South Korea legalizes tattooing by non -medical professionals

South Korea has legalized the artistic tattoo of non -medical professionals for the first time in more than 30 years, following a campaign of members of the profession to work without fear of prosecution or harassment.

Although tattoos are commonplace in the Eastern Asian Nation, offering them was limited to health professionals following a Decision of the Supreme Court of 1992.

But, after the death of the tattoo artist law by the general assembly Thursday, non -medical professionals – who make up most of the industry – will be able to obtain a license.

Lim Bo-Ran, president of the Korea Tattoo Federation, shouted at the death of the law, saying: “I cannot speak because it looks like a dream. I am really grateful.”

Between 1992 and now anyone offering tattoos without medical diplomas was faced with five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million Korean won ($ 35,000; £ 28,000).

There is no official statistics on the number of tattoo artists who have been prosecuted, but the South Korea Union tattoo says that it provides legal support to at least 50 each year, and thinks that there are many others that cause fines.

In 2021, there were about 350,000 tattoo artists in the country, according to the Ministry of Health and Well-Being-most of which specialized in semi-permanent makeup for lips, eyebrows or hair.

But relatively few of them have medical qualifications. Instead, most come from art or beauty as elsewhere in the world.

By technically engaging in an illegal practice, tattoo artists in South Korea were subjected to threats or reported by dissatisfied customers.

A tattoo artist named pseudonym previously declared to the BBC that she had been sexually harassed by a man after tattooing him, but did not report the incident to the authorities for fear of being prosecuted.

Another, which goes by banul, was reported to the police by a client who wanted five million Koreans to have won ($ 3,500; £ 2,800) after claiming without proof that he had been mucus.

But in recent years, the South Korean courts have acquired several tattoo artists, reporting a change of attitudes.

Park Ju-Min, president of the health and well-being committee of the National Assembly and the main legislative supporter of the law, noted that many politicians in the chamber had eyebrow or lip tattoos.

He declared that the adoption of the law will allow “citizens to obtain secure tattoos, and that the persons engaged in the tattoo industry will be recognized as law professionals”.

However, the change in law was faced with the opposition of the South Korea medical community.

Before his death, Korean Medical Association said that the tattoo “damages not only the skin, but can also pose other health risks, including interference with the diagnosis of cancer”.

He said that “tattooing is fundamentally a medical procedure, and its growing popularity does not reduce the associated risks”.

There are also some in the industry which believe that, despite their popularity with young people and growing importance in the culture of influencers, the change of law will not invert the stigma towards tattoos. Recent opinion polls suggest that a majority of South Koreans are still negatively consider them.

Although the tattoo prohibition is no longer a permanent characteristic of the South Korean society, deleting it completely can be a slow and painful process.

The new law will only take effect until two years, with tattoo artists who were to take a national exam, complete training on safety and hygiene and keep detailed files.

Tattoo moves, carried out using a laser, will always be limited to health professionals.

Additional reported by Yuna I am