Disclosed herein is a. skin external composition containing ginseng berry extract. More specifically, disclosed is a skin external composition, which contains, as an active ingredient, ginseng berry extract having the specific components and compositions, among the above-ground parts of ginseng, and thus promotes the production of collagen in the skin, shows an MMP-I inhibitory effect and, at the same time, has skin-aging inhibitory and wrinkle-reducing effects, resulting from antioxidant effects and DNA damage-protecting effects. Also disclosed is a skin external composition, which contains, as an active ingredient, ginseng berry extract, which has a skin whitening effect resulting from the effects of inhibiting melanin production and reducing pigmentation caused by UV radiation, the effects of relieving dry skin symptoms and atopic symptoms by inducing and maintaining the normal differentiation of skin keratinocytes, the effect of relieving acne and skin troubles by the regulation of sebum secretion and an anti-inflammatory effect, and makes complexion ruddy through the improvement of peripheral blood circulation to make the skin clean and clear. Also disclosed is a food composition for reducing and preventing obesity, which contains, as an active ingredient, ginseng berry extract, which increases the expression of a carnitine palmitoyl transterase-1 (CPT-I) gene, serves to transport fatty acids into mitochondria in fatty acid oxidation and promotes fat oxidation.