“Looking around, I have noticed that about half of you have tattoos. However, I believe that none of you have gotten them legally.” This statement by tattooist Kim Do-yoon during a parliamentary audit in 2024 highlights the irony of the previous tattoo-related laws. The current medical law in Korea restricts tattooing procedures not performed by licensed medical professionals, while there are few medical professionals specializing in tattooing procedures. Therefore, most tattooing procedures are done by tattooists “illegally,” and there has been a long dispute about whether such a regulation needs to be changed. Then recently, the “Tattooist Law,” which allows tattooing to be done by non-medical professionals, has been passed by the National Assembly as of Sept. 25.

The Tattooist Act (Alternative), proposed by Park Joomin, the chair of the National Assembly Health and Welfare Committee, on Sept. 10, combines and revises three recent bills on tattooing procedures. While defining both regular tattoos and semi-permanent makeup as “tattooing procedures,” the bill grants an exclusive status of a “tattooist” only to those who pass the national examination and acquire a license. The tattooist licensed by the government can then perform tattoos despite the medical law.

Concerns surrounding the safety of tattooing procedures have also been reflected. The tattooists are authorized only to perform tattoos and are restricted from carrying out removal procedures, as suggested by the medical community. Moreover, minors are not allowed to receive tattoos without the consent of their parents, and tattooists are mandated to complete training on hygiene and safety management. Detailed records, including the date, type, and quantity of a dye, and the body area undergoing the tattooing procedure, are also required to be kept for the protection of public health.

This enactment represents a significant breakthrough in the tattooing community, as it legalizes tattooing procedures and brings the field into the legal system. The bill is expected to protect the safety and the rights of both consumers and tattooists under regulations and manuals. The medical professionals, however, are still expressing their concerns about the bill, and establishing a system that could reflect their concerns is a challenge that remains.