Disclosed herein is a whitening cosmetic composition containing plant-derived ginsenoside F1 (20-O-beta-D-glucopyranosyl-20(S)-protopanaxatriol) as an active ingredient. More specifically, the ginsenoside F1 is obtained from particularly a ginseng extract using an acid, a base, an enzyme or microorganism, and a whitening cosmetic composition containing the ginsenoside F1 has an excellent effect of inhibiting melanin biosynthesis, and thus provides an excellent skin whitening effect.