To investigate the effect of light intensity on the growth of shoots and roots, water and chlorophyll contents in the ginseng leaf were determined at 5%, l0%, 20%, 30% light transmittance rate (LTR) with 1,2 and 4 year-old ginseng plants in the field. Stem length, size of the leaf, water and chlorophyll contents were decreased as the increase of the light intensity in all ages of ginseng plants. The degree of decrease was severe in the one year-old ginseng compared to that of 2, or 4 year-old ginseng, while there was no difference between the 2 and 4 year-old plants. Root weight per plant was highest at 5% LTR in the one year-old plants, while it was at 20% LTR in the 2 and 4 year-old plants. Generally, demand of light for the growth of one year-old ginseng was lower than those of 2 or 4 year-old plants there was no difference of it among the ginseng plants older than 2 years.