The Jeonnam Rural Development Administration (Director Kim Haeng-ran) announced that it has developed the nation's first functional mugwort variety, 'Rubichae,' and completed the application for variety protection. This new variety development is considered a significant achievement in the domestication of health functional ingredients and the establishment of a base for the industrialization of regional specialty products, and it is expected to greatly contribute to increasing farmers' income in the future. The main functional component of mugwort, 'rutin,' is known to be effective in improving atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis. However, the existing native varieties had low productivity and functional component content, making the development of a new variety essential for industrialization and standardization. Currently, mugwort is a perennial plant and