[Sancheong County, Gyeongnam] A healthy taste of Sancheong, the paradise of herbs

[Sancheong County, Gyeongnam] A healthy taste of Sancheong, the paradise of herbs

Herbs, or any plants used for food or medicine, have always been a critical aspect of Korean culture, because locals believe that being “naturally healed” is better than trying to find peace through “artificial methods” such as taking pills and lying in a hospital bed.

Sancheong County is saturated with Korean restaurants, which serve a wide variety of fresh, green foodstuffs that are cooked with herbs cultivated just a few feet away.

<Purchase Mount Jiri-grown medicinal plants in Sancheong County.>

Some key herbal medicines Sancheong is best known for is “Bangpungcho,” which is effective for preventing strokes; “Dong Quai,” which stimulates blood circulation; and kalopanax, called “Eomnamu Sun,” which strengthens joints.

Data from the Sancheong Oriental Medicinal Herb Institute indicates that Sancheong herbs are far superior than their counterparts in other cities, for greens grown there has a minimal - if not any - heavy metal content; their effectiveness for better health also turned out to be 1.5 to 3 times higher.

The head of the institute, Kim Dong-hwan, attributes the top-quality of Sancheong products to the county’s weather conditions and Mount Jiri’s rich soil.

<Sancheong herbal meals are made by greens collected from Mount Jiri.>

A full-course herbal meal in Sancheong usually comes with 30 different side dishes and boiled pork or braised ribs.

Another delightful aspect you’ll find in the table filled with fresh plants is that the side dishes change every season.

The annual Sancheong Medicinal Herb Festival, which dates back to 2001, usually opens in October every year. Visitors can taste various medicinal herbal plates and receive free oriental medical treatments, all the while relishing dazzling natural surroundings.

In order to get to Sancheong County from Seoul, we recommend riding an intercity bus from the Seoul Nambu Bus Terminal, where you can catch a ride up to eight times every day. You can make reservations at the terminal’s website http://www.nambuterminal.co.kr.

<Jeonggwangdeul, a renowned herbal field in Sancheong.>

※ Relevant information

▶ Sancheong culture tour

- Homepage: http://tour.sancheong.go.kr

- Contact: 055-970-6000