Consumer Behavior and Perception of Ginseng Products by Different Age Groups

This study investigated the perception, consumer pattern and satisfaction of the ginseng products of 600 people in the Seoul area surveyed from Feb. 1 to 28, 2011. The perception and satisfaction tests were performed using a 5-point scale (1=disagree (dissatisfy) very much, 5=agree (satisfy) very much. People perceived ginseng to have refreshment (3.86), immuno-modulation (3.78), anticancer (3.51), and antiaging (3.41) properties. People in their 20s (4.02) scored high on refreshment compared to people in their 60s and over (3.73). Most people (79.8%) consume ginseng products and prefer red ginseng (74.3%). More people in their 40s (54.1%) and 50s (48.2%) consume ginseng products for refreshment than people in their 20s (38.7%), 30s (41.5%) or 60s and over (40.0%). However, more people in their 50s (36.1%) and 60s and over (43.6%) consume ginseng products for disease prevention than people in their 20s (8.6%). Most people (66.4%) take ginseng all year round. People in their 20s (2.70) showed a smaller satisfaction score of the taste of ginseng products than those in their 30s (3.21), 40s (3.23), 50s (3.26) and 60s and over (3.38).