To most of us, the Dongdaemun Design Plaza (DDP) is a thing of beauty. Its fine architecture boasts of overflowing creative genius. However, there’s more to the DDP than meets the eye; that is, the many events happening all day, all week in its many halls and buildings.

I, for one, am an avid visitor to the DDP. Its nearness to where I live, plus the guarantee that at any day of the week, there will surely be an exciting event, or something new for my eyes to feast on, are enough for a quick trip to this incredible venue.

A couple of days ago, without knowing what to expect or what to see, I decided to go to the DDP after not having visited it for quite some time. I first went to where I would normally go, the very famous DDP Design Lab.

The place didn’t fail to amaze, and even surprised me with quite a lot of new designs and booths, particularly the Monami Concept Store that features a vast collection of Monami pens and pencils, notebooks and a variety of other writing and drawing materials, and novelty items, like Monami brooches and pins.



For the love of the DDP and for the love of pens! Monami is currently running a 'Design Concept' at the DDP, part of which includes the ongoing 'DIY pen' event. The event is totally hands-on, and you can create a unique Monami pen all to your liking.




You can be very creative in choosing which color to have for the ink, the barrel or main frame, the tip, and the clip that goes on top! To make the good news even better, it costs only KRW 500 to create your own pen with your own choice of colors, from the ink to the very design!




The concept store also houses other Monami writing materials, like special markers and mechanical pencils and other special pens. The Monami 153 line of ball point pens and mechanical pencils is offering a free pen-engraving with purchase.



There are also other pens that feature a certain concept or design, and each pen sells for KRW 500. Being addicted to collecting pens since I was little, I didn’t miss this chance to get myself some of those pens.





This is the Monami 153 mechanical pencil. When I arrived, they were giving out free Monami water bottles on a first-come, first-served basis to the first 1,000 visitors. I had my Monami 153 mechanical pencil and had my pen’s special name engraved, as well.



At the cash register, there's also a Lucky Box where one can pick a pen. Whichever pen you pick from the box, you get for free.

If you happen to be at the DDP, don’t miss the chance to get a personalized pen of your own. Make sure to be creative! The event runs until March 17.

For more details about the ongoing event, please visit http://goo.gl/oDyPuf or call 02-2153-0701.

Location: Seoul, Jung-gu, Eulji-ro 281 DDP 살림터, (Design Lab), first floor C-2 Monami Concept Store.



By Janine Pineda
Korea.net Honorary Reporter
Photos: Janine Pineda