Cell growth and ginseng saponin production by suspension cultures of Panax ginseng were investigated under various initial sucrose concentrations and inoculum sizes. Cell growth was low at a low inoculum size of 1.5 g DW/1, and the maximum cell growth rate was obtained at 3 g DW/1 of inoculum size. A cell density of 22.4 g/l was obtained at inoculum size of 6 g DW/1 and initial sucrose concentration of 60 g/l after 26 days cultivation. The maximum cell yield of 0.83 was obtained at inoculum size of 3 g DW/1 and initial sucrose level of 30 g/l. Saponin biosynthesis was stimulated with high initial sucrose concentrations (60-80 g/l), and the maximum saponin production of 275 mg/l was achieved at 6 g/l of inoculum size and 60 g/l initial medium sucrose. This work is considered to be helpful for efficient large-scale bioprocessing of the ginseng cell cultures in bioreactors.