South Korea is concerned with tattoos by non -medical professionals

South Korea has begun in tattoo art by non -medical professionals for the first time in more than 30 years, after a campaign by members of the profession to work without fear of prosecution or harassment.

Although tattoos are common in East Asia, its presentation is limited to medical professionals in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling in 1992.

But after the approval of the tattoo law by the General Assembly on Thursday, non -medical professionals – who make up most of the industry – will be able to obtain a license.

Lim Bou Ran, President of the Korean Tattoos Union, cried from the death of the law, saying: “I cannot speak because it seems like a dream. I am really grateful.”

Between 1992 and now, any person who provides tattoos without medical credentials has faced up to five years in prison or a fine of 50 million Korean ($ 35,000; 28,000 pounds).

There are no official statistics on the number of tattoos that were prosecuted, but the South Korean tattoo federation says it provides legal support for no less than 50 every year, and it is believed that there is a lot that leads to fines.

As of 2021, there was an estimated 350,000 tattoo artists in the country, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare-most of them specialized in semi-permanent makeup of lips, eyebrows or sin.

But relatively few of these medical qualifications. Instead, most of them come from art or beauty backgrounds like anywhere else in the world.

By technically engaging in illegal practice, South Korea’s tattoo artists have been threatened or informed by indigenous customers.

She told a tattoo that former BBC tattoo that she was harassed by a man after the tattoo, but she did not report the accident to the authorities for fear of a trial.

The other police, which passed by the police, were informed by a agent who wanted five million Korea ($ 3500; 2,800 pounds) after the claim without evidence that it was stained.

But in recent years, the South Korean courts have acquitted many tattoo artists, indicating a shift in situations.

Park Joe Min, Chairman of the Health and Welfare Committee of the National Assembly and the main legislative supporter of the law, noted that many politicians in the House of Representatives suffer from eyebrows or lips.

He said that the approval of the law will allow citizens to obtain tattoos safely, and the participants in the tattoo industry will be recognized as legal professionals. “

However, the law changed opposition from the medical community in South Korea.

Before her death, the Korean Medical Association said that tattoos “not only destroy the skin, but can also pose other health risks, including the overlap in cancer diagnosis.”

He stated that “tattoos are basically a medical procedure, and its increasing popularity does not reduce the associated risks.”

There are also some in the industry who feel that despite their popularity among young people and increasing importance in influential culture, changing the law will not reflect the stigma of shame towards tattoos. Recent opinion polls indicate that the majority of South Koreans are still seen negatively.

Although the tattoo ban will not be a permanent advantage of the South Korean society, its removal may be a slow and painful process.

The new law will not take place until two years later, as tattoo artists have to pass a national exam, full training and hygiene training, and maintain detailed records.

Tattoo removal operations, which are used using laser, will remain limited to medical professionals.