We induced the activation of melanocytes in the epidermis of C57BL/6 mice by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation and observed the effect of red ginseng (RG) on the formation, and decrease of UVB-induced epidermal mel-anocytes. C57BL/6 mice were irradiated by UVB $80mJ/cm^2$ (0.5 mW/sec) daily for 7 days, and RG was intraperitoneally or topically applied pre- or post-irradiation. For the estimation of change of epidermal melanocytes, light microscopic observation with dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) stain was performed. Split epidermal sheets prepared from the ear of untreated mice exhibited 11-16 $melanocytes/mm^2$, and one week after UV irradiation, the applied areas show an increased number of strongly DOPA-positive melanocytes with stout dendrites. But intraperitoneal or topical treatment with RG before each irradiation interrupted UVB-induced pigmentation and resulted in a marked reduction in the number of epidermal melanocytes as compared to radiation control skin. The number and size of DOPA-positive epidermal mel-anocytes were also significantly decreased in intraperitoneally injected or topically applicated group after irradiation with RG at 3rd and 6th weeks after irradiation. The present study suggests the RG as inhibitor of UVB-induced pigmentation and depigmenting agent.