South Korea moves closer to legalising tattoo artistry

As a popular tattoo artist in South Korea, Song Jaemin is fully booked weeks in advance and highly respected by his clients, some of whom come from abroad to see him.

- Associated Press

But each time Song inks someone, he commits a crime since it is illegal to give tattoos without a medical license in South Korea. "I began this even though I knew it was illegal, but I was confident that legal restrictions would be eased and things would change,” Song, 28, said in a recent interview at his studio in Goyang near Seoul. “Many tattoo artists think we are not doing illegal things and there is just no law for us.”

Song's prediction could soon become reality. South Korea’s National Assembly is expected to pass a landmark bill soon that would allow non-medical personnel to give tattoos. The passing of the Tattooist Act would mark a victory for tens of thousands of tattooists in South Korea, who have used rallies, constitutional appeals and other means in their bid to nullify a decades-long ban on their work. Their fight has gained strength as public sentiment toward tattoos has evolved. “I think I'll shed tears, as it would take a long-accumulated load off my mind,” said Kim Sho-yun, 45, who runs a cosmetic tattoo studio in Hanam city. In South Korea, tattoos in the past were associated with gangsters and criminals but have been gradually accepted as a form of self-expression. Now, it’s easy to find people from all walks of life with tattoos, including K-pop stars like BTS's Jungkook, TWICE's Chaeyoung and BigBang’s G-Dragon.