In a discussion of the haegum and its timbre that I had with composer and komungo player Yi Taewon (July 9, 2005), he remarked immediately that it sounded like the human voice, more so than any other Korean instrument. He said it was often difficult to distinguish the sound of haegum from that of the human voice. He also described it as capable of producing a deeply sad and emotional "sound (aejolhan sori).