Are Tattoo Parlors Popular in South Korea?

The first known example of a tattoo belongs to a South American mummy from 6,000 B.C. He had a mustache tattoo placed on his upper lip to make his wife more attracted to him, experts say. Today, tattoos seem to be everywhere, but in South Korea, it’s still illegal for anyone other than a licensed medical doctor to apply one.

Korean officials say the process is an invasive medical procedure, with a risk of hepatitis or HIV infection from improperly sterilized needles. They argue that it would be like allowing someone to perform surgery in their living room.

The body of evidence:

• South Koreans still get tattoos, though. They just frequent clandestine parlors, technically illegal but largely ignored by the police.
• If caught, tattoo artists in South Korea face fines and jail time for “violating public health codes.”
• Some think Korea’s interest in tattoos exploded in 2003 after soccer player Ahn Jung-Hwan, a national hero, peeled off his shirt to reveal a shoulder tattoo after a game-winning goal.