• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.4
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• pp.59-102
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• 2022

Since there were only few countries that could find wild ginseng grown in nature, the culture of digging wild ginseng was only developed in a small number of countries. In a time when the orthodox head-Simmemani has disappeared, the tangible and intangible culture of Simmemani (wild ginseng digger) is disappearing more and more with the passage of time. So far, the conducted research on wild ginseng diggers was very partial and simplistic as follows: ① Research on the argot of Simmemani, ② Research on the customs of Simmemani, ③ Research on the change of customs of Simmemani, ④ Additional records through interview with Simmemani. Accordingly, no comprehensive study on the Simmemani culture has been done yet. This study supplements the historical materials that were not reflected in previous studies, and discuss on diverse subjects including the definition and classification of wild ginseng, the distribution of wild ginseng and Simmemani, interpretation of wild ginseng digging from a legal and social point of view, the organization responsible for the digging, determination of the date of entering the mountain, preparations, taboos, departure and entry into a mountain, religious events, psalmbook, dream interpretation, search and discovery of wild ginseng, digging, profit sharing, the amount of harvested wild ginseng, and the price of wild ginseng. In addition, Korean wild ginseng digging culture was comprehensively studied by attaching the photos and illustrations of historical documents with the psalmbook of the head-Simmemani.

• Journal of Ginseng Culture
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• v.5
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• pp.77-96
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• 2023

This study looks at the origin of a wild-ginseng, Korean ginseng, and traces the origin of associated wild-ginseng digging customs back to the Annals of the Joseon Dynasty. These historical customs helped Korea gain control over its wild ginseng resources following Japanese colonization acts, Korea's present-day forest laws, and Korean Civil Law. Prior to Japanese colonial rule in Korea (1910-1945), ginseng digging was a common custom, but Imperial Japan distorted Korea's own legal principles of the public rights of wild-ginseng digging during this colonial period. Distorted legal principles concerning digging customs continued after Korea's liberation from Japanese rule and were maintained until the enforcement of the Korean Civil Law in 1960, when legal principles of the right of common were changed to special servitude. The origin of the right of common can be found in the Sichojang of the Joseon Dynasty. The Sichojang, a place where local residents jointly collected firewood and fed livestock, was the minimum right to life and interest at the time. Since the right of common was the right to life, Imperial Japan attempted to abolish it, but it was never successful. In addition, distorted legal principles have been maintained in present-day forestry-related laws and regulations. Over 75 years since the liberation from Japanese rule in 1945, it is imperative to break away from the distorted legal principles and acknowledge that digging custom rights have changed from common customs to a special servitude under Korean Civil Law. Hence, an organization of wild-ginseng diggers is an unincorporated association, and their wild-ginseng digging customs can be constituted as a special servitude. Hence, their practices should be considered valid under customary law. Through this, it will be possible to clarify the legal nature and grounds for ginseng-related wild-ginseng digging activities, as well as the civil responsibility for the activities of wild-ginseng diggers.

• Proceedings of the Ginseng society Conference
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• 2002.10a
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• pp.456-466
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• 2002

Wild ginseng production is increasing due to forest recovery for last 30 years. Total number of Symmani (traditional mountain ginseng digger) was 558 in 2001. Provincial distribution of Symmani in 2001 was highest in Kangwon $(32\%),$ next in Choongbook $(21\%)$ and least in Jeonnam $(0.7\%)$ and Kyoungnam $(0.9\%).$ Age distribution of Symmani was $33\%\;for\;fourties,\;32\%$ for fifties and $20\%$ for sixties. There were 8 persons in eighties. Symmanies are still keeping traditional ritual for mountain god serving clothes of colored ribbons and foods. Increased production induced open market system from underground dealing of mountain ginseng. Korea Mountain Ginseng Association established mountain ginseng assessment committee with professional Symmanies in 2001. From September to November in 2001, 987 roots were requested for quality assessment to the committee and 476 roots $(48\%)$ were passed and graded and others were rejected. Highest frequency of rejection was foreign origin. Pass rate was highest $(74\%)$ in Choongnam suggesting best place for quality. Number of collected roots in each province was positively correlated (p=0.05) with number of Symmanies. There are 3 quality groups of mountain ginseng, Heaven (pure natural), Earth (from seeding of wild ginseng) and Man (from seeding or seedling of wild ginseng with slight environmental modification). The relationship between price and age was polynomial in high quality root, Heaven, Earth and seed long head of Man group, and linear in low quality group, seedling long head of Man. The best one in 2001 was 26 g, 124 years old and sold with 109 million won. Quality criteria are age, shape, weight, color and healthy outlook. Fine roots are criteria for health status of roots and taproot is criteria for efficacy and called as medicine barrel. The implication is that ginsenosides have rarely been experienced for efficacy. The quality criteria of cultivated ginseng were originated from those of mountain ginseng. It is unique for mountain ginseng that only fresh one can be on market. Since quality criteria of mountain ginseng must be based on the efficacy experience it is well expected that present criteria might almost be established at the age of Shinnong Materia Medica.