How does the p'iri produce its distinctive rich tone?

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Korean music Musician playing a *kŏmungo*, a type of Korean zither with six strings.

The p'iri produces its distinctive, rich tone primarily through its construction as a cylindrical oboe featuring a large bamboo mouthpiece and body.1

The instrument's sound characteristics are determined by its specific design and reed size:

Reed and Bore: The use of a large reed—such as the 7 cm (3-inch) reed found on the hyang-p'iri—contributes to its characteristic loud and nasal quality.1
Variations: Different models, such as the se-p'iri and the tang-p'iri, utilize variations in bore size and overall dimensions to achieve specific tonal qualities, ranging from soft and lyrical to strident and powerful, depending on the requirements of the music genre.1