Founder’s Message – The Root of Root Terra

Founder’s Message
By Allen Kim, Founder of Root Terra



They say in America, the higher up the mountain you live, the wealthier you are. But in Korea, it’s often the opposite. I was born in a small mountain village on the outskirts of Seoul(산동네 [ˈsan.t͈oŋ.ne])—a place defined more by hardship than prosperity. I was a fragile baby, so weak that the midwife told my parents I might not survive beyond infancy.

But my parents never gave up on me. With love, patience, and devotion, they did everything they could to nurture me. When I turned two, I was still far from healthy. Despite our family’s financial struggles, my father made an extraordinary decision: he bought a root of Korean ginseng—an expensive investment for us at the time—and placed it next to me so I could chew on it whenever I felt hungry.

Was it the ginseng that saved me? Or the boundless love of my parents? Maybe both. But somehow, that sickly boy grew strong. And now, decades later, I can look back and see how that moment quietly planted a seed for everything that came after.

Our family eventually immigrated to the United States. After graduating college, I worked at several companies. The jobs were stable, the paths predictable—but something was missing. I couldn’t find meaning in the work I was doing.

One summer, during a rare trip back to Korea, I found myself exploring a region called Geumsan—famous for its ginseng. I hadn’t planned to go there. I was simply wandering. But as I stood in front of a vast, sunlit ginseng field, something pulled me in.



As I stared, mesmerized by the rows of plants swaying gently in the wind, an elderly farmer with deep lines etched into his face approached me. He handed me a cold cup of sikhye and casually said, “This is Korea’s real treasure. And if you want the best ginseng, Geumsan is where it begins.”

That moment sparked something. I had no memory of my early childhood ginseng experience, but a deep emotional pull rooted itself in me. Later that day, I visited a local exhibition center where I saw a wide variety of red ginseng products and learned about their many health benefits. I was instantly captivated by the cultural heritage, scientific value, and global potential of Korean red ginseng.

Right then and there, I called my parents back in the U.S. and told them, “I want to start a business that introduces Korean red ginseng to the American market.” That’s when my father reminded me of what he had done for me as a sick child—placing a piece of ginseng by my side so I could grow strong.

I am not an extrovert. In fact, I’m quite a private, quiet person. But this calling gave me the courage to start Root Terra.

For over a decade now, I’ve been studying Korean red ginseng, black ginseng, and other time-honored health products from Korea. Not all products are created equal—and we’ve seen how some brands compromise on quality. That’s why I’ve made it my mission to source only the most carefully cultivated, rigorously tested, and authentically Korean products for Root Terra.

Every product we carry is one I would proudly give to my own family. We work directly with trusted Korean producers, and we do the hard work of verifying ingredients, production methods, and scientific integrity—so you don’t have to.

We’re still growing, and that growth wouldn’t be possible without the support of our amazing customers. Many of you have shared our products with your loved ones—and that simple act of recommendation has been one of the greatest gifts to our journey.

If you believe in what we do, the best way to support us is to tell a friend. From our family to yours, thank you for being part of the Root Terra story.


Allen Kim SignWarmly,
Allen Kim
Founder, Root Terra