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Thought I'd chime in here as I just got my HMG in today.  As of now, I've owned three of the more prominent synthetic Korean bows: SMG, YMG, and of course now the HMG.  So here's my comparison:

SMG: Actually was the first Korean bow I bought.  I sold it but actually miss it till this day.  I think SMG is a tremendous value for the money plus there's a lot of precision/QC that goes into the end product.  I'd agree with the prior reviews I've read here and ATARN that its probably one of the if not the fastest of the Korean synthetics.  It is not necessarily the most cosmetically pleasing but they do a good enough job with the synthetic covering so its tasteful enough and close enough to the aesthetics of a true horn composite.  The major con I found with it is I don't care for the monofilament wrapping above and below the grips.  I found that it could come apart too easily if one occasionally made shots where the vanes would braze the wrapping.

If SMG would change the wrapping material it would easily be the best out there, particularly when factoring in the low cost of the basic carbon SMG.

YMG: Likewise alot of precision/QC in the final product.  And yes its the most cosmetically close to the horn composites plus the grip is more delicately defined and superior wrapping material is used above and below the grip.  Its very fast like the SMG, though some express the opinion that they found the SMG faster.  I can't say scientifically one way of the other since I have never chronographed  the bows but typically, you buy a bow like the YMG for its finer qualities particularly in the superior materials used and of course the fact that it performs extraordinarily well. 

HMG: After setting the bow up today, I can honestly say its a happy medium to what the SMG and YMG are.  First, the cosmetics are so-so and some precision is lost it seems, particularly with the leather bow nock covering.  The leather doesn't appear as stretched out tightly as it could over the nock and so a bit of it actually sticks out at the tip, not fully flush against the surface.  So it has a rather crumpled look to it.  I also don't care too much for the spiraled patterns on the synthetic covering or the color of the synthetic covering, its somewhat gaudy.  Some assembly is required too for the bow as the grip material comes to you unattached.  You'll have to cut it into appropriately sized strands and wrap it around the grip your self.  I spent the morning doing that and used contact cement for the adhesive.  It turned out rather well, and its not uncommon I know to have to do this for a grip of a Korean bow but nonetheless its an extra layer of work that is required which the SMG and YMG don't. 

Some of the material I'm really pleased with though and actually find it quite exceptional compared to the others.  For instance, good string wrapping is used above and below the grip and at the siyah transition areas.  A very nice piece of what appears to be synthetic leather is placed for you at time of crafting based on whether or not you intend right handed or left handed use.  Its well placed around the side you intend to shoot and very sturdy, well glued etc. 

Regarding performance, both my SMG and YMG were 55 at 31 inches.  I bought the HMG at 45 at 31 so I can't say for sure if its 'stronger'.  Its certainly supple though and even at distances of 30 yards away from the target there really isn't a difference in drop off compared to my heavier YMG or SMG.  Its fast enough for its draw rate as I can honestly say I've had a synthetic Tatar bow at the same draw weight from a rather low grade company that was pathetically sluggish.  So even an average Korean synthetic bow will easily out perform any of the other synthetics on the market, particularly the lower grade companies as I like to think of them.

I'd say its a pretty decent value for its sticker price, but its overall not better then the YMG or even the SMG particularly value wise for the later.  At 280 USD, it comes with string, and grip wrapping material.  At 200 USD, SMG gives you its base carbon bow with two strings and a bow bag and bow sock.  Only aspects of the SMG material are somewhat lesser compared to the HMG but truthfully, you could always purchase some type of leather that's malleable enough and glue it around the monofilament wrapping of the SMG and you'd be just as good to go.

This guy may have the answer to that as I know he sells/sold the bamboo plugs on ebay occasionally:

http://bambooarrows.com/

However, even on his instructional site he advises the use of hard wood for nocking and making a tapered point to glue on ones point.

Greenmanarchery also says this:

So naturally its harder to use bamboo for such a purpose.  Traditionally, it was hardwood used for such purposes usually when crafting the Korean bamboo arrow.

Contact the user Mechwar here on this forum.  He is the international sales rep for SMG.  He can help you out.

ok.  I may be interested if its the 50 inch one.

ah another 'mid-atlanticer'.

I'm in the area you could say.  Where do you shoot?  In VA, or at Adelphi maybe?  I occasionally go here:

http://www.baltimorebowmen.com/

Mule,

'Like' to 'like' isn't the issue here which you've been trying to make it out as.  Furthermore, no two horn bows are exactly alike.  Please stop and listen to what Thomas says but also get the Karpowicz book.  Horn bows are not something you can just 'hop into'.  And they can't be compared to how synthetic bows behave either.  You need to get educated on them and find the relevant literature that will enlighten you.  I have provided the link to Adam's book.  That is pretty much the bar standard for understanding nearly everything you'll need to on horn bows.  If you buy a hornbow now with the understanding you currently have, you will most likely be in for an unfortunate experience.

Mule,

Actually I'm being quite fair, as most do not go to a horn bowyer for a Turkish flight bow.  Hence, most bowyers put enough 'meat' on their Turkish bows which is closer indeed to the war bows.  They also do this because average archer is not going to have the time or patience to go through the normal bracing procedure as that of a Korean bow.  Even this Turkish bow doesn't have a reflex as extreme as the one you show:

or the one all the way to the left here in the museum:

The design too makes a difference as well.  Korean bows typically don't have the same type of limb width or mass as a Turkish.  Turkish bows are inherently 'meatier' by nature.  Besides, Lukas' and even Grozer' horn bows are made with more 'meat' to accommodate the modern archer who wants a horn bow but does not want to go through the same you would with something like the Korean bow.

Bottom line: if you don't follow the procedures properly for stringing and maintaining a Korean horn bow, you'll be in for an unpleasant experience.  Also, the reason that Korean bow has that type of shape in your picture is because its been kept properly in a heat box as well as braced properly and used frequently.  They have a mind of their own. Use gives them dynamic stability. That is why when not in use you have to keep them in a hot box and heat when tillering.

Wouldn't the need for the heatbox afterall be the very extreme reflex that the bow has which is unlike any other traditional horn composite?

You'd pretty much have to own a korean horn bow to see why its very necessary for the heatbox if you have trouble believing.

Yes good points  sissara, and I went with jang-gung this time around indeed.  Its definitely more appropriate for me given my arm length.  My draw is just about at 31 inches with a 32 inche arrow.  Its actually easier for me using my old 31 inche SMG arrows.  So drawing more at 30 inches appears a tad more appropriate then 31.

I really couldn't achieve any of this comfortably on the shortest Korean bow that I once owned.  The stack plus my arm length issue just felt completely awkward/uncomfortable.  The hardest, but also perhaps most crucial part of selecting an appropriate bow for oneself does indeed appear to lie in selecting appropriate length of bow in addition to getting arrow length right.

lol, well its certainly not a 'philosophy'. 

But the types of longbows I had to train for certainly required me to target certain areas more then others.  The draw technique for Korean archery is obviously different then English longbow draw techniques. 

So cheer up, nothing to be sad about.  Besides its just 5 pounds to work at getting used to.  There's really no 'he-man' factor here friend.  People do occasionally like to work up to other draw weights eventually anyway.  Nothing really wrong with that.

I see.  I was afraid that may be more the reason.  I know with my 50 @ 32 Mariner I can do that well for 5 seconds.  My old Hwarang that was 50 at 28 I could hold easily as well.

My old SMG was rated 55 @ 32 and I wanted the same for my Hwarang this time around.  I do recall similar locking problems with the SMG at that draw weight.  50 is really my max it seems but I had my reasons for putting on the extra 5 pounds.  Its not that big of a deal really.  Now I know just to do more strength training at the gym.  I think I can close that 5 pound gap.

This is true.  And there are others out there who do work comparable to what Lukas does (laminated bamboo layers backed with glass) and for a far less wallet destroying price.  Mariner in particular comes to mind.  The Han 1 I have is amazing and remains my go to bow for shooting these days more then any other bow.  Matter of fact I may take it out hunting this week, either that or my Golhan Turk.

My Saluki's are getting quite the rest these days.