There are many well-known medicinal materials and edible herbs in the mountains of Korea.
Among them is platycodon (root of balloonflower) widely known to the people for its peculiar taste, fragrance and potency.
Platycodon looks like insam. So it is called a cousin of insam.
The Moranbong Ragwon Health Food Production Station has turned out black platycodon good for the improvement of the people's health by processing wild platycodon of Mt. Kumgang.
In the course of turning black, the saponin content of the black platycodon has got over 10 times higher than that of the ordinary one and its physiological activators increased.
If platycodon is likened to insam, black platycodon can be likened to red insam.
Black platycodon makes bronchial mucosa strong to prevent and improve bronchial disorders such as cough, sputum and asthma.
Polysaccharide inulin has outstanding blood sugar controlling effect to be called natural insulin. It greatly helps prevent and improve diabetes and is effective for preventing cancer.
The station also produces black platycodon tea, black platycodon concentrated juice and black platycodon for children.
The black platycodon processing technique was granted a national patent some time ago.
Technical Assistant Jin Myong Hun says:
"Generally, platycodon should be used a lot to cure respiratory diseases and tastes bitter. So it's quite uncomfortable for children to use. The black platycodon we developed, however, has sweet taste and the use of only one or two roots improves metabolism and immunity, producing big curative effects."
The production station is still striving to develop a larger number of functional foods conducive to improving the people's health.
More From Voice of Korea (EN)
The Grand People's Study House is steadily increasing the efficiency of the science and technology study system for the officials
February 25, 2026
The Grand People's Study House is steadily increasing the efficiency of the science and technology study system for the officials
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the
February 25, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un received congratulatory messages and letters from different countries on the occasion of the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs of the
February 25, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, President of the State Affairs of the
The respected Marshal Kim Jong Un received a congratulatory message from the Central Standing Committee of the General Association
February 25, 2026
The respected Marshal Kim Jong Un received a congratulatory message from the Central Standing Committee of the General Association
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a kind spread to Ri Sil Baek living in Junhyok-ri, the city of Kaechon, South Phyongan
February 25, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un sent a kind spread to Ri Sil Baek living in Junhyok-ri, the city of Kaechon, South Phyongan
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was presented with floral baskets sent by the United Russia Party, the Liberal Democratic Party
February 25, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un was presented with floral baskets sent by the United Russia Party, the Liberal Democratic Party
The 39th Sci-Tech Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opened. Presented to the festival were more than 260 scientific
February 25, 2026
The 39th Sci-Tech Festival of Kim Chaek University of Technology opened. Presented to the festival were more than 260 scientific
The 39th City and County Sci-Tech Festival is under way in all parts of the country. Songchon County of South Phyongan Province
February 25, 2026
The 39th City and County Sci-Tech Festival is under way in all parts of the country. Songchon County of South Phyongan Province
Art organizations in the capital city and the provinces are actively conducting motivational work for increased production at
February 25, 2026
Art organizations in the capital city and the provinces are actively conducting motivational work for increased production at
The National Conference of Subworkteam Leaders in the Agricultural Sector, the first of its kind in history, was held in the
February 25, 2026
The National Conference of Subworkteam Leaders in the Agricultural Sector, the first of its kind in history, was held in the
The Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea continues discussions in a responsible way. Members of the Presidium of the
February 25, 2026
The Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea continues discussions in a responsible way. Members of the Presidium of the
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a concluding speech at the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea. He said as we did
February 24, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un made a concluding speech at the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea. He said as we did
The fifth-day sitting of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea was held on February 23. Comrade Kim Jong Un made an
February 24, 2026
The fifth-day sitting of the Ninth Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea was held on February 23. Comrade Kim Jong Un made an
The First Enlarged Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the headquarters of
February 24, 2026
The First Enlarged Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was held at the headquarters of
A press release on the First Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was issued. The
February 24, 2026
A press release on the First Plenary Meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Workers' Party of Korea was issued. The
One day in October 2018, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Yangdok Hot Spring Resort under construction. He was
February 24, 2026
One day in October 2018, the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un visited the Yangdok Hot Spring Resort under construction. He was
The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un visited the Pyongyang Baby Home and Orphanage on the occasion of the new year 2015.
February 24, 2026
The respected fatherly Marshal Kim Jong Un visited the Pyongyang Baby Home and Orphanage on the occasion of the new year 2015.
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, received a message of greetings from Xi
February 24, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, received a message of greetings from Xi
Medvedev, President of the United Russia Party, sent a congratulatory message to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General
February 24, 2026
Medvedev, President of the United Russia Party, sent a congratulatory message to the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, received a message of greetings from To Lam,
February 24, 2026
The respected Comrade Kim Jong Un, General Secretary of the Workers' Party of Korea, received a message of greetings from To Lam,
More Articles
