Korea has been considered one of developed nations in making different kinds of orchestral and percussion instruments with peculiar tones and shapes.

Among its traditional instruments are thungso (bamboo flute), jotae (cross flute), tanso (short bamboo flute), saenap (brass wind instrument), kayagum and haegum (four-string fiddle).

Compass and volume of those instruments were drastically improved, through implementation of leader Kim Jong Il's line on bettering national instruments.

They are mostly played in solo and ensemble, while playing an important role in the Korean-style mixed orchestral music.