Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rachelann]

I may (interview pending, of course) be getting an EFL job in Daegu, SK. I have a tattoo on my right upper arm, and it isn't what you would call small. Naturally, I would be covering it at work, I'm not an idiot. However, to make alien registration, I will need to have a medical checkup, and keeping an arm tattoo hidden while having a blood test done may prove to be difficult. I guess what I'm wondering is, what sort of hangups do people in SK have about tattoos (if any?), and would a doctor seeing a tattoo on my body during a medical checkup get me in trouble. I know this sounds like a really stupid question, and I suppose should just quit reading the forums. Just curious.

[englishteachinmom]

I have the same question. I have a half sleeve on my left arm. I'm a woman too so I wonder how Koreans would view that?

[sheba]

Basically, no there will be no prob with the doctor. Lots of people have tattoos (though not as popular as the west), and there are differeing opinons of them. Some people still have negative attitudes, but the younger generation dont seem to mind. Kids are usually pretty curious...

I have 3 tattoos, though all are quite small. Ive had no probs. They showed at work sometimes (one is on my ankle so impossible to cover in summer), but as foreigners we have a bit more leeway when it comes to breaking social rules.

In public people might point, stare and whisper, especially if your tat is big, but people tend to point, stare and whisper at us anyway!

As long as you keep it covered at work then it shouldnt be an issue. I knew a guy here who had more than 60 tattoos... he was fine too.

[ttompatz]

I am ex-navy and have tats on both arms (forearm to shoulder).

It is a non-issue.

Just keep them covered at work until the folks get to know you.

.

[mellowfe]

cool, I'm ex-navy too and have a sleeve on my left arm and was wondering if that was going to be a problem.good to know.

[Steve_Rogers2008]

Now for the ladies with a tat on the back, it doesnt matter what it says, 'cuz it always means "INSERT HERE"



and another acceptable answer would be, HRA.......and any fans of WRIF stateside know what HRA I'm talkin' about.

[sesyeux]

sometimes i've been asked about 'body art' by recruiters. i told the truth the first time and i never heard from them again...not sure if it was to do with that but everything was going great until then. after, she sort of made her excuses and finished up pretty quick.

[Senior]

A buddy of mine has full sleeves that come right down to his wrists. Even with long sleeves, it's still obvious that his arms are extensively tattooed. He says that it isn't a problem at his PS job, but he gets quite a lot of crap on the street. He says he often gets called a criminal in Korean, which, when I have seen it, he gets incredibly uptight about. It's kind of counter intuitive that a gut with extensive tattooing would get uptight so easily. Go figure.

Another pal, has a cheesy tribal tat on his upper arm. You can see it quite clearly when he is wearing a short sleeved shirt. He has had zero issues.

OP, you will be fine.

[jiberish]

Most people cover them and it isn't a problem. That Julian guy on TV always wears like a bandage over his tattoo.

[Troglodyte]

[sheba]

On the tv comedy show Muhandojeon, NoHongChul (the really loud guy with belached hair and crazy dress sense) covers his tattoo with an arm band if he wears sleevless tops or if they do water activities.