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)
Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic
April 08, 2026
Kim Jong Un , General Secretary of the Workers’ Party of Korea and President of the State Affairs Commission of the Democratic
The National Photo Exhibition on the theme of “Immortal exploits recorded in the history of architecture centered on the masses of
April 08, 2026
The National Photo Exhibition on the theme of “Immortal exploits recorded in the history of architecture centered on the masses of
Etched in the annals of the revolutionary career of President Kim Il Sung are the efforts he made to lay foundations for the
April 08, 2026
Etched in the annals of the revolutionary career of President Kim Il Sung are the efforts he made to lay foundations for the
The third workshop of chief secretaries of city and county Party committees took place from April 4 to 6. The Central Committee of
April 08, 2026
The third workshop of chief secretaries of city and county Party committees took place from April 4 to 6. The Central Committee of
Go among the people!—this reflects President Kim Il Sung ’s mode of leading the revolution. He always found himself among the
April 07, 2026
Go among the people!—this reflects President Kim Il Sung ’s mode of leading the revolution. He always found himself among the
I am very glad to attend the opening ceremony of the stamp exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the issue of the first stamp
April 07, 2026
I am very glad to attend the opening ceremony of the stamp exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the issue of the first stamp
April 7 is World Health Day. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea entered the World Health Organization in 1973. In the
April 07, 2026
April 7 is World Health Day. The Democratic People’s Republic of Korea entered the World Health Organization in 1973. In the
The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival is going on every day. Artistes of different countries are staging songs praising
April 06, 2026
The 34th April Spring Friendship Art Festival is going on every day. Artistes of different countries are staging songs praising
A new era of regional development is being ushered in across the DPRK. In January 2024 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un set forth
April 06, 2026
A new era of regional development is being ushered in across the DPRK. In January 2024 the respected Comrade Kim Jong Un set forth
A high-concentration air anion generator developed by the High-tech Products Development Centre under Sinuiju Teachers Training
April 06, 2026
A high-concentration air anion generator developed by the High-tech Products Development Centre under Sinuiju Teachers Training
Kumkangsania asiatica growing in Naegumgang-ri in Kumgang County, Kangwon Province, is a deciduous broadleaf shrub. It is an indig
April 06, 2026
Kumkangsania asiatica growing in Naegumgang-ri in Kumgang County, Kangwon Province, is a deciduous broadleaf shrub. It is an indig
A reception was given by the DPRK embassy in Moscow on March 31 to mark the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
April 06, 2026
A reception was given by the DPRK embassy in Moscow on March 31 to mark the Ninth Congress of the Workers’ Party of Korea.
The 16th enlarged plenary meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea took place on April
April 05, 2026
The 16th enlarged plenary meeting of the Seventh Central Committee of the Socialist Women’s Union of Korea took place on April
The 16th enlarged plenary meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea was held on
April 05, 2026
The 16th enlarged plenary meeting of the Eighth Central Committee of the General Federation of Trade Unions of Korea was held on
An enlarged plenary meeting of the Cabinet of the DPRK was held at the Cabinet through video-conferencing on April 3. The meeting
April 05, 2026
An enlarged plenary meeting of the Cabinet of the DPRK was held at the Cabinet through video-conferencing on April 3. The meeting
The 14th enlarged plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea was held on April
April 05, 2026
The 14th enlarged plenary meeting of the Ninth Central Committee of the Union of Agricultural Workers of Korea was held on April
The 29th National Cooking Festival took place at Hwasong Restaurant from March 31 to April 3 on the occasion of the auspicious
April 05, 2026
The 29th National Cooking Festival took place at Hwasong Restaurant from March 31 to April 3 on the occasion of the auspicious
The Korean ancestors created the seasonal subdivisions that are obtained by dividing the orbit of the earth around the sun by 24.
April 05, 2026
The Korean ancestors created the seasonal subdivisions that are obtained by dividing the orbit of the earth around the sun by 24.
Since ancient times, the Korean people have created and carried on several customs suited to seasonal characteristics of April.
April 05, 2026
Since ancient times, the Korean people have created and carried on several customs suited to seasonal characteristics of April.
One day in December 1992, President Kim Il Sung said to officials.“I wrote ‘The people are my God’ in my reminiscences and this me
April 05, 2026
One day in December 1992, President Kim Il Sung said to officials.“I wrote ‘The people are my God’ in my reminiscences and this me
More Articles
