South Korea has legalised tattoo artistry by non-medical professionals for the first time in more than 30 years, following a campaign by members of the profession to work without fear of prosecution or harassment.
Though tattoos are commonplace in the east Asian nation, offering them has been limited to medical professionals following a 1992 Supreme Court ruling.
But, after the passing of the Tattooist Act by the General Assembly on Thursday, non-medical professionals - who compose most of the industry - will be able to obtain a licence.
Lim Bo-ran, president of the Korea Tattoo Federation, cried at the law's passing, saying: I can't speak because it feels like a dream. I am truly grateful.
Between 1992 and now, anyone offering tattoos without medical credentials faced up to five years in prison or a fine of up to 50 million Korean won ($35,000; £28,000).
There are no official statistics on how many tattooists have been prosecuted, but South Korea's Tattoo Union provides legal support to at least 50 each year, believing there are many more cases resulting in fines.
As of 2021, there were an estimated 350,000 tattoo artists in the country, according to the Ministry of Health and Welfare - most of them specialising in semi-permanent make-up for lips, eyebrows, or hairlines.
Most tattoo artists do not have medical qualifications and come instead from art or beauty backgrounds.
Due to the illegal status of their practice, tattoo artists in South Korea have faced threats or been reported by dissatisfied clients.
A female tattoo artist, known as Narr, shared her experience of being sexually harassed but refrained from reporting the incident due to concerns over potential prosecution.
Similarly, another artist, Banul, was reported to authorities by a client who unjustly claimed compensation for a perceived flaw in the tattoo.
Recently, however, South Korean courts have acquitted several tattoo artists, indicating a shift in public and judicial attitudes.
Park Ju-min, chairman of the National Assembly's health and welfare committee and main proponent of the law, noted that many politicians sport eyebrow or lip tattoos. He stated that the law will enable citizens to get tattoos safely, and those engaged in the tattoo industry will be recognised as legal professionals.
Opposition to the law persists from South Korea's medical community, arguing that tattooing poses health risks and is fundamentally a medical procedure, regardless of its rising popularity.
Despite their popularity among the youth and social media influencers, some in the industry believe that this law will not eliminate the stigma around tattoos. Recent polls show that many South Koreans still view tattoos negatively.
While the prohibition on tattooing will no longer be permanent, fully repealing cultural prejudice may be a slow journey. The new law will not take effect for two years, during which tattoo artists must pass a national examination and complete safety and hygiene training, along with maintaining detailed records. Tattoo removals, however, will still be restricted to medical professionals.
