In a landmark shift in public health and cultural policy, South Korea has formally legalised the practice of tattooing, ending a decades-long prohibition that placed the country’s estimated 350,000 tattoo artists in legal limbo. The National Assembly passed the revised Medical Act on Thursday, recognising tattooists as licensed professionals rather than unqualified medical practitioners. The move, which follows years of advocacy and a landmark Constitutional Court ruling in 2022, now permits non-medical personnel to perform tattooing under a dedicated licensing regime.
Government officials have explicitly cited the British licensing system, regulated by the Health and Safety Executive and local authorities under the Tattooing of Minors Act 1969 and subsequent hygiene standards, as a model for the new framework. Under the Korean legislation, tattoo artists will be required to complete a state-approved training programme covering infection control, skin anatomy, and artistic practice, followed by a written and practical examination. Licences will be renewable every three years, subject to continued compliance with hygiene standards.
The legislation also establishes a national registry of licensed tattooists and introduces penalties for unlicensed practice, including fines of up to 30 million won (approximately £18,000) and potential imprisonment. The reform represents a significant departure from previous legal orthodoxy, under which tattooing was classified as a medical procedure and therefore restricted to licensed doctors. In practice, this prohibition was widely flouted: an estimated 90 per cent of tattooists operated without formal authorisation, facing constant risk of prosecution and fines.
The Supreme Court had upheld convictions of tattoo artists for violating the Medical Service Act as recently as 2018. The change in policy has been driven by shifting social attitudes, particularly among younger South Koreans, where tattoos have become increasingly mainstream. According to a 2023 Gallup Korea poll, 72 per cent of respondents aged 18-29 viewed tattoos as acceptable, compared with only 34 per cent of those over 60.
The cultural shift has been accompanied by economic pressures: South Korea’s tattoo industry was estimated to be worth 2.3 trillion won in 2022, much of it operating in a grey economy. The British licensing system, which requires tattooists to register with their local council, undergo hygiene inspections, and meet strict standards for equipment sterilisation and premises cleanliness, was singled out by Korean legislators for its balance between public safety and professional autonomy.
A delegation of Korean health officials visited London and Manchester in 2023 to study inspection protocols and training curricula. 'The British model demonstrates that regulation, not prohibition, is the most effective way to ensure public health while respecting individual choice and professional practice,' said Dr. Park Jae-hyun, a member of the National Assembly’s Health and Welfare Committee who sponsored the bill.
The reform has been welcomed by tattoo artist associations, which have long argued that prohibition undermined safety standards by driving the industry underground. 'This is a historic victory for artists and clients alike,' said Kim Soo-ji, president of the Korean Tattoo Artists Association. 'Licensing means we can now operate openly, access proper training, and ensure every client receives safe, hygienic treatment.
' However, the legislation has drawn criticism from the Korean Medical Association, which argued that tattooing involves medical risks such as allergic reactions, infections, and scarring that require professional medical oversight. The association has indicated it may challenge the law on constitutional grounds. Implementation is scheduled for January 2026, giving authorities time to establish training programmes and inspection frameworks.
The Ministry of Health and Welfare estimates that 50,000 to 70,000 practitioners will apply for licences in the first year. The reform places South Korea in a growing global trend toward legalisation and regulation of tattooing. Japan, which has faced similar legal ambiguities, has moved toward greater formalisation since a 2020 Supreme Court ruling that tattooing is not necessarily a medical act.
In the broader context, the reform signals South Korea’s evolving approach to personal autonomy and professional regulation within a traditionally conservative legal framework. It also underscores the soft power of British institutional models in shaping regulatory reform abroad, even as the United Kingdom's own tattoo licensing system faces scrutiny over inconsistent enforcement between local authorities.
