Choi Kang-hee hunts for wild ginseng in Gangwon Province

Actress Choi Kang-hee traveled to the mountains of Gangwon Province to harvest wild ginseng for year-end gifts following her recent return to acting in the stage play "Closer." After a five-year hiatus, she successfully harvested four roots with assistance from a farmer before attempting to dig them up alone.

Following her return to acting after a five-year hiatus, actress Choi Kang-hee headed to the mountain valleys of Gangwon Province to personally harvest wild ginseng. She drew attention by revealing a unique side of her daily life, transforming into a "simmani" (wild ginseng hunter) to prepare year-end gifts for those around her.

On the 28th, Choi uploaded a video to her YouTube channel "I'm Choi Kang-hee Too" titled "I'm going to dig up this year's year-end gifts myself! Searching for nature's treasure, wild ginseng, I am also a simmani!" The video captures her traveling to the mountains of Gangwon Province late at night after finishing a stage play, preparing for the harvest, and attempting to collect the ginseng the following day.

Choi did not hide her overwhelming emotions regarding her recent return to the stage. After the performance, she expressed her feelings, saying, "Today's performance was good. It feels so good to be able to say it was good." After briefly enjoying the joy of standing before an audience again as an actress, she immediately headed to the mountains to pursue a different challenge. Upon arriving at the site, she marveled at the freshness and relaxation provided by nature, noting, "The air is so different."

There was a special reason behind her decision to dig up the wild ginseng herself. Recalling receiving wild ginseng as a gift from an acquaintance during Chuseok, Choi remarked, "I thought it was so amazing and fun, and people liked it so much." She explained that she had received five roots and shared them one by one. The idea to harvest and gift the ginseng herself came from the joy of sharing the precious gift she had received with others.

Her plan is to give the wild ginseng she harvests herself to people around her, and she expressed a desire to give gifts to the production crew as well. Her intention to remember the joy of receiving a gift and to share it again with her own hands added a heartwarming touch. Her idea to prepare special gifts by investing time and sincerity instead of purchasing expensive items reflected her characteristic, down-to-earth charm.

The following day, Choi began the full-scale harvest alongside Jeong Hyeon-cheol, a farmer with 11 years of experience in cultivating wild ginseng. While inspecting the groundwater facilities and pre-made furrows, she showed active interest, saying, "I want to dig furrows too. Can't you call me when you do things like this?" She demonstrated great enthusiasm, showing interest in physical labor rather than just watching.

However, once the large wild ginseng roots appeared, Choi became cautious. Worried about accidentally damaging the precious plants, she hesitated, saying, "I can't dig it because I'm afraid I might touch it wrong." Following the farmer's explanations and instructions, she proceeded carefully and successfully harvested four roots in a row with assistance. After inspecting the harvest, she expressed satisfaction, noting, "The scent is good."

Gaining confidence, Choi then attempted to harvest alone. After successfully digging up a wild ginseng root, she elicited laughter by shouting "Sim-bwatt-da!" (I found ginseng!), the signature cry of a simmani. When the farmer praised her, saying, "You dug up a good one," Choi showed a proud expression, saying, "See? I have a talent for this." The video captured her transition from being hesitant to touch the precious ginseng to becoming fully immersed in the fun of the harvest.

Born in 1977, Choi Kang-hee recently resumed her acting career after approximately five years through her first stage play, "Closer." In the MBC entertainment program "Omniscient Interfering View" broadcast on the 3rd, she revealed her daily life immersed in stage play practice, showing her efforts to return to the stage. Having made a new start as an actress after a long hiatus, she is showing another side of her charm by challenging herself to the unfamiliar experience of harvesting wild ginseng outside of the stage.

Read the original (Korean)