SKorea Ends Tattooing Restrictions, Legalizes Industry

18 HOURS AGO·UPDATED 18 HOURS AGO

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Above: A detailed view of a tattoo on the right arm of a BTS fan on June 11, 2025, in Yeoncheon-gun, South Korea. Image copyright: Han Myung-Gu/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

South Korea's Constitutional Court made the right decision, upholding tattoo restrictions in 2022. Tattooing involves invasive needle procedures that pose serious safety risks and potential side effects that only trained medical professionals can adequately handle. The medical community rightfully opposes legalization, warning it threatens public health.

Reuters

Narrative B

South Korea's parliament finally ended decades of backward policy by unanimously legalizing tattooing. The old ban criminalized 20,000 skilled artists, who contributed $144 million annually to the economy, while forcing them to work in the shadows despite growing global recognition. This overdue change acknowledges tattooing as a legitimate art form.

CNN