It is taken as a once-a-day tonic, described on our product page as helping to reduce fatigue, boost immune defence and sharpen memory. Follow the label, and ask your doctor first if you are pregnant, breastfeeding or on medicine, especially blood thinners or blood sugar medicine. In Singapore we sell it as a daily shot, Jung Kwan Jang GL Pro Core, with 23 mg of ginsenosides Rg1, Rb1 and Rg3 in every bottle.
We sell Korean red ginseng in Singapore; for our own product, this guide uses only what our product page states.
See also: Hwa Ae Rak Turning Me, a Jung Kwan Jang red ginseng drink made for women.
Korean ginseng, red ginseng, panax ginseng: what is the difference?
Panax ginseng is the botanical name of Asian ginseng. Korean ginseng is Panax ginseng grown in Korea. What changes is how the root is processed:
- Fresh ginseng is the raw root, which does not keep long.
- White ginseng is usually peeled and dried in the air or sun.
- Red ginseng is steamed and then dried. Our product page puts it simply: red ginseng is fresh ginseng root, grown for six years, then steamed and dried.
Steaming changes the mix of ginsenosides in the root, and red ginseng labels often name Rg3. American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) is a different species grown in North America. In traditional use it is regarded as the cooling one, while Korean red ginseng is regarded as warming.
What are ginsenosides (Rg1, Rb1, Rg3)?
Ginsenosides are the natural compounds that set ginseng apart from other roots. Many have been identified, and better labels count a few named ones in milligrams.
That is the number to compare: a tea, a candy and an extract can all say “Korean red ginseng” and contain very different amounts. GL Pro Core states 23 mg of Rg1, Rb1 and Rg3 per 25 ml bottle, from 6-year Korean red ginseng extract (8.70%), and our page says these ginsenosides provide an antioxidant effect.
What are the benefits, and does Korean red ginseng really work?
Korean red ginseng has a long history as a daily tonic and is widely studied, but it is a supplement, not a medicine, and what you notice depends on the amount you take, how regularly, and on you.
For GL Pro Core specifically, our product page lists these benefits:
- Less fatigue: red ginseng helps reduce fatigue, so you stay switched on after lunch.
- Immune defence: Korean red ginseng helps boost immunity, one of the functions printed on the box.
- Sharper memory: red ginseng helps enhance memory.
- Healthy blood flow: it supports healthy blood flow and circulation.
- Steadier blood sugar after meals: red ginseng with banaba leaf and bitter melon, taken with a meal, helps keep blood sugar steady after you eat. The Singapore label gives its indication as “To support healthy blood glucose level”.
Our page is clear that it is a daily supplement, not a medicine, to take alongside a balanced diet; everyone is different.
How to take Korean red ginseng: extract, tonic, tea or shot
It comes as a thick extract you dissolve in water, ready-to-drink tonics and sticks, capsules, teas and candies. Tea and candy usually tell you least about ginsenoside content, so read the back of the pack.
What is a normal daily amount? There is no single number that fits every product. Figures like “500mg” or “1000mg” usually describe root powder or extract weight, not ginsenosides, so they cannot be compared directly with a product that counts ginsenosides. Follow your label, and do not stack several ginseng products.
Morning or night? Many take it in the morning or with lunch, as some find it too lively late at night. GL Pro Core is one bottle a day, with a meal: shake it well, drink the whole bottle, and there is nothing to mix and no fridge needed. One box holds 21 bottles of 25 ml, which lasts three weeks.
Side effects, heatiness and who should check first
Some people report trouble sleeping, headaches or an upset stomach, especially at higher amounts; if so, stop and speak to a doctor. There is no separate list for men: the same cautions apply to everyone.
Will it make me heaty? Our page says not the way a heaty herb does: the brand describes red ginseng as a warming tonic, and a mild warm feeling can happen.
Pregnancy and breastfeeding: many health references advise against ginseng supplements during pregnancy because their safety has not been established. Our page asks you to check with your doctor first if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Medicine: ginseng can interact with some medicines. The GL Pro Core label advises care if you take medicine for blood sugar or blood thinners, and our page also asks anyone with a kidney condition to check with their doctor. GL Pro Core is for adults 18 and over.
Is Korean red ginseng halal, and is Cheong Kwan Jang the same as Jung Kwan Jang?
Halal: ginseng is a plant root, but halal status belongs to the finished product and its certificate, so look for a halal mark on the pack (candy included). Our GL Pro Core page does not mention a halal certificate. It does say the brand lists no animal-derived ingredients, so it is suitable for vegetarians.
Brand names: Jung Kwan Jang is the red ginseng brand of Korea Ginseng Corp. “Cheong Kwan Jang” is another English spelling of the same Korean name, and our page notes you may see either. GL Pro Core is made in Korea.
