One-day tattoo classes that claim you can learn tattooing in a single day are increasing. As some of these courses lead to "self tattoo," in which people ink their own bodies, questions about safety and responsibility are being raised.
As of the 7th, more than 1,000 posts with the hashtag (#) for one-day tattoo classes have been uploaded on social media (SNS). Most courses focus on the handpoke (manual needle) method and proceed in the order of learning basic theory and design drafting, followed by practice on rubber sheets.
In particular, many classes allow self tattoo at the end of the session. Typically, participants ink a small tattoo about the length of a finger joint. Instructors recommend areas like the palm, where marks tend to fade relatively lightly, but some choose the arm or leg.
Tuition for a one-day tattoo class is about 100,000 to 200,000 won. That is not much different from the cost of getting a tattoo of similar size. Instead, they tout the experience of inking yourself as a selling point. On SNS, it is easy to find participant reviews such as, "I felt proud to engrave a drawing symbolizing my pet directly on my body."
The problem is that it is difficult to tattoo skillfully after just a day of training. There have been reports of people experiencing bleeding, blurring, or asymmetry during self tattoo and then going to a professional tattooist for corrective work.
In some cases, removal costs more. Depending on pigmentation and design, it can cost hundreds of thousands of won. If an unskilled person injects ink deep into the skin, removal itself can become difficult.
Tattooists said one-day tattoo classes are thriving as competition intensifies. Many argued that pushing people to do self tattoo after a one-day course is excessive.
Tattooist A, with 10 years of experience, said, "Inking the skin is irreversible, and making people perform procedures after a day of training is irresponsible."
Tattooist B also said, "Tattooing requires both hygiene and technique, and encouraging laypeople to perform procedures is dangerous," adding, "It is a phenomenon driven by intensifying industry competition, but it is worrisome at a time when legalization is approaching."
The legal standards surrounding self tattoo are also vague. Tattoo procedures are currently classified as medical practices and can be legally performed only by doctors. Even after the Tattooist Act takes effect on Oct. 29, 2027, only those who obtain a national license will be allowed to perform tattoo procedures.
Industry officials say the tattoo market is growing rapidly amid a regulatory vacuum, creating a mix of self tattoo and training.
Im Boran, president of the Korea Central Association of Tattooists, said, "Rather than one-day classes centered on low-skilled laypeople, trained personnel should handle training and procedures," adding, "For the tattooist exam the government will implement, there needs to be a shift from written to skills-based testing, and a tightening of required training hours."