To differentiate the quality of Korean ginseng from those of other habitats, the quantitative analysis of free amino acids(FAA) and total amino acids(TAA) in addition to ginsenoside Rb1 and Rg1 was carried out using amino acid analyzer and HPLC, respectively. FAA pattern in Korean ginseng was much different from that of Panax notoginseng. The difference in total content of FAA was also found that Korean ginseng contained 26.3-39.8mg/g while Panax notoginseng contained 6.5mg/g. This FAA content had a tendency to increase with the age of radix. The contents of FAA and TAA in Korean ginseng(6 years old) from Kumsan were shown to be the highest than other ginseng origins tested. The content in the 6 years Panax ginseng from China was about same with that of 4 years Korean ginseng of Kumsan. However, regarding to gisenoside Rbl and Rg1, which have been accepted as the characteristic components of Panax ginseng-Panax notoginseng showed considerably higher content than those of any other ginseng origin.