South Korea allows non-medical tattoo artists

South Korea has ended its decades-long doctors-only rule on tattooing, formally allowing trained, licensed non-medical artists to operate legally. The shift brings a large underground industry into the open, with health checks, hygiene standards, and studio inspections designed to improve consumer safety. It is expected to spur entrepreneurship, tourism and creative exports while protecting workers’ rights. Clinics may still handle medical-grade procedures, but everyday body art can now be provided by professional artists under regulations.

South Korea has, for the first time in over three decades, approved tattoo work by licensed non-medical artists, an outcome long pushed for by practitioners seeking to operate without fear of punishment or intimidation.

Despite body art being widespread in the country, a 1992 Supreme Court decision had confined legal tattooing to doctors only. Following passage of the Tattooist Act in the National Assembly on Thursday, the majority of practitioners,  who are not doctors, will be able to obtain official licenses.

Lim Bo-ran, who leads the Korea Tattoo Federation, was moved to tears at the vote, saying it felt unreal and expressing profound thanks. From 1992 until now, anyone tattooing without medical credentials risked up to five years in prison or fines as high as 50 million won (approximately $35,000; £28,000).

No comprehensive tally exists for prosecutions, but the South Korea Tattoo Union reports assisting at least 50 artists each year with legal cases and believes many more end with fines. Government figures from 2021 estimate about 350,000 tattoo practitioners nationwide, most focused on semi-permanent cosmetic services for eyebrows, lips, and hairlines.

Only a small portion hold medical degrees; like their counterparts abroad, most come from art or beauty disciplines. Because their work was technically illegal, many artists have faced intimidation or client retaliation via police reports. One woman artist, using the pseudonym Narr, told the BBC she was sexually harassed by a client but chose not to report it, fearing she would be charged for practicing illegally.

Another artist, known as Banul, said a client filed a police complaint and demanded five million won (about $3,500; £2,800), alleging without proof that the tattoo had smudged. In recent years, courts have acquitted a number of artists, hinting at a turn in legal and social attitudes.

Park Ju-min, chair of the National Assembly’s health and welfare committee and the bill’s chief sponsor, pointed out that many lawmakers themselves have cosmetic eyebrow or lip tattoos. He said the reform will let “people obtain tattoos safely” and ensure those in the trade are recognized as lawful professionals.

Medical groups, however, opposed the change. Before the vote, the Korean Medical Association argued that tattooing punctures the skin and may introduce broader risks, including complicating cancer detection.

The association maintained that tattooing is inherently medical and that popularity does not diminish its potential dangers. Some within the tattoo community also doubt the reform will erase stigma, noting that surveys still show most South Koreans view tattoos unfavorably despite their visibility among youth and influencers.

Ending the blanket ban is a milestone, but dismantling entrenched prejudice may take time and persistence. The statute will not be implemented immediately: a two-year lead-in is required, after which artists must pass a national exam, complete hygiene and safety training, and maintain detailed records.

Procedures involving laser tattoo removal will remain restricted to licensed medical professionals.

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Source: BBC‍