Korean Job Discussion Forums

[apocalyptic_tea]

I showed my principal my two visible tattoos (inner wrist & forearm) before I started working and asked if he'd prefer I keep them covered, and he said not to bother. One's in Latin and the other's a line from a Jacobean revenge tragedy, though, which might've been a factor--not exactly the most hardcore ink in the world.

I do try to keep them covered, especially the wrist tattoo because it's in darker ink and somewhat more "startling," but the kids still catch glimpses of them now and then. They're interested for a few minutes before forgetting to care.

A couple of my kids spotted my wrist tattoo the first week of school and tried to get me to explain it. I told them (through my co-teacher) that I'd tell them whatever they wanted to know once they learned enough English to ask me about it and understand my response. This was followed by much wailing and gnashing of teeth before a rather heroic group effort to cobble together the right question. Unfortunately, they went through "hand" and "arm" but never got "wrist," so it remains a mystery still.

[brandonlk]

[I'm no Picasso]

[Perceptioncheck]

[brandonlk]

[naturegirl321]

[mcviking]

I have 11 tattoos that can all be covered and I have never got any crap for it. Ocasionally my tattoo slips out if I am wearing a short sleeve shirt when I reach to write things on the board. I generally keep them covered, but when co workers see me on the weekends they are genreally suprised that I have alot of tattoos. I love my tattoos, each one of them has meaning to me and I don't care if people don't like them.
I remember when I was getting my first tattoo I siad to the guy that "I don't want something that will look stupid when I am 50." To which he replied, "When you're 50 you won't care anyway.

[taiwan_girl]

I think it would be interesting to look at a % of people with tattoos (say males aged 20-30). Repeat this every 10 years. If you did this for western people in 1990, maybe 5-10%; in 2000, maybe 20%; in 2010, maybe it will be 35-40%. I think that will be the peak and the % of people getting tattoos will start to decrease.

I have nothing against tattoos, but I look at them as something like a fashion accessory. And succeeding generations do not want to follow what the preceeding "old" folks have done, whether it be hair style, clothing, or even tattoos, etc. While it is popular now to get tattoos, kids being born today will have something else that will be cool for them (and something that is different from what their parents think is cool). Who knows, maybe the powdered wig will come back! Yes, people will always get tattoos, but it will not be as common as now.

It seems that most people who have written in this topic posting are taking the right approach - take a rather conservative approach to showing them. Because, for good or bad, tattoos still have a mostly negative perception among asian people.

A person may be a great person, but if they come walking down the street with a lot of visible tattoos, an Asian (mainly referring to Chinese) will immediately lower their perception of them. If two people (of exactly equal skills/background) were applying for a job at an Asian company, one with visible tattoos, one without, 99 times out of 100, the person without visible tattoos would get the job. Probably not right, but that is the way it is.

Somewhat of a joke told to me by a doctor friend in an emergency room:

I have seen many good tattoos.
I have seen many old tattoos.
But I have yet to see a good, old tattoo.

[hawaii4me272]

I was told by a Korean friend that tattoos are not a good idea for teachers.

[Fermentator75]

Kurtz is my favorite form of kook... what a monkey! Way to conform to stereotypes in the cyber age bro!
What is unacceptable is you spreading your righteous opinion about the way people should adorn themselves. Look at the history of clothing/piercing/tattooing and tell me why it is perceived as cheap or tacky or insignificant in modern culture.
You lack the perspective of "modern" and dwell in your sullen pit of entitlement and pulpit of importance.
Stuck in the witch trial of thought you will suffer a bitter demise... keep hiding that Rush Limbaugh tat on your ass man!

[soakitincider]

Do not pick at the scabs as they heal. The color will be compromised.

[DorkothyParker]

It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission. I don't even think about my tattoos until I am asked to cover them otherwise. It took my hagwon job only a week, though.
I'm a femme BTW and I have a large tattoo on the back of my right leg and one covering my left calf. Apparently I "scared" my kindie kids. Though, truthfully, I think it would be better if I could keep scaring them.

I do find it hilarious that some people assume tattooed folk constantly want to look cool or be noticed. For the most part, you do forget that it's there.

[Kurtz]

[Fermentator75]

Kurtz wrote earlier about exposed tattoos "it looks really bad"... your opinion dip !@#$... but good for you if you agree with the staff at your school. Continue sucking the protocol pucker.

[annainkorea]