The Supreme Court has ruled that a person who is not a doctor should not be punished even if they performed a cosmetic tattoo procedure. Until now, such cases had been punished as violations of the Medical Service Act, but the precedent was changed to reflect advances in medical technology and shifting social perceptions of tattoos. As a result, tattooists and beauty practitioners who perform tattoo procedures can operate without fear of punishment until October 2027, when the Tattooist Act takes effect.
The Supreme Court en banc (presiding Justice Kwon Young-jun) on the 21st overturned a lower court ruling that fined nonmedical worker A 1 million won and sent the case back to the Suwon District Court, in the final appeal over charges of violating the Medical Service Act for performing calligraphy (lettering) tattoos.
The Supreme Court en banc (presiding Justice Oh Seok-jun) also overturned a lower court ruling that fined nonmedical worker B 1.5 million won and sent the case back to the Seoul Western District Court, in the final appeal over charges of violating the Medical Service Act for performing scalp tattoos.