Why Does Monami, Korea’s Beloved Ballpoint Pen Brand, Make Cosmetics? From the Secret Behind the Number 153 to Its Entry Into the Beauty Business
Many people in Korea may not be familiar with this brand’s clothing or cosmetics, but almost no one has never used its ballpoint pen. This is the story of Monami, the brand with a white barrel and a black cap that has become a fixture in everyday life.
Monami’s recent moves have drawn major attention. In the face of sweeping changes such as a declining school-age population and digitalization, the company has boldly pushed beyond the boundaries of the traditional stationery industry. It began by turning the meme-like “Monami look” from popular culture into an official clothing line through its real fashion project, Monami Fashion Lab. It then expanded into color cosmetics, using more than 60 years of expertise in ink formulation and plastic molding to produce eyeliners, eyebrow products and more.
It has also expanded its Monami Store with lifestyle and automotive products. Here, we take a closer look at how Monami, long loved as a national writing instrument brand, has boldly transformed into a distinctive lifestyle and beauty brand that fills our daily lives, and at the results of that transformation.
Q1. When was the national ballpoint pen, Monami 153 Ballpoint Pen, first released?
It was first launched on May 1, 1963. At a time when Korea had no in-house ballpoint pen manufacturing technology, the late founder Song Sam-seok developed it after independent research. It was the country’s first oil-based ballpoint pen. By making it possible to write without getting ink on your hands, it marked a true innovation. In that sense, the history of handwriting in Korea can be divided into before and after this pen.
Q2. Why was the name 153 chosen? Is there a secret behind the number 153?
It is a magical number full of hidden meaning. There are three fun behind-the-scenes stories behind it.
A biblical clue: The founder was inspired by the story in the Gospel of John, where the disciples’ net was filled with 153 fish. The number reflects the wish to achieve abundant business results, just as a net overflows with a bountiful catch.
Simple number marketing: When the pen was launched in 1963, it cost 15 won. Adding the fact that it was Monami’s third product created the easy-to-remember number 153.
A familiar cultural aspiration: In traditional Korean number symbolism, adding 1, 5 and 3 gives 9, the highest ending digit, known as gap-o. It is also a positive interpretation that reflects the company’s witty ambition and confidence in becoming the best in the stationery industry.
Q3. The claim that it has sold enough to circle the Earth sounds exaggerated. Is it really true?
Looking at the official records, it is not an exaggeration but a fact backed by data. Since its launch, cumulative sales of the Monami 153 Ballpoint Pen have officially exceeded 4.3 billion units. If you line them up end to end based on the pen’s length of 13.5 cm, the total distance comes to about 580,000 km. That is enough to circle the Earth’s circumference of about 40,000 km 14 and a half times, and it is even longer than the average distance from Earth to the Moon, about 380,000 km. It is clear proof that this is truly a national ballpoint pen.
Q4. With digital devices becoming more common, demand for traditional writing instruments must have fallen sharply. Is Monami doing all right?
Faced with the huge challenge of digital expansion, Monami is boldly reshaping its identity and accelerating a major transformation. Its goal is no longer simply to make tools for writing. Instead, it aims to become a total lifestyle and beauty brand that accompanies consumers in every part of daily life and self-expression.
If it had remained limited to a single product category such as writing instruments, growth would have been constrained. But Monami is successfully extending its 60-year heritage and precision manufacturing capabilities into a wide range of high-value everyday sectors, including fashion, beauty, living products and automotive accessories. This bold diversification beyond stationery is drawing strong attention as a necessary and dynamic move to secure the brand’s survival in future markets and create new growth engines.
Q5. Is it true that the company established a subsidiary to make cosmetics using the same technology it used for ballpoint pens?
Yes, that is absolutely true. To secure future growth drivers, Monami established Monami Cosmetics, a specialized color cosmetics manufacturer focused on OEM and ODM production, and entered the beauty market in earnest. This was not simply a trend-driven expansion that borrowed the brand name. Rather, it was the result of applying Monami’s 60-year DNA in stationery manufacturing and its core technologies directly to cosmetics.
In fact, the chemical blending technology once used for liquid ink in markers and ballpoint pens evolved into technology for vivid color payoff and long-lasting performance in cosmetics. The plastic molding technology that precisely sealed pen caps to keep ink from drying out has been reborn as airtight container technology that helps cosmetic contents dispense smoothly and prevents them from hardening. By recognizing that eyeliners and eyebrow pencils are essentially “pens for the face,” Monami has cleverly reinterpreted the technology it knows best into a well-made innovation.
Q6. Are there any hit products or popular items among the cosmetics made by Monami Cosmetics that we might know?
Rather than putting its own brand front and center, Monami Cosmetics is growing as an OEM and ODM company that develops and manufactures products for global beauty brands.
The product that best demonstrated its manufacturing capabilities to the public is the TinyTAN Daily Waterful Sun Care line, a collaboration with BTS characters. By successfully launching a sunscreen with nearly 80% moisture essence that applies as smoothly as a hydrating cream, along with a sun stick that finishes with a light, non-greasy feel, the company proved its formulation technology.
In particular, based on the ink-formulation technology mentioned earlier and its signature airtight container technology that keeps contents from hardening easily, the company has established itself as a hidden master manufacturer of pen-type color cosmetics such as eyeliners and eyebrow products for indie beauty brands in Korea and abroad.
Q7. Where can we see Monami Cosmetics’ technology-driven products in person?
The best place to experience the original products directly planned, manufactured and launched by Monami Cosmetics is the Monami Store, located in Seongsu-dong and at Starfield Suwon. There, visitors can try and buy familiar stationery items as well as the TinyTAN Sun Care line products that have drawn attention for Monami Cosmetics’ distinctive technology.
From writing tools used every day to beauty products applied every day, it is the perfect place to experience Monami’s evolved space and brand value as it sketches a more beautiful lifestyle for consumers.
In one sentence: Based on more than 60 years of expertise in ink formulation and molding technology, Monami is expanding into fashion, living products and beauty, evolving into a one-of-a-kind lifestyle brand.
This content was prepared by MaeKyung Biz Content Planning Team based on official announcements and press releases.
