Personalized Experiences At The Monami Concept Stores In Seoul

I was once gifted a Monami pen at a beauty event in Seoul. It was a beautiful pen with a light pink metal casing with perfect heft and it even had my name on it. It was one of those pens that I made people hold so they could also understand the appeal and so they could understand why I wouldn’t let them just walk away with my pen. Some years later it was stolen, and so I went out of my way to find another to replace it and that’s when I discovered the fun to be had in the Monami Concept Stores in Seoul, Korea.

If you find yourself in Seoul and have a penchant for unique stationery experiences, make sure to visit the Monami Concept Stores. There is one in Seongsu-dong as well as in Insadong.

Looking for something fun to do in Seoul and you love stationary? Don’t miss the Monami Concept Stores:

• Basic Info
  • Monami Seongsu (모나미스토어 성수점)
  • Monami Insadong (모나미스토어 인사동점)
• Monami’s Legacy
• Discovering the Monami Experiences In Seoul
• Personalized Engraving Experience

(This post contains affiliate links, which means I receive a certain percentage of a sale if you purchase after clicking at no cost to you. Thank you for your support.)

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Basic Info

There are two Monami stores in Seoul that you can visit for shopping but also some of their unique experiences. I’ve also noted how the stores are a bit different in aesthetics though provide the same products and experiences.

Monami Seongsu (모나미스토어 성수점)

This is a very industrial space that utilizes metal and cement in their design.

• Address: 104 Achasan-ro, Seongdong-gu, Seoul (서울 성동구 아차산로 104)
• Directions: From Seongsu Subway Station, the Monami shop is in a building that is located between exits 3 and 4 so once you exit from either one, turn around to see the building.
• Hours: Every day: 10:00am ~ 9:00pm

Monami Insadong (모나미스토어 인사동점)

This is a more rustic and homey feel with wooden accents on white walls.

• Address: 2nd floor, 49 Insadong-gil, Jongno-gu, Seoul (서울 종로구 인사동길 49 2F 11호)
• Directions: From Anguk Subway Station, go out of exit 6 and walk straight to the main Insadong street on your left. Walk down to find Annyeong Insa, the massive shopping and lifestyle building on your right. This branch is inside on the second floor.
• Hours: Every day: 10:00am ~ 9:00pm

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Monami’s Legacy

Before you dive into the creative haven of Monami, I think it’s important to understand a bit about the history of the company that is a household name in Korea’s stationary scene. You can’t walk into any stationary store in Seoul or around Korea without finding a section of Monami products.

Established in 1963, Monami revolutionized the stationery industry with its groundbreaking Monami 153 ballpoint pen. Conceived by the company’s first president, Song Sam-seok, this pen became a staple in the lives of Koreans, offering convenience and durability.

Monami’s success story wasn’t without its challenges. Initially met with reluctance as consumers clung to traditional pen and ink sets, Monami invested heavily in advertising and product quality. The result? The enduring popularity of the Monami 153, with more than four billion pens sold to date. And yes, that’s exactly the pen I alluded to in my introduction.

The limited edition metal casing pens they produce provide just the perfect heft and the ink glides so smoothly on the paper. It is an ideal writing instrument. I purchased 6 in store so I could have one on every desk and in each hand bag I carry. Worth it!

These days, Monami isn’t only in Korea, they have expanded into over 100 countries, exporting to places like China and Turkey. They have also collaborated with brands like Hyundai Motor and Kakao Friends making them more and more recognizable as a brand. So, don’t be surprised if you can find Monami pens and markers in your local market as well.

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Discovering the Monami Experiences In Seoul

While you can absolutely find Monami products online and probably in some of your stationary stores in your country, visiting a Monami store in Seoul provides some additional experiences and services that you can’t get there. Experiential shopping is majorly popular in Korea and shops companies like Monami are doing a brilliant job at devising ways to keep you in their stores longer.

At Monami Factory Seongsu or Insadong, you’ll step into a world where stationery comes to life. Known for their iconic ballpoint pens, Monami offers visitors the chance to see, try, and purchase a diverse range of products, but upon entering you’ll likely notice the DIY stations.

Visitors are invited to craft their very own ballpoint pen or even experiment with fountain pen ink. If you want to join the Ink Lab Experience in which you can create your own unique color, you need to make a reservation online with Monami. The creation station is open for anyone at any time though. Let your kids jump in and create their own fun pens.

• The Ink Lab Experience is available at both the Seongsu shop and the Insadong shop.
• If you can’t make a reservation on the site, there is a phone number and email for each shop provided in the link above. Get in touch with them directly.

It’s not just a store; it’s an immersive experience tailored for millennials who appreciate the art of ‘drawing’ in all its forms. But even if you’re not a millennial, I’m sure you’ll have fun there.

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Personalized Engraving Experience

Another great thing about visiting the shop in person is that you can get your pens personalized. This makes it not only a unique item to take home with you from Korea, but also makes for a great gift option if you’re looking for something to give to a friend back home.

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If you’re looking for something fun to get as a gift for yourself or for a friend or your kids, definitely check out a Monami Store in Seoul, Korea.

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