The shape of Korye Red-Ginseng undergoes a process of transformation as the roots develop. In the first year of sowing, ginseng roots undergo about 17 months of the elongation process (4 to 6 months) and flesh-up process (7-9 months) to become seedlings bearing heavy hair. The hair is trimmed off upon transplant in the second year of sowing. New lateral roots begin to develop, and the length of the main roots and number of lateral roots is set in the third year of sowing.

In the fourth and fifth years, main roots flesh up and the lateral and fine roots grow fully to form the unique shape of ginseng roots. Six-year-old ginseng, which is used for manufacturing red ginseng, has a 7~10cm long main root (diameter: 2~3cm) with several lateral roots and a large rhizome head. Its total length is about 34cm and weight is 40 ~ 120g(in some cases, up to 300g).

When roots are grown for more than 7 years, their growth is retarded and they become ill-shaped with woody skin. This extended growth results in a higher rate of cavity, or white insides, occurs after processing.

Moreover, Shen Nung Pen-Ts'ao-ching, the worlds oldest extant Chinese medicinal book, described the quality and production area of ginseng, medicinal effects of ginseng, and showed that high quality ginseng mainly came from the Korean kingdom of Kokuryo.

Russian botanist C. A. Meyer named it panax ginseng in 1843.
The genus name, panax means cure all in Greek( pan meaning all, Axos meaning heal ), therefore, true ginseng means Korean ginseng