Tattoos gaining popularity among young South Koreans
By Channel NewsAsia's Korea Bureau Chief Lim Yun Suk | Posted: 11 October 2007 2257 hrs

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SEOUL : Back in the old days in Korea, fishermen turned to full-body tattoos in the hope that they will be protected from sea beasts and shipwrecks.

Authorities also tattooed the word ''thief'' on the foreheads of criminals, while slaves were tattooed with their owners' names on their forearms.

These days, tattoos have become very popular among younger South Koreans, despite strict government regulations on tattooing.

Thirty-year-old Rei has been a tattoo artist for two years.

Most of the time, he works in a room and not out in the open.

That is because it is illegal in South Korea for anyone to draw a tattoo on others without a medical degree.

Yang Bum Mo, a tattoo artist, said, "It's legal in most countries. South Korea is a developed nation and it's odd that we're debating whether tattooing is legal or not."

The practice here can be considered a violation of medical and public health laws.

This means anyone found guilty may face life imprisonment, although in most cases the offenders get a fine.

These days, it is easy to find Koreans with tattoos on their bodies.

And the reaction is mixed.

One Korean woman said, "It's summer and people wear clothes that cover up less of their bodies. This generation emphasises individuality and I don't think tattoos are bad."

Another woman commented, "I think it's gross and frightening. I think it must hurt a lot."

Korean tattoo artists have recently been in the spotlight, as they are starting to come forward and demand that the regulations be changed to allow them to perform their jobs out in the open.

Because it is performed secretly, getting a tattoo is expensive here and can cost thousands of US dollars.

Currently Koreans can only get tattoos legally from doctors here.

But there are less than 10 doctors in the country who perform tattoos on their patients.

In Korea, Confucian teachings urged people to preserve the body, hair and skin they inherited from their ancestors.

But these days, many argue that the country has changed tremendously and regulations like the one on tattoos should also change with time. - CNA/ms