South Korea has a proud culture full of beautiful artwork and creative methods of expression. However, when it comes to tattoos, there is a very different feel. Tattooing in South Korea has a very divisive past. In South Korea, it is assumed that Koreans choosing to be tattooed are strange and anti-social people. In the eyes of the old school Korean, tattoos are for gangsters and criminals. However, that hasn’t stopped some from setting up shop in South Korea offering kids who don’t want to abide by social norms an outlet for their artistic expression.

We all know that in times like these, people of all kinds get tattoos. The kids of South Korea are realizing this as well. For the people outside of South Korea that are looking to get a Korean tattoo, there are many options to look at and each version has a different meaning.

In this article we will go over some different Korean tattoos and talk about their meaning. By the end of this post, we hope you have a better understanding of some of the different kinds of Korean tattoos.

Korean Tattoo History

In the old times, Korean fisherman would get tattoos to protect themselves from bad luck and injury. Over time, tattoos began to have a negative connotation and went from being used in protection to being maligned. During the Joseon Dynasty in the 19th century, tattoos were used to brand criminals and wrongdoers. Criminals were tattooed with the crime they committed so all could see. In addition to criminals being branded, slaves were also branded. By this time, it’s clear as to why there is such a stigma to tattooing in South Korea.

Korean Tattoo Meanings

People choosing to get Korean tattoos can choose from a variety of styles and ideas including characters from the Korean alphabet called Hangul to images of flowers and animals. Below are some examples of the different Korean tattoos people have chosen to get over time and some of their meanings.