Korean Job Discussion Forums

Diana X · Joined: 30 Aug 2006

I have a large tattoo on my upper back. Got a lot of attention for it in warmer weather when it was partly visible. My boss is cool with it, though. I agree not to flaunt it; they somehow answered the students' questions about it in a way that calmed down the buzz that spread once a few of them saw it.... Just curious to hear if anyone has tattoo stories to share.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

I have a large tatoo on my calf, and I wear shorts around town I think people are staring at it, but I dont really give a rats ass, lol

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Grotto · Joined: 21 Mar 2004

same

kids thought they were different/neat

doesnt have the same stigma for a foreigner as it does for a Korean

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

I have an industrial piercing, it's a bar in my ear lobe, going from one side to the other, and the kids seem to be interested in that.

Is there anywhere in korea to get a traditional tatoo, without the tatoo machine, where they just just a needle and hammer type device?

Missile Command Kid · Joined: 17 Jul 2006 Location: Daegu

Porter_Goss · Joined: 26 Mar 2006 Location: The Wrong Side of Right

Canadian Club · Joined: 12 Aug 2006

I check out tattoos... on Koreans or anyone else.

Darkness · Joined: 12 Oct 2006

lmao @ porter_goss!!!

I got my tatoo right before coming to Korea, so it has meaning to me.

I dont like it when people get tatoo's just for the sake of getting a tatoo, it's there for life, hopefully they would put some thought into it...

RACETRAITOR · Joined: 24 Oct 2005 Location: Seoul, South Korea

One time I saw a soldier in the 711 in Hongdae who had a naked woman tattooed on the back of his calf. I and my woman laughed at it then she realised he could see us in a mirror.

BintyMcGrrr · Joined: 20 Nov 2006

thats good to know! im heading to gwangju in january and have a pretty big tatoo on my arm/shoulder and piercings, assumed i would have to keep them hidden at school but i've read a few negative things about korean attitudes to tatoos in general. I also have pink/purple hair, is that likely to b well recieved!? im used to stares in sunny glasgow so thats not a prob!...as long as they're not to grumpy! javascript:emoticon(' Laughing

')

Jenxxx

UMPhilthy · Joined: 15 Nov 2006 Location: Nowon-gu

I got a rather large tat on my left forearm right before I got my job offer. It is two masks. It blends the drama masks and Gemini masks using the blue and red of the korean flag/ Ying-Yang. It is large and my first tat. I do not show it at work, at all. i want to so that I can wear short sleeve shirts in the summer.
I will broach the subject after the winter, or when one of my coworkers see me with short sleeves on a day off.

As for my upper cartlidge piercing. It was a 15 minute diversion in class today. i think the elementary school kids are confused by it but they like me more because of it. It comes out around parents.

oneofthesarahs · Joined: 05 Nov 2006 Location: Sacheon City

Piercings and tattoos on foreigners definitely don't carry the stigma that they'd have on Korean folk.

My nose ring is met mostly with incredulousness. I once had a middle school boy (not one of my students) randomly walk with me for several blocks to ask me about it. I didn't mind, really; he was sweet and his English was quite good.

My students liked talking about it at first, but now they don't really seem to care one way or another. I have four tattoos, and nobody has seen them yet except for one of my coteachers, but I expect they'll be taken the same way: temporary novelty followed by complete indifference.

cj1976 · Joined: 26 Oct 2005

Getting a tat done here might not be a wise decision. After all, I barely trust the hairdressers...