Kim Do-yoon, a tattoo artist who founded a tattoo labor union, at his studio in Seoul. Credit...  Chang W. Lee/The New York Times     SEOUL — In a s

Tattoos, Still Illegal in South Korea, Thrive Underground

submited by
Style Pass
2022-05-14 01:30:09

Kim Do-yoon, a tattoo artist who founded a tattoo labor union, at his studio in Seoul. Credit... Chang W. Lee/The New York Times

SEOUL — In a serene, plant-filled studio paneled with large windows, Kim Do-yoon gives tattoos to clients who visit him in South Korea from around the world for his fine line work. A diaphanous octopus with its tentacles unfurled, a delicate wildflower sweeping over a forearm, a portrait of a beloved pet to last forever.

Mr. Kim, known as Doy, is a favorite of celebrities, including Brad Pitt and the actress Han Ye-seul, but he works discreetly.

There is no sign advertising his studio, nestled in a nondescript building in north-central Seoul, near a palace that dates back to the 14th century. He screens customers carefully, rolls the blinds down during appointments and moves his shop about every two years.

In South Korea, his art is a crime. Under a ruling that has been in place since 1992, tattooing without a medical license can result in fines of up to $40,000 or even imprisonment. Opponents of decorative tattoos have invoked concerns about longstanding associations with organized crime, as well as fears about inadequate hygiene and potential harm inflicted by tattoo artists, who they say lack adequate skills.

Leave a Comment