| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
kjohns15
Joined: 15 Mar 2010
Location: USA
|
 Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 6:44 pm Post subject: Tattoos on women |
 |
|
Can anyone offer any insight on this? I have a large tattoo on my leg and I'm curious as to how it will be recieved in SK. I often get stupid reactions here in the States, so I'm used to people commenting on it. Mostly I'm worried if they are considered really offensive. Should it be covered in the workplace/public or are they acceptable?
Thanks for any advice!
Kortney |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Cerulean
Joined: 19 Aug 2009
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:04 pm Post subject: |
|
|
In my opinion, how it is received depends on where you are.
Ask your workplace if it's acceptable. I waited until they were comfortable with me to ask.
I also covered it in my neighborhood until my school was cool with it.
But some people don't care what others think and that may be your approach as well. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kjohns15
Joined: 15 Mar 2010
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:08 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Thanks for the input. If it's just a question of people being close-minded, I'm not opposed to offending their sensibilities, but if it's some cultural taboo I don't want to push my luck. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 7:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| kjohns15 wrote: |
| Thanks for the input. If it's just a question of people being close-minded, I'm not opposed to offending their sensibilities, but if it's some cultural taboo I don't want to push my luck. |
In Korea, only "gangsters" have tats.
Keep it covered until they are used to you - slacks or long skirts.
AFTER they are used to you (a couple months down the road) you can ease up and quit fretting.
Oh, and FTR, I also have tats.. multiple ones on both arms from my navy days. They are rated "G" so at least that was not a problem.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
AussieGav
Joined: 02 Sep 2007
Location: Uijeongbu
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:02 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ttompatz wrote: |
| kjohns15 wrote: |
| Thanks for the input. If it's just a question of people being close-minded, I'm not opposed to offending their sensibilities, but if it's some cultural taboo I don't want to push my luck. |
In Korea, only "gangsters" have tats.
Keep it covered until they are used to you - slacks or long skirts.
AFTER they are used to you (a couple months down the road) you can ease up and quit fretting.
Oh, and FTR, I also have tats.. multiple ones on both arms from my navy days. They are rated "G" so at least that was not a problem.
All good advice, i also have multiple tatts on my upper arms (one not rated G) and I always keep them covered at work. It's not so much about offending sensibilities, its more about not getting off on other people's misconceptions and prejudices i guess. Good luck with your decision though.
. |
|
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kjohns15
Joined: 15 Mar 2010
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 8:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Well, mine are all of ancient Greek mythology/artwork. Nothing too scary. I keep them covered in the classroom here, so I guess I'll keep it up in Korea. It's just so hot wearing hosiery in the summer! AH! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Banana_Man
Joined: 01 Mar 2010
Location: Busan
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:09 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| ttompatz wrote: |
In Korea, only "gangsters" have tats.
|
Where did this golden piece of completely wrong and judgemental advice come from?
Yes, gangsters have tats - in every country this is true.
Many other Koreans have tats - same as elsewhere, 3 of my close Korean friends, one female, 2 male have tats. I don't as I think they will be regretted later in life.
Anyway, it depends on your boss, if they are covered at work then there is no problem - the tats on your leg, just don't show leg until you are in the boss' good graces.
Co-workers and friends (in my experience and in my tattooed friends experiences, Korean and Western) will accept them and not care other than to say either "woah, cool" or "woah, that's a little strange but eh, who cares". |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
mayorgc
Joined: 19 Oct 2008
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I think in the past, tatoos in jpn/kor were associated primarily with gangsters. These days, maybe not so much. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sheba
Joined: 16 May 2005
Location: Here there and everywhere!
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 25, 2010 10:23 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
Where did this golden piece of completely wrong and judgemental advice come from? |
That "golden piece of completely wrong and judgemental advice" came from my korean coworkers... in my case. They were interested in my tattoos and were fine with them being visible seeing as they are quite small... but they also said that koreans have a prejudice about tattoos because it is still illegal to get them done in Korea, so gangsters tend to be the only ones that get them. i know other koreans get tattoos sometimes, but the people I know arent exactly typically Korean. they are girls that work in western bars and are generally social outcasts in their own society. Im not saying all koreans with tattoos are like this, just the ones that I know. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
DorkothyParker
Joined: 11 Apr 2009
Location: Jeju
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
I would give the opposite advice and say it is better to ask for forgiveness than permission. Dress in your regular business casual/
smart" casual as the Brits say. If a little tat shows, wait till someone above you mentions something. It's cold now so you'll probably want to wear pants or tights anyway.
It only took one week for my school to tell me to keep my calf tats covered. But I'm not worse for it and the kids (kindy) actually believed they were stickers.
Who cares what the general public thinks on your free time? I sometimes get looks from older men. But hey, beautiful artwork is beautiful. I do see a lot of flower tramp stamps on women 30+ in the gym locker room so I don't think it's that uncommon anymore. At least not in the city. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pattinsons
Joined: 28 Jun 2009
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
If your here teaching then you school is gonna ask you to cover it up. It was actually in my contract for my school. Not sure about the other schools, but I work for one of the larger companies.
Aside from that you'll get stares from people even if you didnt have the tat so don't worry about it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kjohns15
Joined: 15 Mar 2010
Location: USA
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 12:33 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Thanks for all the input everyone. Very helpful! |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
sesyeux
Joined: 20 Jul 2009
Location: king 'arrys
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 2:51 pm Post subject: |
|
|
i appreciate the fact that you should cover up at school. i've got a few and none would be visible if i was wearing the usual smart attire associated with any work place.
but outside of school, they would be - i wonder what the likely response would be from a fellow teacher if they saw - negative? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Obvious
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Buy lots of dark stockings before you come over. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Ruthdes
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Fri Mar 26, 2010 8:00 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| sesyeux wrote: |
i appreciate the fact that you should cover up at school. i've got a few and none would be visible if i was wearing the usual smart attire associated with any work place.
but outside of school, they would be - i wonder what the likely response would be from a fellow teacher if they saw - negative? |
No, it would rarely be negative from a fellow teacher. Unless it's a terrible tatt, and then I think we'd usually keep our opinions to ourselves (it's a lot easier to insult people anonymously on dave's than to their face!).
I went on a beach trip with about 60 NETs nearly 2 years ago and I'd say 90% of those people had tatts. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
