Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ghkdlxld]

How are tattoos perceived in Korea? Will it be okay for me to get one as an English teacher?

Also, is it even safe to get a tattoo in Korea?

[Prevlin]

hey man,i was meaning to ask the exact same question,i wanna know how it will be perceived by my employers

[ktkates87]

I got mildly inhebriated and ended up with a tattoo in Thailand. It's along the bridge of my foot, and I always wear birks at work or else my feet sweat to death. I was a bit terrified of anyone seeing it at work, and then one day my boss noticed it when I was sitting at the computer. He said "wow, is that a tattoo?" He must have noticed my shock and started appologizing profusely, like he thought it was an invasion of my privacy to ask about it lol. Then he proceeded to chat with me about tattoos and how common they are in Canada and so on.

So anyways, in my experience it hasn't been a big deal at all. It's not really an in your face tattoo which is something to be considered I guess. And by the way, at the jimjilbang recently I had one of those scrub things done, and the ajumma scrubbing me down had a huge tattoo above her breast which I thought was super bad ass.

[RMNC]

Koreans don't like tattoos, in general. They're seen as being related to criminals or mafia. If you have them or get them, they should be discreet and easy to cover up. Nothing on your neck or forearms, mostly. Obviously they have an image to uphold, so most Korean parents don't want to see a foreigner with two full sleeves teaching 5 year-olds. It might not be right, but it's the way it is. Mostly this just has to do with teaching. If you were a bartender, it would be less important. Most people simply don't ever mention them if they do have them and keep them covered.

That said, don't get a tattoo in Korea. Go to the US or Europe, as 98% of all Korean tattoo artists suck a fat one.

[computermichael]

I've seen a lot of Korean people with tattoos; I'm pretty sure only one of them was actually a criminal. My boss actually has a couple, including a huge tramp stamp. I wouldn't worry about it at all unless you're getting it across your forehead or "Dokdo belongs to Japan" written across your knuckles in Korean.

You might be better off waiting to do it in a country where the legality of tattooing isn't nebulous because I imagine that there aren't too many health codes or inspectors pertaining to tattoo artists here. A lot of other things about Korea already make me think of it as a hepatitis farm as it is.

[NSMatt]

[metalhead]

Buddy of mine that has more ink than me checked out a place in Busan today, he claims the guy is legit and is going back on Saturday to get 400 000 won worth of tats done. I'll see what his looks like then will probably go in myself in the future.

Where some people get the notion that Korea has bad tattoo artists is beyond me.

And yeah, I had a job in Korea before where the boss let me wear short sleeves, no one said anything really, kids and adults alike. That said, I would still cover them up if they said I didn't have to now, there's something just not right with a teacher covered in ink.

Anyway, people without tattoos are like vegetarians to me, I don't consider them fully evolved; a sub-species of human if you will.

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

Actually, Metal, as someone who has multiple tattoos as well as being a vegetarian, I consider myself pretty evolved. Certainly more evolved than a bunch of meat eaters that have hardly evolved past the caveman stage. So, it is what it is. As far as tattooing in Korea, it amazes me that you've got people commenting on it that don't have the slightest clue. Usually these people have never had a tattoo done in Korea and, more than likely, they don't have any ink at all. There ARE good tattoo artists here. Just like there are good tattoo artists at home. There are also bad tattoo artists here. Just like there are bad tattoo artists at home. Get it? Just don't listen to people who have never had any work done here because their opinion means sweet FA. I've had multiple tattoos done in Korea and I've had no problems. You just have to check the place out and get a feel for it. Make sure it is clean. Make sure they sterilize their equipment. Pretty basic. Also, realize that getting a tattoo is more expensive in Korea, so if finances are a huge factor then you should wait until you get back home to do it. But if you've got the dinero, then get it done.

[Chet Wautlands]

These days it is MUCH more common for young people to get tattoos, both guys and girls. However, tattoos that cannot be concealed (neck, hands, etc.) are less common.

If you are going to be teaching English, I'd advise you to get a tattoo that doesn't show when you're wearing a t-shirt. I know that having a tattoo doesn't make you a worse teacher, but if the parents are unhappy, your boss will be too.

My tattoo is on my back and people rarely see it. Most people don't know I have one. My doctor does, though.

[wishfullthinkng]

[sadguy]

[RMNC]

Note: I don't want to get into a poop flinging fest, but some people need to get of their high horses.

Actually evolution made us the smartest and most enabled creatures on the planet so that we could kill and eat other animals as much and as fast as possible, not less. Not eating meat is going against evolution.

Being a vegetarian and telling people they're unevolved is just as stupid and annoying as someone who eats meat talking to a vegetarian and going "BUT MEAT IS JUST TOO TASTY, COME ON PAL!!". Next time try not to be so douchey. And I say this as a former vegan and vegetarian.

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

It was no different than the guy on here that said being a vegetarian was sub-human. You want to sling crap at me, I'll hurl it right back at you. You want to eat meat. Fine, knock yourself out. You're the ones that ultimately have to pay the price for it.

Anyhow, as far at the tattoo scene in Korea, well, no kidding that it is different. I never said it was like back home. There aren't as many studios here and there aren't as many people doing it. I'm saying that there are good and bad tattoo artists here just like back home. Yes, you have to be more cautious in Korea, which is why I said to research, research, research. Look at my post. I also said it would be more costly, which, because of the limited tattoo culture here as well as the legal status of tattooing, is what you have to deal with when getting ink here. There are good shops here. You just have to do your research, check them out in person and see if they work for you. If not, wait until you go back home to do them. I feel like I'm just repeating what I said in an earlier post. The assumptions that you guys make...

[nero]

FFS, can people just say the names of the good places and the bad?
Let's just get along, everyone!

[markymark]

if your looking to get a tattoo here are some places depending on what style you are looking for:

www.tattooism.net (portraits, chicano, custom)

www.inkerscrew.com (same as above)

www.horikuni.com (irezumi, traditional japanese style)

they all have facebook pages you can search for as well

To answer your original question, do not show your tattoo to anybody in your work circle, ever..

message me if seriously interested as i work with these shops..