The ink has dried on a landmark ruling in Seoul. South Korea's constitutional court has just told the government to legalise tattooing. A win for artists who have operated in a legal grey zone for decades. Now the whispers start in Westminster. Can we learn from this?
Let's be clear. Tattooing in the UK is not illegal. But it is underregulated. Any Tom, Dick or Harry can buy a kit off the internet and start grinding ink into skin. No checks. No standards. It's a public health disaster waiting to happen.
South Korea's move is interesting. They are not just legalising. They are professionalising. The court has given parliament until 2024 to draft a law that sets training standards. It is a nod to the apprenticeship model we have in this country for plumbers and electricians.
I have been talking to people in the industry. They are nervous but hopeful. One prominent London tattooist told me: 'The Korean decision is a wake-up call. We need a proper licence. Something that says you have served your time and know what you are doing.'
Here is the politics. The Department for Health and Social Care has been sitting on a review of tattooing regulations for months. Sources say ministers are split. Some want a light-touch approach. Others see a vote winner in championing 'safe ink'.
Polling data I have seen suggests the public backs tougher rules. 78% of over-35s think tattooists should be licensed. The young are more relaxed but even among 18-24 year olds, 62% want minimum standards. That is a clear mandate.
But here is the rub. The Treasury does not want to fund a new regulatory body. They see it as another quango. So where does the money come from? Industry sources suggest a levy on each tattoo. A kind of 'ink tax' to pay for inspections.
My reading of the tea leaves. This is going to come to a head. The Korean ruling gives cover for a private member's bill. I hear Labour's Streeting is interested. He sees it as part of his public health agenda. The Home Office is also circling. They want to crack down on unlicensed studios as part of the organised crime strategy.
So watch this space. The battle lines are being drawn. On one side, the libertarians who say let the market decide. On the other, the safety-first crowd. And in the middle, a government that does not want to be seen as soft on health but hates spending money.
My bet. We get a compromise. A voluntary register at first. Then mandatory licensing within five years. The apprenticeship model will be the backbone. It works for electricians. It will work for tattooists. Just do not expect the Treasury to be happy about it.
