National Intangible Cultural Heritage--Oungum Manufacturing Technique

Oungum manufacturing technique implies the technique and method of manufacturing Oungum, a national instrument.

The Oungum is a national instrument which was named by Chairman Kim Jong Il. The Chairman initiated the manufacturing of Oungum and saw to it that the musical instrument was completed during the days of Oun-dong military camping when he was a student at Kim Il Sung University.

At first, the sound box was made triangular or pentagonal as its side face was hard to bend.

Seeing through this problem at once, the Chairman taught the solution, saying that a frame with which to bend the side face round could be made.

He also taught that the sound box should not be nailed but firmly attached with glue, noting that if they were going to make a musical instrument at all, they should make even one piece perfect.

In particular, he paid deep attention to naming the musical instrument.

Saying that there was no need to give a foreign name to the musical instrument made in our own style, he proposed calling it Oungum in that it was made in the valley of Oun-dong during the military camping. He added that though the musical instrument was not so original and perfect as to have its own name, the campers would feel pride if we named it Oungum.

The Oungum born under his attentive guidance has become known worldwide as an excellent cultural heritage of our people.

The Oungum manufacturing technique was registered as a national intangible cultural heritage on Oct.５, ２０２４.

Rodong Sinmun