A handmade Korean pen gifted to U.S. President Donald Trump by President Lee Jae Myung during the Korea-U.S. summit on August 25 has sparked major attention, leading to a flood of orders and a temporary suspension of sales by its maker.
Zenyle, a handmade fountain pen workshop based in Seoul’s Mullae-dong, announced on its official website on August 27 that it was overwhelmed with orders. “We are a small workshop that can only produce about ten pens a day, but we received too many orders in a short period and had to temporarily close orders,” the company said. It added that there is no set date for when sales will resume, explaining that they will reopen by lifting the “sold out” status when possible.
The pen gifted to Trump was a one-of-a-kind piece crafted over two months. The artisan hand-carved it from solid wood, and its case was also handmade. During the signing ceremony on August 25, President Lee used the brown-colored pen to sign a guestbook. Trump noticed the pen and asked, “That’s a nice pen. Is that your pen?” When Lee confirmed, Trump joked, “Do you want to take it with you?” Lee then gestured with both hands to offer it as a gift.
Trump admired the craftsmanship, lifting both the pen and its case. “The thickness is beautiful. This is wonderful. Where is it made?” he asked. Lee responded, “It’s a pen made in Korea. I hope it will be useful for the difficult signatures you make as president.”
Trump had also used a Zenyle signature pen during his previous state visit to Korea under former President Moon Jae-in.
The nib of the pen used this time was not a typical fountain or ballpoint nib from Zenyle but a custom option optimized for writing comfort. It was made from the water-based name pen refill produced by Monami, a well-known Korean pen brand, and then refined for this pen.
After news of Trump’s praise spread, Monami’s stock surged on the Korea Exchange, closing at 2,575 won (roughly $1.86) on August 26, a 29.92% increase from the previous day. It rose further to 2,725 won ($1.97) on August 27 as the competitiveness of Monami and other Korean pen brands drew attention, prompting strong buying.
Zenyle is known for its eco-friendly production methods, crafting pens from rosewood, olive wood, and other natural materials, and finishing them with natural waxes and beeswax. Prices range from 80,000 to 180,000 won (from $58 to $130), and the pens are also available for order in the United States.
BY HOONSIK WOO [woo.hoonsik@koreadaily.com]
