SEOUL — South Korea's top court overturned its 1992 ruling that defined tattooing as a medical act, and in September, lawmakers legalized tattooing by non-medical professionals. For 34 years, only licensed doctors were allowed to ink tattoos in the country, and breaking the law could lead to heavy fines or jail time.
The change marks a shift for South Korea’s estimated 350,000 tattooists, who had long operated in a legal gray area. Many worked discreetly, often in hidden studios, due to the risk of prosecution. The legal ban also left artists vulnerable to blackmail, sexual harassment, or violence from clients who threatened to report them—an issue that disproportionately affected young women, according to the Tattoo Union.
Kim Tae-nam, a tattooist who began working in 2004 under the pseudonym Sunrat Tattoo, recalled operating out of a basement with no sign and invite-only access. "This was only possible because of our effort, all your sweat and tears. Let's hear it from everyone: Tattoos are art!" Kim said. He added, "We had to stop because they threatened to arrest or charge us. We're back this year for the first time since 2014, and it's incredible that we can now gather without any fear." He also said, "Korean society is very conformist. There's such a strong pressure to follow a given standard. When you look different or live your life differently, you're exposed to constant criticism. But the younger generation is breaking these norms."
The Ink Bomb event in Seoul recently featured more than 90 local tattooists celebrating body art openly. Jay Hur, a supporter of the movement, said, "It makes no sense that tattooing should be seen as a medical act. Nobody is going to medical school to become a tattooist." He also noted, "Korean tattooists had to take risks to do their job to sustain this beautiful underground culture."
Kim Do-yoon, founder of the Tattoo Union and known professionally as Doy, said the legal struggle was deeply personal. He was charged in 2019 with violating the Medical Act for tattooing actress Han Ye-seul. "The shock from these losses is what moved me to found the union and fight for our right to work safely and legally in Korea," he said. Doy added, "Things are finally back where they should be."
South Korea's health ministry plans to introduce a new testing system next year to license tattooists and standardize the profession. Meanwhile, Korean fine-line tattoos have gained global recognition since the mid-2010s, and numerous celebrities—including BTS’s Jungkook, Taeyeon of Girls’ Generation, and rapper Jay Park—have publicly displayed their ink.