Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Despite new law, court upholds prior guilty verdict against prominent tattoo artist, but suspends sentence

An appeals court on Friday upheld a guilty verdict against Kim Do-yoon, a prominent Korean tattoo artist for tattooing clients without a medical license.

2025-12-19

[WHY] How facial moles are evolving from superstition to aesthetic trend

When 29-year-old Park Jin-ah walked into a small tattoo studio in Seoul in early 2021, she wasn’t there for a bold design. She wanted a single dot — a tiny mole placed deliberately beneath her left eye.

2025-11-29

Maine Senate candidate Platner says tattoo recognized as Nazi symbol has been covered

His U.S. Senate campaign under fire, Maine Democrat Graham Platner said Wednesday that a tattoo on his chest has been covered to no longer reflect an image widely recognized as a Nazi symbol.

2025-10-23

Tattooing legal for nonmedical professionals, but safety concerns about ink remain

Korea recently legalized tattoos by non-doctors, but consumer safety still remains a large issue as the distribution and storage of tattoo ink remain off official radars.

2025-10-20

National Assembly passes historic 'Tattooist Act,' legalizes tattooing by non-medical professionals

Korea’s underground tattoo industry is finally stepping into the light. After 33 years in legal limbo, tattooing by non-medical professionals has been officially legalized on Thursday.

2025-09-26

Tattoo artists near end of fight for legitimacy in Korea

An American tattoo artist in Seoul, identified by her alias Sun Child, has never felt at ease greeting her clients. Instead, she always has to be on high alert as if she were a covert operative.

2025-09-02

Tattooing by nonmedical professionals set to become legal

Tattooing by nonmedical professionals, which has been illegal in Korea for 33 years, is set to become legal, with the so-called Tattooist Act set to pass out of committee and head to the floor for a parliamentary vote.

2025-08-27

Korea moves to legalize tattooing by non-medical professionals

Korea is moving toward legalizing tattooing by nonmedical professionals after a parliamentary subcommittee approved a bill defining licensing requirements and operational standards, responding to growing demand.

2025-08-21

Government considers legalizing tattooing by non-doctors

The government is considering legalizing tattooing by non-doctors, expanding the scope from the current law, which allows only people with medical licenses to perform such an act.

2024-03-07

Young thugs threaten the peace through brawling, loansharking and intimidation

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency arrested four individuals who identified themselves as “MZ gangsters” for racketeering, including lending money at annual interest rates of 1,500 percent.

2023-12-13