The Korean people have made fine folk musical instruments for a long period of time, contributing to the development of music and dance of humans.
Among them is yanggum , or Korean zither that is played by striking or plucking its strings.
Yanggum dates back to the 18th century in Korea.
At first it was very small. It had wires stretched along a square wooden box and mounted on bridges. With the body held up in the left hand, it was played by striking a string with a beater made of bamboo in the right hand.
The wire strings produced clear, plaintive and unique tunes, but they had some shortcomings such as narrow pitch range, poor resonance, random persistence of reverberation and lack of free modulation.
In the 1960s yanggum underwent improvement, overcoming the shortcomings and gaining popularity as one of the folk instruments.
It is mostly made from spruce, Aceraceae meno and Acer triflorum .
The sound box consists of the front plate, back plate, front rim plate, back rim plate, middle rim plate, peg plate and wire pin plate.
When the instrument is played, a newly installed device prevents the sound from resonating unnecessarily longer.
The present yanggum ’s pitch range is wider than that of the previous one. The bridges are made of cast brass and the tones are adjusted with pegs.
The beater is made of elastic bamboo, with its tip attached with pressed wool.
The method of making yanggum has been put on the list of national intangible cultural heritage.
Jo Il Gyong, head of the Intangible Cultural Heritage Office of the Korean National Heritage Preservation Agency
More From Naenara (En)
A congratulatory group of the General Association of Koreans in China visiting the homeland on the occasion of the Ninth Congress
February 20, 2026
A congratulatory group of the General Association of Koreans in China visiting the homeland on the occasion of the Ninth Congress
A congratulatory group of the General Association of Koreans in China led by Chairwoman Choe Un Bok arrived in Pyongyang on
February 20, 2026
A congratulatory group of the General Association of Koreans in China led by Chairwoman Choe Un Bok arrived in Pyongyang on
Industrial design exhibitions for celebrating February 16 on the theme of “New era of regional transformation and industrial
February 20, 2026
Industrial design exhibitions for celebrating February 16 on the theme of “New era of regional transformation and industrial
On February 1 the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm was inaugurated. The large-scale greenhouse farm, the fourth of its kind among
February 20, 2026
On February 1 the Sinuiju Combined Greenhouse Farm was inaugurated. The large-scale greenhouse farm, the fourth of its kind among
The Third People’s Art Festival for Celebrating February 16 closed in the DPRK. The festival performances were given at theatres a
February 20, 2026
The Third People’s Art Festival for Celebrating February 16 closed in the DPRK. The festival performances were given at theatres a
In the DPRK any construction project is completed in the year of its groundbreaking. At this new speed of construction a large
February 20, 2026
In the DPRK any construction project is completed in the year of its groundbreaking. At this new speed of construction a large
The Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp was inaugurated with due ceremony on January 20. The holiday camp built in a scenic
February 19, 2026
The Onpho Working People’s Holiday Camp was inaugurated with due ceremony on January 20. The holiday camp built in a scenic
The DPRK regards education as the most important state affair and takes all necessary measures to improve educational conditions
February 19, 2026
The DPRK regards education as the most important state affair and takes all necessary measures to improve educational conditions
All the people across the country joyfully celebrated lunar New Year’s Day.Many people visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the
February 19, 2026
All the people across the country joyfully celebrated lunar New Year’s Day.Many people visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun, the
During their military occupation of Korea the Japanese imperialists conducted a “survey” of books inspiring patriotic spirit
February 19, 2026
During their military occupation of Korea the Japanese imperialists conducted a “survey” of books inspiring patriotic spirit
The DPRK people greet the Day of the Shining Star, the greatest national auspicious holiday, ahead of the historic Ninth Congress
February 18, 2026
The DPRK people greet the Day of the Shining Star, the greatest national auspicious holiday, ahead of the historic Ninth Congress
There was a significant ceremony ahead of the opening of the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea which all the Party
February 18, 2026
There was a significant ceremony ahead of the opening of the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea which all the Party
Delegates to the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where President Kim Il
February 18, 2026
Delegates to the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea visited the Kumsusan Palace of the Sun where President Kim Il
Officials, working people, service personnel, youth and students visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim
February 18, 2026
Officials, working people, service personnel, youth and students visited the statues of President Kim Il Sung and Chairman Kim
The Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, an important political event in the history of our Party and state, is to be
February 18, 2026
The Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea, an important political event in the history of our Party and state, is to be
Dance party of youth and students were held in the DPRK on February 16 to celebrate the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim
February 18, 2026
Dance party of youth and students were held in the DPRK on February 16 to celebrate the 84th birth anniversary of Chairman Kim
Pyongyang International Football School works to steadily improve the scientific level of teaching. By using a newly-developed
February 18, 2026
Pyongyang International Football School works to steadily improve the scientific level of teaching. By using a newly-developed
The animal population in the Central Zoo located on the foot of Mt Taesong in the capital city of Pyongyang keeps increasing to
February 18, 2026
The animal population in the Central Zoo located on the foot of Mt Taesong in the capital city of Pyongyang keeps increasing to
A joint national meeting of the Korean Children’s Union organizations took place in Pyongyang on February 15 to celebrate the
February 17, 2026
A joint national meeting of the Korean Children’s Union organizations took place in Pyongyang on February 15 to celebrate the
One day in January 2009, Chairman Kim Jong Il dropped by a family of a newly-wed couple of discharged soldiers on his inspection
February 17, 2026
One day in January 2009, Chairman Kim Jong Il dropped by a family of a newly-wed couple of discharged soldiers on his inspection
More Articles
