reaffirms Jinan’s identity as a prominent ginseng production region.

Keywords: Jinan ginseng history, Ginseng cultivation, Gwarok, Sampogosa, Yongdam Ginseng Cooperative