Monami has emerged as the biggest beneficiary of the South Korea-U.S. summit. U.S. President Donald Trump praised President Lee Jae-myung's fountain pen, and it was influenced by the fact that President Lee spontaneously presented a gift. President Lee's fountain pen is reported to be a product from the Korean handmade fountain pen brand 'Zenaile,' using a Monami pen nib.
Monami's shares traded at 3,050 won on the KOSPI market at 9:16 a.m. on the 16th. Following a limit-up (upper limit of daily price fluctuation) the previous day, the stock has recorded a 18.45% (475 won) increase in stock price on this day. Early in the trading session, the stock price rose to 3,190 won, marking the highest price in the past year.
The comment that boosted Monami's stock price came from President Trump. During a visit to the White House on the 25th (local time), President Trump showed interest in the fountain pen while signing the guest book.
President Trump praised, "Where did you get this? I really like the thickness. It's really cool." When President Trump held the pen and asked, "Are you going to take it back to Korea?" President Lee responded, "This pen is made in Korea. It will be useful for the very difficult signature you have to do, Mr. Trump," gesturing to take it.
The fountain pen used by President Lee for signing the guest book was specially made. A presidential office official explained, "It is a pen made over two months by hand, designed for comfortable signing, and the pen case is engraved with the patterns of the Taegeuk and the phoenix."
Zenaile is made from natural materials such as rosewood, olive wood, palm leaf extract wax, and beeswax. The nib is said to have been refined from a Monami name pen. The selling price of the product is set at 120,000 to 150,000 won.