Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dasmith2]

My partner and I recently took a job in Jeonju, near the west coast. This will be our first time in Korea. I have four tattoos on my right arm and I've been told that a)only a certain type of woman has tattoos in Korea, and b) that ex-convincts are the only Koreans with tattoos, or that is what they might assume about me.

My first thought, and most rational, is that if they see I am a foreigner then Koreans are worldly enough to know that foreigners have different cultures and that tattoos are common in other countries.

I am a pretty classy lady (despite what traditional thinkers my think) and my tattoos are actually really beautiful pieces of art (i have a lily on my fore-arm, for example). I know that tattoos should not be seen in any workplace, for the sake of professionalism, so I intend to cover them and wear long sleeves while I am at the school.

My only concern is that, apparently, teachers run into children and their parents outside of school regularly and so the school expects teachers to conduct themselves well enough outside of school so as to be a good representative when this happens. Does this mean I should cover up my tattoos at all times? Will parent's complain to my boss if they see me in a short sleeved shirt on the weekend?

I am new to this forum and I've done a search for information about women and tattoos. If you know a link that would be more detailed then the information I've found, please feel free to post it. Otherwise, any advice would be extremely helpful!

[articulate_ink]

I wouldn't worry about it. I have 10, two of which are visible when I roll my sleeves up, and no one has screamed or passed out yet. Korea's not as uptight about tats as it used to be.

[Underwaterbob]

Yeah, as non-Koreans we can have tattoos and avoid the stereotypes that Koreans place on their own who have them. I know a (western) woman who has quite a few and certainly gets asked about them but out of curiosity rather than any kind of animosity. A coworker once asked me if everyone where I'm from has tattoos.

[spliff]

Tattoo's = Low Class, IMHO. And I'm not alone in that opinion.

[Cerriowen]

I had a co-worker with tattoos on his arms. He wore short sleeves. The kindi-kids all saw them. The parents knew about them. No one seemed to care.

[Darkness]

Hey spliff, pm me I want to go for a beer with you......

[ds_fan]

iv met loads of foreigners with tatoos here, all of which have looked dreadful,- some real cheesers shame they have such bad taste, there are only about 8 tatoos that i have actually liked, all of them are on famous people.
when u get a tatoo u know the problems it brings, like this one. All you can do is cover it up for work, if they see you outside of hours so be it, its your body and its not a crime or against school rules so stuff them

[Scouse Mouse]

I had a similar worry when I arrived. I have 5, 2 of which are visible when I wear short sleeves. I was at a public school with 1400 kids, and I couldn't walk across the street from my home without seeing a group of them.

I asked my co-teacher about it (my first one, she rocked!), as I was worried about it being a problem. She said that I should cover them at school, but outside of school I can do whatever I like and she would handle any problems. Sure enough, when the kids saw them and word got around, she educated them about the difference in culture.

Outside of the school, I have only had problems from the old, and the very uneducated. A few people have thought I was close to death (only doctors are legally allowed to tattoo here, as it is sometimes needed for surgical procedures), and more people have thought it means I am a gangster. Like I say... very uneducated people. It actually helps at times though... I have had a few nights of free beers when the Korean excuse for organised criminals have been in a drinking mood.

The very old are usually afraid. One very drunk older guy decided to help me during my first weekend here... he decided to burn my tattoo's off me when I was in a bar. Thankfully I saw it just before the flame connected. Crazy bastard actually thought he was doing me a favour!

[Jessie]

It does sometimes depend on your school, but since you are a foreigner, they are usually more relaxed. I'm a female and I have 4 visible tattoos on my forearms. Recently, I have begun wearing short-sleeve shirts since the weather is getting warmer and the kids are more curious than anything else. They will try and touch them, etc. The parents have seen them and there has not been a problem.

[ds_fan]

didnt know only doctors could do them here, so you cant just find a tattoo parlor and walk in and pay over here?

[spliff]

[Hobophobic]

Tattoos are pushing the envelope in the art world IMO...I am not talking about your standard TAZ tats...but there are some artists out there...nor am I speaking about Miami Ink...with the exception of Garver...who have a talent for working on skin...I did my apprentiship and it is not a job to be taken lightly or frowned upon...these guys work their asses off to give you something for the rest of your life - and done by someone truly talented it is something you can respect and cherish forever...

...but to each their own

[Neil]

Recently I've noticed a lot of Korean women with tatts, never seen a Korean guy with one (chubby gangpae who seem to spend every waking moment at the jimjilbang aside).

[runlikegump]

I agree with the hobophobe - denying that tattoos are art is to hold a very narrow conception of the term itself.
To the OP - out of respect for the culture we have chosen to live in, even though it may hold onto (for us) an archaic interpretation of tattoos, I try to keep mine covered as best I can. Easier said than done while out running in the summer, or relaxing at the sauna, but most people here are curious and stare, same as home. If you can live with that, should be good enough.

[Scouse Mouse]