Korean Job Discussion Forums

[darkjedidave]

I'm wanting to get more ink done. Has anyone gotten tattoos in Seoul and recommend the shop/artist?

[NSMatt]

http://www.tattoo-korea.asia/

[bamboozler]

Be careful a friend of mine who has many tats got a piece done here that faded out in 2 years.

He said a lot of the places here use low quality ink and needles.

Fair warning.

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

There are plenty of tattoo shops back home that will spare the ink a little as well. Actually, I was apprehensive about getting a tattoo in Korea for a long time. However, I decided to give it a shot and I haven't been disappointed. I've been to two locations and they have both been professional and legit. I've had no problems with the ink or the design. I'm actually going to get more ink this year. Just make sure to check the place out first. I've found that tats are a little more expensive here, but that is to be expected considering how taboo it still is here. The higher prices would probably be the only complaint about it.

[joyorbison]

plus one for a recommendation for tattoo korea. got one about a year ago from there and not disappointed.

[BURNBURNRUBBER]

www.fulltimerioart.com

he does the best work in korea. color is really great. apprenticed under eak in bangkok (the guy who's name all the tattoo shops in khaosan steal for their signage) and has done a lot of convention and guest artist work around the world. rubs noses with some pretty elite artists (paul booth, shige...)
just opened a little studio in mokdong... kind of near ehwa uni and closer to the art center.

[todes_8ngel]

The prices here are just ridiculous. I have a full sleeve (very detailed in colors) done in the states for $1400. It took about 15 hours. I went in for a consultation with Tattoo Studio in Sinsa for a slightly less than half sleeve. Slightly less because I already have something on there that i just wanted them to work around. They wanted 100k upfront for a custom design and quoted anywhere between 1-1.5millon for black ink and 1.5-2m for colors.

The guy said since there wasn't much room to work with, he can only do one main design and one or two flowers/plants and lots of shading to connect them and that it would probably take about 6hrs of work. I was like, "yeah, i'm outta here."

I showed them my full sleeve, told them the price I paid and said I will try a different place. Their artworks on facebook don't look too impressive either.

[tangofingers]

I got my first ever tattoo done by Phillip Spearman at Tattoo Times:
http://www.facebook.com/tattootimes and I can't recommend them enough. Actually I'm only half way through, and it has cost over �1000 dollars so far but I wanted to be sure it was the best...you can get another artist there. I really believe they're the best in South Korea...!

[kimdeal54]

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

Yeah, I agree about the price thing. The expense was my only beef with it. The quality was good and the ink is holding up well. Tattoo Korea does good work, but my problem with them is that they want you to name the price and try to work from there. So, the guy will say, "so how much are you willing to spend." He wants you to state the number first. That's complete BS. No, man, I am supposed to ask YOU the price and you are the one that is supposed to tell me. This is a business transaction and the onus is on you to make the sale. As a result of that, I haven't gone back there for any additional work. It is too bad because I am satisfied with their work, just not their business practices. It is all good though because I found another tattoo shop that is better.

[BURNBURNRUBBER]

[highstreet]

not sure why it suprises some of you when the price is higher than in the States.

tattoos aren't as common over here, so the price is going to be higher.

[kimdeal54]

[naturegirl321]

Vincent tattoo in Itaewon across from the Firehouse seems nice and clean.

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

As far as the pricing, yes, I knew it would cost more here than back home. There simply aren't the glut of places here that there are back home and considering that tattooing is still considered illegal here(unless you are a doctor), yes, of course the price is going to be higher. I knew that and I expected it. It still doesn't mean that I have to like it. I guess the disposable income level of working here cushions the blow, plus I believe in living in the now rather than waiting, which is why I have had work done here and am planning some more work soon. I've had no problems with the quality of the artist, the quality of the ink, etc. My aftercare procedures are pretty good which helps assist the process.