"What Is This?" Jensen Huang Amazed... Korea's Iconic 'Health Gift' Captivates Foreigners [K-Holic]

K-Red Ginseng Added to Korea Shopping Lists
Growing Focus on Easy Consumption and Wellness
Foreigners Share Experiences with Red Ginseng on Social Media

Editor's NoteGlobal interest in Korean culture is rapidly increasing. Korean products and content, such as K-Food and K-Beauty, are permeating the everyday lives of overseas consumers, going beyond niche fandom groups. [K-Holic] sheds light on the ‘Korean Wave’ phenomenon observed around the world and explores why international consumers are paying such close attention to Korea.

On October 30 last year, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, is holding a ChungKwanJang Red Ginseng Stick gifted by a citizen in front of Kkanbu Chicken in Samseong-dong, Seoul. Photo by The Asia Business Daily

Red ginseng is making its way onto “Korean shopping lists” for foreign tourists. As interest in health continues to rise, there is increasing demand for convenient health functional foods, as well as for Korean red ginseng, which is seen as a representative healthy gift from Korea. These factors are drawing the attention of international tourists.

Red Ginseng, Helps With Fatigue and Memory Improvement... “Recommended Gift for Travelers”

TikTok and other social media reviews of Korean Red Ginseng. TikTok

Recently, social networking services (SNS) have seen a steady stream of reviews from foreigners who have purchased or tried Korean red ginseng products themselves. After experiencing a wide range of items—from stick products to red ginseng extract and candies—many share their stories online. Some of this content has garnered more than 10,000 'likes,' drawing significant attention.

Red ginseng refers to processed ginseng that has been steamed and dried. Ginseng has long been used in Korea, China, Japan, and other countries to promote health, and is categorized as fresh ginseng, red ginseng, or white ginseng, depending on the processing method. Among these, red ginseng is characterized by its deep reddish-brown color and is made by steaming (or otherwise heating) fresh ginseng and then drying it.

Red ginseng, in particular, has been recognized by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as a functional ingredient for helping to enhance immunity, reduce fatigue, improve memory, and provide antioxidant benefits. Thanks to the variety of product formats—such as sticks, concentrates, and jellies—red ginseng is easy to carry and makes for a practical gift to promote health.

Because of these features, red ginseng has come to be introduced as a representative Korean shopping item. The Korea Tourism Organization’s integrated tourism platform “Visit Korea” featured ChungKwanJang red ginseng products as one of the “Korean Duty-Free Shopping Recommended Items” in its April release. The Tourism Organization stated, “We recommend red ginseng not only for travelers looking for a meaningful health gift for their parents, teachers, or special people, but also for anyone who wants to take care of their health easily.”

Cardi B Also Fell for “K-RedGinseng”... Rising Global Attention

Cardi B created a buzz last year by posting a review on TikTok after personally consuming Korean Red Ginseng. TikTok

There have also been cases where overseas celebrities have shown interest in Korean red ginseng. For example, Jensen Huang, CEO of Nvidia, received a red ginseng stick from a fan while visiting Korea in October last year and took it with him. At the time, CEO Huang asked, “What is this? Is it good for your health?” Then he exclaimed, “Wow!” The moment of him taking the red ginseng stick went viral on social media, and the hashtag “#KRedGinseng” began to spread.

American rapper Cardi B also created a buzz in March last year by posting a video on TikTok of her eating red ginseng. Cardi B commented, “Maybe because I just had a baby or maybe because I’m in my 30s, but I’m always tired. Traveling back and forth between Miami, Los Angeles (LA), and New York, I felt increasingly fatigued, but after trying red ginseng, I felt more awake.” She added, “Even if I have coffee, I’m still sleepy and just crave food. Red ginseng has such a strong taste that I can’t eat it on an empty stomach, so I take one after breakfast every morning. When I do, I feel like I’m staying awake all day.”

Korean Red Ginseng’s Global Popularity Accelerates International Expansion

As international interest grows, domestic red ginseng companies are ramping up efforts to penetrate overseas markets. According to Euromonitor’s 2025 survey, ChungKwanJang held a 44.3% share of the global ginseng and red ginseng retail market in 2024 sales, ranking number one for 12 consecutive years. This marks an increase over its 40.4% market share in 2020. In particular, ChungKwanJang is currently exporting products to about 40 countries worldwide and is expanding its international footprint, mainly in the United States and China, as well as to Japan, Southeast Asia, Central and South America, and beyond.

The global popularity of Korean red ginseng is projected to continue. Market research firm ResearchAndMarkets forecasts that the Korean red ginseng market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.7% from 2025 to 2031. Key drivers cited include growing consumer interest in health and wellness, diversification of product formats, and expansion of online sales. ResearchAndMarkets noted, “As awareness of health increases globally, the Korean red ginseng market is evolving. In addition to its image as a traditional health food, changing consumer preferences are also influencing the market.”

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