A recent post on a popular Korean online community titled "1/4 of this country's population has gotten tattoos" is gaining attention after it was revealed that the country in question is South Korea.
Many Korean netizens expressed shock after learning that about 13 million South Koreans, roughly 25% of the population, have gotten tattoos. These netizens gathered in the comment section to discuss the surprising statistic.
The reason many Korean netizens were surprised by the high number is that tattooing is classified as a "medical procedure" in South Korea. This means that only licensed medical professionals can legally perform it. In July 2022, the Constitutional Court rejected by a 5–4 vote a constitutional appeal by tattooists against Article 27(1) of the Medical Service Act, which bans unlicensed medical practices. Still, the government is currently pursuing legal revisions that would allow non-medical professionals to perform tattoos.
For now, all tattoos done by non-medical professionals remain technically illegal. Therefore, many Korean netizens expressed shock.
So how did the number become so high?
This is due to the popularity of cosmetic tattoos, such as semi-permanent eyebrow tattoos and eyeliner tattoos. These procedures have been widely popular and considered part of beauty care, accounting for a large portion of the tattoo statistics.
Korean netizens were convinced by the reason, with many suddenly also realizing they had these cosmetic tattoos. They commented:
"Oh, eyebrow tattoos. lol. Three people in my household, including me, have gotten them."
"Eyebrow tattoos, hahaha. I didn't get it done, but if that counts in the statistics, I understand now, lol."
"Eyebrow... my whole family got them, lol."
"Even around me, more people have tattoos now, lol. Even regular office workers, too. Tattoos seem more common than before."
"This is understandable. I never do skin treatments, but I did try eyebrow tattooing once, lol."
"Eyebrows. Oh wow, lol. I hated tattoos, but I got eyebrow tattoos. So it turns out that I have tattoos. lol."
"I thought it was nonsense that so many people in this country have tattoos, but I realized I do too. I have eyebrows and eyeliner tattoos. lol."
"At first I was like 'huh?' Then I realized I got eyebrow tattoos too, lol. Someone I know even has eyeliner tattoo."
"This is hilarious. Everyone is like 'huh? That many people?' but then they realize, eyebrow tattoo counts too, lol."
"I was confused, then I realized I got an eyeliner tattoo, too."
"Whoa, I also got eyebrow tattoo done. Guess that's a tattoo too, lol."
"My whole family did eyebrows. My mom and I even did eyeliner tattoo, lol."
"I was like, ‘Tattoos in Korea??’ then remembered I got semi-permanent eyeliner ten years ago."
"If eyebrow tattoos are included, then the number makes sense. lol."
SHARE
