Tattoos and South Korea

So there are a few common questions I get asked when I tell people that I went to South Korea. The first is if I like K-pop. To which I answer no, I am not really a fan. The second is if I ate dog. Yes, I have, but it wasn’t in Korea. The third, and most common among those who know me, is why I didn’t get a tattoo from there. So I wanted to write about it to put an end to this question once and for all.

The Unfortunate thing about Tattoos in South Korea

I thought I was ready for my little 3-4 day vacation in South Korea over Christmas. Checking all my lists, I had budgeted things using the average Korean price from my research. I even included a tattoo using Western prices, due to how Westernized South Korea is. Little did I know the truth about tattoos in this country. They are illegal. 

Well not totally. You’re able to have them and show them off, even if it is a bit frowned upon. Someone may assume you’re in a gang or a bad person. They are illegal in the sense that to work with the skin, you legally have to be a doctor. I don’t know about you, but I don’t see doctors saying they wish that they had gone into tattooing. On the other hand, tattoo artists are not going to go to school for six to ten years to get a medical license to be able to tattoo.

So with that being said, it is still not impossible. It’s not easy by any means, but it’s as hard as trying to find an exotic rare piece of art or anything similar. Due to the cultural viewpoint on tattoos, I assumed it would be easy enough to find a place to walk in. Boy was I ever wrong.

Tattoo Scene in Korea and the Stigma Linked with it.

Originally, way back in the day, tattoos were mostly only gotten by fishermen. I can only assume they got some ancient forms of anchors, fish and nautical stars. A short time thereafter in the 19th century it was decided to mark criminals’ bodies with the crimes that they committed. Around this time, masters would also mark their names on their slaves to prove ownership. Then, by the 20th century, it became associated with gangs. Members would tattoo their allegiances on their bodies. 

These days, tattoos are slowly being recognized as more socially acceptable. With the K-pop and movie stars flaunting their tats for the world to see. Seeing that the younger generation is getting into it. That being said though, tattoos are more common here than in China or Japan. That could possibly be due to Koreans being less worried about permanently altering their bodies. Koreans supposedly have the most plastic surgeries per capita in the world.

How To Go About Getting One 

Although illegal, it is still possible to get one. There are a few places online in which you can contact artists and set up an appointment. Although they claim to take walk-ins, they really don’t like people just walking in off the street. I found that out the hard way. One of the most renowned is StudiobySol in Seoul. They have been doing very well on Instagram and have the largest Korean tattoo parlour. With 25 artists boasting over 1.6 million followers between them, they do their best to keep low-key. 

I found out months later when running into and spending the evening with some TEFL teachers visiting China from Korea, that I had passed their shop several times while I was there and didn’t even know it. That knowledge was heartbreaking. 

So now most places will only take online bookings. You’re going to want to book a month or two in advance, as they fill up quickly. If any artist, whether from StudiobySol or otherwise, thinks there is some shadiness going on, then chances are they will reject you. It’s not until things are set, and they have a bit of trust in you, that you will even find the location. That said, I have heard that the tattoo law is enforced as much as jaywalking in New York is, but who is gonna risk it?

Why I Must Go Back.

Man….. Korea is a beautiful place with an amazing culture. Not to mention the amazing food! While I was there, I packed as much into my trip as I possibly could, only sleeping 6 hours in 3 days. My biggest regret is not getting a tattoo here. Those who know the goal, have been here from the beginning or for some inexplicable reason are 5 years in the future reading back every post (Thank you. I love you.) know why. Yes, I want to visit every country and get tattoos in at least half, but Korea just struck me. The country, the people, the food, the nightlife. It was all so amazing.

What most people do not know is how I like going about the tattoos. I love to sit with the artist and give them almost complete creative freedom. The only stipulations I put are that I want the tattoo style and art to be significant to them, their heritage, their past and their country’s history and past. I want them to be able to look at it when finished, in 5 years, 10 years or 50 years and well up with emotion and pride. After being in South Korea and seeing the work out of StudiobySol it is my greatest regret not getting one from them.

 I must go back. Until I do, I have a spot saved specifically for them. I will not allow myself to end my journey or, god forbid, die, until I have gone back and gotten the honour of having a South Korean tattoo.

What about you? Would you want a tattoo from South Korea? Is there anywhere you feel you need to go back to? Why? Let us know in the comments below.

*Disclaimer: We did attempt to contact StudiobySol, however at the time of this post we weren’t able to talk to them. We understand that given how busy they are due to their reputation and work, that priorities must be handled first. The images in the post that are from StudiobySol’s Instagram are linked back to the artist who created those amazing pieces of artwork. We take no credit for the artwork or the images. We are simply highlighting their artistry.