Net Bag

Jurumak is a bag generally used to carry grains or potatoes. It was also used to carry a packed lunch or portable tools, and would be shouldered when picking medicinal herbs or hunting in the mountain. Used frequently in the mountainous regions of Gangwon Province, this bag varied in size and generally had the capacity of around 55 kg of potatoes. It was square but resembled a pouch when its opening was tightened. Several loops were attached to the rim of the mouth to allow it to be tightened, and a rope was threaded through the loops at the mouth and at both lower corners to function as suspenders. Jurumak was made of various materials including straw, which was the norm, while those made of sedge, twine, and particularly twisted paper were considered luxury items. It was densely woven from thin straw ropes by using a foot-operated weaving machine or a mat weaving machine. The loops, which suffered the most friction, were reinforced by winding them with kudzu runners, sedge, or wild-walnut tree bark.