How much can a pencil sharpener mean to its owner?

ICHEON, Gyeonggi Province — How much can a pencil sharpener mean to its owner? In Kim Won-rae’s world, it means a lot.

At his workshop in Icheon, outside Seoul, where he fixes sharpeners as old as 30-plus years, Kim has every reason to believe so.

As the sole warranty service provider for TiTi’s Hi Shapa pencil sharpeners, Kim keeps a binder full of heartfelt letters — cherished memories from users sent alongside their malfunctioning tools.

During an interview with The Korea Herald on Jan. 14, he shared a binder overflowing with letters, each highlighted in yellow to emphasize the parts that he thought were especially touching.

“Look at this one,” Kim said, pointing to a note. “This person wrote that the Hi Shapa pencil sharpener was something only rich kids had. His parents couldn’t afford it when he was a child, but when he became a parent, he bought one for his son.”

Another letter he held close to his heart was from someone who received the sharpener as a reward for getting a perfect score on an exam.

“These letters are filled with such precious memories,” he said. “I couldn’t bear to throw them away, so I started collecting them.”

To Koreans who grew up in the '90s and early 2000s, this brand, TiTi’s Hi Shapa, best known for its signature silver, train-shaped design, was like the Mercedes-Benz of desk tools — classic, sturdy and expensive.

The sharpener was similar to the Boston pencil sharpener that was a staple in American classrooms from the brand's founding in 1899 until it disappeared around 2010, but Hi Shapa had a prestigious reputation, known for its precision and durability.

First launched in April 1980, Hi Shapa’s lifetime warranty program was a testament to company founder Cho Kyu-dae’s commitment to creating a product built to last, not just to make money.

The product took off in earnest in the 1990s, but as birth rates declined and more students switched to mechanical pencils and pens, the market for pencils as well as pencil sharpeners started to shrink. Originally made in a factory in Yeoju, Gyeonggi Province, production of the pencil sharpener has now moved to China. Around 170,000 units are still produced annually in China, with most sold in Korea, according to the company.

When Kim joined TiTi in 2020, he didn’t anticipate repairing sharpeners would become a job filled with passion and emotion. But the personal stories he encountered along the way changed everything.

“As I read these memories, I began to think, ‘I want to do my very best in return.’”

Kim then explained the extra effort that he put in,

“After fixing the sharpener, I test it with a pencil to ensure it works perfectly. I then clean it, dust it off, and wrap it in white paper to make it look brand new. I would also send photos of the steps that I go through and send them to customers,” Kim said. “People love it.”

But Kim doesn’t stop there. Each repaired sharpener is accompanied by a handwritten piece of calligraphy.

Every weekend, Kim dedicates time to crafting 60 to 70 unique messages. The messages come in two versions: "Tomorrow will never betray passion and effort" and "The power of positivity — let’s give our best in everything."

“When I posted my calligraphy work in an online community, people loved it and even asked for copies. Then I figured, ‘Oh, people love it. I should start providing it to my clients.’ And the response has been incredible,” Kim said.

The story of Kim’s dedication and TiTi’s lifetime warranty service has since gone viral online, earning praise across social media. Customers are particularly touched by Kim’s meticulous attention to detail.

Kim, who on average fixes 15 sharpeners a day, said he is now a master at the job.

“Fixing a pencil sharpener isn’t rocket science, but I’ve mastered the skill so thoroughly that I can tell what’s wrong just by checking the production date,” he explained.

Every Hi Shapa has a small marking indicating the month and year it was made. “For example, this one was made in August 2014,” he said, pointing to a tiny circle inside the sharpener. “If it’s from 2009 or earlier, the rubber components are usually worn out. I replace those first.”

Kim also gave out tips on how to use a pencil sharpener longer based on the most frequently seen broken cases.

"Kids often put the eraser part of the pencil in the sharpener instead of pencils. Once the eraser gets stuck, it’s game over for the sharpener -- unless I fix it,” he said.

While most feedback is overwhelmingly positive, occasional misunderstandings happen, he said.

Some customers question why they need to cover shipping costs or complain about nominal charges for new blades.

“For replacement of rubber components, we don’t charge customers. But for a change of the blades, we do because we import the blades. Some are unhappy about that. One customer even ghosted me. I always do my best, so it’s a bit discouraging when those complaints come in. But it’s really rare,” Kim admitted.

He also shared the moment that he took pride in his work.

“When I received photos of kids happily sharpening their pencils or thank-you notes from their parents, it makes everything worth it,” he said.