Love the smell of herbs? They're good in cooking, and good for use as medicines too. Medicinal herbs are one of the few natural resources in abundance in Korea, partly due to the wild mountainous terrain that covers 70 percent of the country.

Ginseng, for example, was traditionally so popular that it served not only as a hot export item overseas, but also as a precious gift for kings and taken by envoys overseas during important diplomatic missions.

If you're in Korea right now, don't miss the opportunity to try some medicinal herbs yourself.

Daegu Yangnyeong-si Herb Medicine Festival

The Herb Medicine Festival in Jung-gu, Yangyang-si, Daegu (May 2-5) promotes the city's large oriental medicine market that opened over 350 years ago.

Established in 1658 under the reign of King Hyojong of the Joseon dynasty (1392 - 1919), to assure efficiency in herbal collection, the marketplace was also frequented by merchants coming from China, Manchuria, Russia, India and other places. The city continues to lure people even nowadays, with its 715-meter long street, the “Yangnyong Golmok” lined with many traditional medicine shops and clinics.

All the herbal powder for sale in the marketplace, together with surrounding makeshift herbal gardens, will make the neighborhood smell like a medicine factory. There will be an opening ceremony, a music concert, a display of traditional handicrafts, traditional folk performance like street games and clowns.

More medicine-related activities include demonstrations of brewing herbs and medicinal tea, lectures about herbs, free medical checkups, moxibustion, acupuncture to quit smoking, foot baths and a herb food parade. For an added fee, you can also experience oriental medicine massage, face painting and nail art.

There is also an annual Mr. Heo Jun Contest, reviving the national medical exam of the Joseon era. The winner will receive an award and play a part in a traditional parade.

The contest is named after the famous court physician Heo Jun (1546 – 1615), most famous for his redaction of Dongui Bogam, an encyclopedia of traditional Korean medicine that was later used in China and Japan as well.

Enjoy some of the best herb dishes and get plenty of health tips from the local oriental doctors and pharmacists.

The herb festival in Daegu was designated one of the top festivals in the country by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Ministry back in 2001.

For more information visit:
(1) Korea.net Event Page
(2) Cyber Herb Medicine Simulation Room
(3) Korean webpage

Sancheong Herbs Festival in Mt. Jirisan

Sancheong-gun in Gyeongsangnam-do (South Gyeongsang Province) is the birthplace of many great doctors in Korea, including the two great physicians of the Joseon dynasty, Heo Jun and Ryu Eui-tae. The region of Mt. Jirisan is also well known for its wild plants and herbs used for medical treatment in the old days.

Sancheong Herbs Festival (May 2–10) begins with ancestral rites held for Heo and Ryu, followed by an awards ceremony for outstanding person of the year who contributed greatly to the development of Korea's oriental medicine industry and general improvement of people's health.

The winner will receive 10 million won in prize money and a wooden statue of Heo Jun carved by Park Chan-su, the mater craftsman designated intangible cultural property no. 108.

Over 30 types of 100 dishes made from medicinal herbs will be on display together with local specialties. There will be a daily cooking demonstration of how to make herbal dishes. Methods for making teas, broths and even cocktails and yogurts made of oriental medicine and herbs will be demonstrated.

You can also have fun taking a herbal health class, talk with wild mountain ginseng seekers, make herb cookies, herb soaps and more. Oriental doctors will also be there to provide free medical checkups.

As the period also overlaps with Children's Day on May 5th, there will be a display of paintings and photos of herbs, together with arrangements of herbs and other native wild flowers by professional florists. There will be many games and contests for children who come with their families.

For more information visit:
(1) Korea.net Event Page
(2) Sancheong-gun County

By Kim Hee-sung
Korea.net Staff Writer