Tag: South Korea

Looking into the Soul: Q&As with Tattooist Yoshi

Yoshihiro Sakaguchi (Yoshi) was born in 1988 in the coastal inlet city of Kagoshima, Japan. His family relocated to South Korea when he was only one year old. In primary school, he was a wrestler (in the traditional style of Ssireum) and left the team in middle school, which resulted in significant weight gain and […]

Tattooer Pisatché Draws Inspiration from ’80s Mecha Anime

Pisatché, a 29-year-old tattooer who depicts giant robots and electronic hands, is not attempting to project himself into the future; instead, he is reviving the 1980s science fiction, Mecha anime (television series and films), and manga. While “Transformers” in the 1980s in the West, this concept originated in Japan and greatly inspired him. Pisatché nods […]

The Tattoo Art of Chou Chou Incorporates Enigmatic Eyeballs

Chou Chou’s mother stated that during her childhood, she had no other interest besides drawing relentlessly. She completed her secondary education in art and subsequently earned a degree in Western painting from a Korean university. Her initial job was teaching high school pupils art as they prepared for collegiate entrance exams. Afterward, she instructed middle […]

Foret’s Whip-Shaded Birds and Foliage Tattoos

Foret, 27 years old, embarked on an incremental learning journey towards becoming a pro tattooer in 2018 while pursuing her visual design studies at Sahmyook University in Seoul. In contrast to other tattoo artists in Korea, her parents have always encouraged her to seek this line of work. Foret’s potential clients are curious about the […]

An Interview with Woohwa about her Remarkable Fine-Line Tattoos

Korean culture has significantly contributed to the world through cinema, music, and cuisine. Likely an element of the “Korean Wave,” which debuted in popular culture in the late 1990s, this “Wave” has now entered its third generation. Their diligence, abundance of talent, and consistency have earned them a stellar reputation. The same characteristics are exhibited […]

Dareum’s Tattoos Feature Oil Pastel Depiction

1994 marked the birth of Da Hye Lee (aka Dareum) in Cheongju, South Korea. Her family relocated to Seoul during childhood, and she has remained there ever since. After deciding early on that visual and fashion design was not her calling, she abandoned her undergraduate major to pursue a career as a tattoo artist. She […]

Dragons and Other Decorative Tattoos by Ehyang

Having a college degree in multimedia design and becoming a UI/UX designer, Ehyang was dissatisfied with corporate work and departed the industry to complete an apprenticeship at Sol’s Tattoo Academy in South Korea. A new vocation that grants her the autonomy to design her images and allows others to wear them has proven to be […]

A Talk with Gyan about His Tattoos That Look Like Etchings

Gyan, a 31-year-old from Seoul, studied graphic design in college and later worked in a studio producing posters, books, and videos. He worked as a freelance illustrator before becoming a tattoo artist a few years ago. His love for drawing and imagery led him to believe he could translate well to tattooing, and he gets […]

Yerae’s Flower Tattoos and Scar Cover-ups

Yerae, born in Jeju, South Korea, in 1989, had a traditional upbringing in which her parents insisted she obtain a stable career that did not include being an artist. Her grandfather, who engaged in art, recognized Yerae’s talent and provided her with drawing supplies and encouragement to pursue her artistic ambitions. Yerae became a tattooer in 2020 […]