Rare 'Puffball Mushroom' Found for 13th Year Straight on South Korean Farm

A rare puffball mushroom, known globally for its rarity, has been discovered for the 13th year in a row on a farm in Namwon, South Korea. The village headman, Ju Ji-hwan, found the mushroom in his raspberry field, continuing a streak that began in 2014.

The specimen is roughly spherical, measuring approximately 30 centimeters in diameter, and is white, just before turning a light brown. Puffball mushrooms typically grow in areas rich in organic matter, such as bamboo forests and fields, during the summer and autumn. They are known for their potential effects in stopping bleeding and detoxification.

While young puffball mushrooms are edible, they become powdery, develop a foul odor, and can be toxic as they mature. Although the species was first recorded in South Korea in 1989 on Mount Gyeryongsan, consistent annual discoveries in one location are rare, according to Namwon City officials.

Ju expressed pride in the findings, attributing them to years of environmentally friendly farming practices. This unusual botanical event highlights the unique agricultural and natural landscape of the region.

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It is rewarding and I am proud that it seems to be the result of environmentally friendly farming methods that have continued for many years.