The geomungo,[a] alternate name hyeongeum,[b] is a traditional Korean plucked zither with both bridges and frets.

The geomungo's place in Korean culture is traditionally that of a scholars' instrument for self-cultivation, much like ancient Chinese had done with the guqin in China.

[3] According to the Samguk Sagi (Chronicles of the Three Kingdoms), written in 1145, the geomungo was invented in the 6th century by prime minister Wang San-ak by remodeling the form of the ancient Chinese instrument guqin (gogeum, also called chilhyeongeum, literally "seven-string zither").

However, National Gugak Center of Korea raises the possibility that the geomungo originated from a traditional musical instrument of Goguryeo before Guqin was introduced.

[3] The geomungo is approximately 162 cm long and 23 cm wide (63.75 inches long, 9 inches wide), and has movable bridges called anjok (雁足 "goose feet") and 16 frets called gwae (棵; numbered 1 to 16 from left to right).

Near the bridge is a leather-covered section called daemo to protect the surface from the striking of the suldae stick.

The player can use the stick to strike the daemo leather protector during plucks to create percussive effects.

The instrument is played in traditional Korean court music and the folk styles of sanjo and sinawi.