@privink.paris Judging time at korea_tattoo_convention — honored to join as a jury member. So many amazing works, inspiring friends and unforgettable moments on stage. Grateful for this incredible experience. It was also a real pleasure to catch up with my old friend Gabe Shum and reconnect with fellow artists — nothing better than sharing these moments together. Special thanks to zumiism for the warm hospitality — looking forward to the next edition of Korea Tattoo Convention. #Privink #PrivinkCheng #KoreaTattooConvention #KoreaTattooConvention2025 #TattooConvention #TattooArtist #TattooCommunity #TattooJury #BlackAndGreyTattoo #OrientalTattoo ♬ 原聲 - privink.paris

Ink You Can Feel: When Touch Becomes Freedom

KATSEYE’s “Touch” mirrors the emotional core of “Tattoo Artists Get the Green Light in South Korea” by echoing the same longing for connection, autonomy, and visibility that tattoo artists have fought for over decades. The song’s plea for closeness — for someone to finally “reach back” — resonates with the newly legalized tattoo community, which has long existed in the shadows, craving recognition from a society that kept them at arm’s length. As South Korea lifts restrictions and allows artists to work openly, the country itself becomes the one finally offering “touch,” granting legitimacy, creative freedom, and the right to leave a mark without fear. In both the song and the article, touch becomes more than physical contact — it becomes a symbol of acceptance, expression, and the power to reclaim one’s own skin.

🎶 📜🖋️🇰🇷⚖️🎨🧵🕊️🌅🔍🔥🔓🪡✨ 🔊 Touch - KATSEYE (캣츠아이)

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"It feels like a dream," said Lim Bo‑ran, president of the Korea Tattoo Federation, moments after the vote.

Her words capture the emotional release of a profession finally stepping out of the shadows after more than three decades of legal uncertainty.

🎌 A Historic Shift in Korean Tattoo Law

South Korea has officially legalised tattoo artistry by non‑medical professionals for the first time in over 30 years, ending a long‑standing restriction rooted in a 1992 Supreme Court ruling. Despite tattoos being widely embraced culturally, artists risked prosecution, fines, and imprisonment for practicing without medical credentials — a contradiction that shaped the country’s underground tattoo culture for decades.

🧵 An Industry Forced Into the Shadows

Before the Tattooist Act, tattooists operated in a legal grey zone that left them vulnerable to harassment, exploitation, and false accusations. Artists like Narr and Banul shared stories of abuse they felt unable to report, fearing self‑incrimination. Their experiences reflect the broader precarity of a profession where creative expression and legal risk were inseparable.

⚖️ A Turning Point — But Not Without Resistance

While recent court acquittals hinted at shifting attitudes, the new law marks the first structural recognition of tattooing as a legitimate profession. Still, the Korean Medical Association opposes the reform, arguing that tattooing poses health risks and should remain a medical procedure. Public opinion remains divided, revealing how deeply tattoo stigma is woven into South Korean society.

🕊️ A Slow Path Toward Acceptance

The Tattooist Act will take effect in two years, requiring artists to pass national exams, complete safety training, and maintain detailed records. Tattoo removals will remain restricted to medical professionals. Even so, the law signals a future where tattoo artists can work with legitimacy, dignity, and the freedom to shape Korea’s evolving visual identity.

🌟 A New Era for Korean Tattoo Culture

For the first time in modern South Korean history, tattoo artists can envision a career defined not by fear, but by recognition. The road ahead may be gradual, but the ink has finally begun to flow in the open — marking a cultural shift that many believed they would never see.

#InkFreedom 🖋️ #KoreanCultureShift 🎌 #CreativeLiberation 🕊️ #NewEraOfArt ✨ #TattooRevolution 🎨