Mulberry (Ppong) in Korean Skincare

Mulberry is closely tied to Korea's silk-making heritage, and mulberry extracts are now used in skincare for brightening and antioxidant benefits.

Cultural origin

Mulberry (ppongnamu, 뽕나무) has a strong historical connection to Korea through sericulture, since mulberry leaves are the food of silkworms and silk production has a long history in Korea and East Asia. The mulberry tree, its leaves, and its fruit have been used in food and traditional contexts. This heritage tie to silk and traditional plant use gives mulberry authentic cultural roots.

Traditional use

Beyond feeding silkworms, mulberry leaves and fruit (and the root bark in some traditions) have documented use in East Asian herbal and culinary practice. The plant was a valued, multi-purpose resource. In beauty, mulberry is often associated with brightening, an idea that connects to traditional uses of mulberry root and bark extracts in regional herbal practice.

Modern skincare use

In modern cosmetics, mulberry extract (including mulberry root or bark extract) is marketed as a brightening and antioxidant ingredient, appearing in serums and creams aimed at dull or uneven-looking skin. Mulberry-derived extracts have been studied for skin-brightening potential, though cosmetic brightening claims are about appearance rather than medical treatment. Its silk-linked heritage adds storytelling value to these products.

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Sources

• Morus (plant) (Wikipedia) ↗
• Sericulture (Wikipedia) ↗

✍️ Written & reviewed by the KoreaPlus Editorial team — dermatologist-informed, cosmetic-science researched & source-cited. Last reviewed 2026-06-21.

General educational information using cosmetic structure-function wording — not medical advice. Always patch-test new actives. © KoreaPlus.