The oxidation of glycolate to glyoxylate, a key step in plant photorespiration, is carried out by the peroxisomal flavoprotein glycolate oxidase (EC 1.1.3.15). To investigate the altered gene expression and the role of GOX in ginseng plant defense system, a cDNA clone containing a GOX gene designated as PgGOX was isolated and sequenced from Panax ginseng. The cDNA was 692 nucleotides long and have an open reading frame of 552 bp with a deduced amino acid sequence of 183 residues. A GenBank BlastX search revealed that the deduced amino acid of PgGOX shares a high degree homology with the Glycine max (95% identity). In the present study we analyzed the expression of PgGOX under various environmental stresses at different times using real time-PCR. The results showed that the expressions of PgGOX increased after various treatments involving salt, light, cold, ABA, SA, and copper treatment.