Name

Monami

Legal name

(주)모나미 (Monami Co., Ltd.)

Website

https://monami.com

Company type

Public

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Stationery / Writing Instruments

NAICS

Office Supplies (except Paper) Manufacturing (33994), Printing Ink Manufacturing (32591)

SIC

Pens, Pencils & Other Artists' Materials (3950)

akta.pro primary industry

Stationery & Office Paper Products (notebooks, pads, forms) (IMAMAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Printing Inks (IMAEAHAG), Art & Drafting Supplies Retail (CRALABAG)

Keywords

• Writing instruments
• Premium ballpoint pens
• Stationery products
• Industrial markers
• Art supplies

Headquarters

HQ city

Seongnam

HQ country

South Korea

HQ region

Asia

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Writing Instruments and Stationery Products: Core revenue from manufacturing and selling pens, markers, highlighters, and art materials. Products include premium pens (153 series), ballpoint pens, fountain pens, highlighters, whiteboard markers, permanent markers, and specialty markers for industrial and lifestyle applications.
2. Industrial OEM Products: Customized industrial markers and writing instruments for automotive, textile, shipbuilding, and other manufacturing sectors. Products are developed to customer specifications with specialized ink formulations.
3. Corporate/Bulk Sales: B2B sales of customized promotional items and corporate merchandise through the MPMS (Monami Promotion/Merchandise Solution) platform.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Monami manufactures and sells a comprehensive range of writing instruments and stationery products including premium ballpoint pens (153 series), fountain pens, roller pens, whiteboard and permanent markers, highlighters, art materials (oil pastels, watercolors), correction tape, and erasers. The company also produces customized industrial OEM markers for automotive, textile, shipbuilding, and other manufacturing sectors, and offers corporate merchandise through its MPMS promotional solutions platform.

Product overview

Monami is Korea's leading stationery company offering a comprehensive portfolio of writing instruments and art supplies. The product lineup includes premium pens under the 153 series (Gold, Respect, ID, Black & White, Blossom, NEO), ballpoint pens (Triffis, FX ZETA, FX ZETA C3), fountain pens (153 NEO Fountain Pen, 153 ID Fountain Pen), roller pens (Vuriter Ⅱ), mechanical pencils (Zenith 7), and gel ink pens. Marker products span whiteboard markers (SigmaFlo series), permanent markers, water-based markers (Color Twin Brush), and industrial markers (Pro Cap Dry Pencil Marker). Artist materials include oil pastels, watercolors, crayons, acrylic paints, gouache paints, and Bauhaus color pencils. Office supplies under the LOBDA brand and design stationery brands ZENITH and ZEQUENZ extend beyond traditional stationery into lifestyle products. The company also operates MONAMI FASHION LAB as a fashion brand extension. Monami serves both consumer and industrial markets with specialized products like kitchen markers, fabric markers, and industrial markers for automotive, shipbuilding, and manufacturing sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 153: Premium writing instrument line including ballpoint pens, fountain pens, and mechanical pencils
• ZENITH
• ZEQUENZ
• LOBDA
• MONAMI FASHION LAB
• Plus Pen 3000
• PROCAP
• Mobee

Products and services

• 153 Gold Ballpoint Pen Premium ballpoint pen coated with real gold in three body color variants (Luxurious Yellow Gold, Romantic Rose Gold, Sophisticated White Gold); compatible with 1.0mm/0.7mm metal refills; targets premium gifting and executive use.
• 153 Respect Ballpoint Pen Twist-retractable premium ballpoint pen with dense metal body, three deep dignified body colors, and 1.0mm tip; marketed for executives and gifting.
• 153 ID Ballpoint Pen Premium ballpoint pen with metal body, four sensuous matt finish colors, and premium metal refill; targets the premium everyday writing segment.
• 153 NEO Ballpoint Pen Fashion-item twist-retractable ballpoint pen with vivid body colors and chrome-plated parts, positioned as a stylish everyday premium pen.
• Plus Pen 3000 Prime Premium oil-based ballpoint pen with metal material reinterpretation of the Plus Pen 3000 design, featuring hairline finishing, 0.7mm writing line, and an FX 4000 premium refill; targets the premium gifting and everyday executive segment.
• Triffis Ballpoint Pen Retractable ballpoint pen with an ergonomic triangular barrel designed for effortless, fatigue-free writing; targets everyday writers, students, and offices.
• FX ZETA Ballpoint Pen Ballpoint pen with Monami's revolutionary low-viscosity ink for smooth and flawless writing; available in 0.5mm/0.7mm/1.0mm tip sizes with a comfortable grip.
• Vuriter II Roller Pen Rollerball pen with water-based liquid ink and a liquid ink regulator system that ensures complete use of ink; includes a built-in metal clip for everyday carry.
• Monami Fountain Pen Ink High-quality fountain pen ink in 12 nature-inspired colors with a differentiated droplet-shaped bottle designed for convenient replenishment.
• SigmaFlo Whiteboard Marker 220/221 Alcohol-based liquid ink whiteboard marker using Monami's patented SigmaFlo direct-ink-delivery system, which marks thickly and evenly to the last drop of ink; intended for classrooms and offices.
• Permanent Marker Twin 109 Waterproof, alcohol-based permanent ink marker that writes on most surfaces (glass, plastic, metal, wood); features twin Chisel and Bullet tips for versatile marking.
• Color Twin Brush Marker Water-based double-ended marker with medium and fine rubber-tip brush pen ends; available in 18 colors for calligraphy, sketching, and illustration.
• Silicon Kitchen Marker (Product Code 420) Specialized kitchen marker designed for silicone surfaces with ink that can be removed with kitchen cleaner; uses a pumping mechanism for vivid color rather than a filter-type system; targets home and foodservice consumers.
• Oil Pastels Artist's oil pastels available in 12/18/24/36/48/55 color sets for artistic creation; used by students and artists in classrooms and at home.
• Watercolors Watercolor paint sets available in 12/18/24-color variants for painting and artistic applications; used in schools and by hobbyist artists.
• Swip Correction Tape Correction tape for correcting pen and marker mistakes, available in Swip W and Swip+ variants; targets students, office workers, and general consumers.
• Grande 604 Highlighter High-capacity highlighter designed for extended use; targets students, office workers, and consumers who need long-lasting marking.
• ZENITH Design Stationery Brand (incl. Zenith 7 Mechanical Pencil) Design stationery sub-brand offering European-style premium writing instruments, including the Zenith 7 Mechanical Pencil with metal clip and three colorways; targets design-conscious consumers.
• LOBDA Office Supply Brand Office supply brand offering stylish office items using a five-color palette; extends Monami's stationery offering into broader office categories.
• PROCAP Industrial Marker Industrial-grade markers designed for use in industrial sites such as automotive, textile, and shipbuilding manufacturing environments; sold with specialized ink formulations and dedicated refill cartridges to B2B customers.
• Morning Yellow Special Edition Pen Special edition branded pen created in partnership with the Seoul Metropolitan Government for the 2026 city color 'Morning Yellow' branded product line; sold at DDP Design Store and partner online stores.
• Rijul Erasable Gel Pens (Rijul 3 and Rijul S) Erasable gel pens with friction-heat erasing ink (erases at 60°C); Rijul 3 is a 3-color multi-pen, and Rijul S is a single-color gel pen offered in up to 10 ink colors; both include built-in erasers for students and writers.
• Industrial / OEM Custom Marker Solutions Customized industrial markers and writing instruments for automotive, textile, shipbuilding, and other manufacturing sectors; products are developed to customer specifications with specialized ink formulations through the MPMS platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• First Korean stationery company to win RED DOT DESIGN AWARD (2009)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Seoul Metropolitan GovernmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 26 May 2026Seoul selected Monami as one of 11 partner companies to create a special edition pen inspired by Seoul's official 2026 city color 'Morning Yellow.' The partnership is part of Seoul's visual identity campaign extending city branding into consumer products. Products will be sold at DDP Design Store and brand partners' online stores.
• Hana Financial GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonami partnered with Hana Financial Group's Hana Artverse awards program to create merchandise from winning artworks by artists with developmental disabilities. Monami is one of several brand partners (including Coffee Bean Korea, Puma, 119REO) providing products for this inclusive arts initiative.
• Zenith-MonAmi (Poland Joint Venture)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture established in 2001 in Poland for regional operations and distribution in European markets. Part of Monami's international expansion strategy.
• Shanghai Monami Stationery Co., Ltd.coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWholly-owned subsidiary established in 2001 in China for local operations and distribution. Supports Monami's presence in the Chinese market.
• Thai Partner (Chaoyang Industry)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint venture with Chaoyang Industry for Monami Thailand operations. Initially established as a joint venture in 1989 for manufacturing and distribution in Thailand and Southeast Asia.
• Lie Sang-bongminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFashion collaboration with renowned Korean designer Lie Sang-bong for the Monami Fashion Lab brand. Reinterpreted Monami brand aesthetics through fashion design.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves20 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Crayola (Hallmark Cards): Major global art supplies brand covering crayons, markers, and coloring products. Overlaps with Monami's art materials portfolio (oil pastels, watercolors) and competes in the children's art segment.
• Newell Brands (Paper Mate, Sharpie, Parker): US consumer goods conglomerate owning major writing instrument brands (Paper Mate, Sharpie, Parker, Waterman). Competes broadly in mass and premium writing instrument categories, including markers where Monami plays.

Direct peers

• Tombow Pencil: Japanese writing instrument and stationery manufacturer with strong marker and pen portfolios. Comparable as a heritage stationery brand expanding into design and lifestyle products.
• Pentel: Japanese manufacturer of writing instruments, markers, and art supplies. Comparable in pen product range (ballpoint, gel, marker) and overlap with Monami's art supplies portfolio.
• Pilot Corporation: Japanese global manufacturer of ballpoint pens, gel pens, markers, and ink products. Direct competitor in premium and mass-market writing instruments, with overlapping ink technology capabilities and global distribution.
• Faber-Castell: German global manufacturer of writing instruments, color pencils, and art supplies. Comparable premium and art product positioning with international distribution scale.
• Shanghai M&G Stationery: China-based stationery manufacturer and one of the largest in Asia. Directly comparable as an Asian mass-market pen and stationery brand with strong domestic market position and growing international distribution.
• Staedtler (Mars GmbH): German manufacturer of pencils, pens, markers, and art supplies. Comparable European premium heritage brand with global distribution and broad product portfolio similar to Monami's 153 line.
• Zebra (Zebra Co., Ltd.): Japanese writing instrument manufacturer producing ballpoint pens, gel pens, and markers. Competes in similar product categories and channels, with comparable premium and industrial pen offerings.
• Mitsubishi Pencil Company (uni-ball): Japanese writing instrument manufacturer best known for the uni-ball and Signo gel pen lines. Directly comparable in product categories, ink technology emphasis, and international premium pen distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7lJDw-5bYXnAGNHh1uUG3A
• Facebookfacebook.com/monami1960
• Instagraminstagram.com/monami_official

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Monami