"In Front of Children?" "Parents' Shame Becomes Children's Burden"...Fuss Over Fathers with Full-Body Tattoos

Parents Expose Tattoos at Children's Day Event
"Embarrassing for Kids" and "Immature" Criticism Continues

Although tattoos have become mainstream in Korea, with the tattooed population reaching as many as 13 million people, there remains a strong negative perception toward tattoos. Amid this, some parents who openly exposed tattoos on various parts of their bodies at a Children's Day event have come under criticism.

On May 11, various social networking services (SNS) saw posts and photos spreading, claiming that several men with tattoos were spotted at a Children's Day event held in Daejeon on May 5.

The poster, identified as Mr. A, personally took and released photos of the men at the event. The photos show men in short-sleeved shirts and shorts, exposing their tattoos while standing in line among other parents.

Mr. A criticized, saying, "Why are they showing off their tattoos in a place full of children? They don't seem to feel any shame. Cover up a little." He continued, "Shouldn't people with tattoos be banned from entering Children's Day events?" and went on to argue, "There should be a law prohibiting people with tattoos (a derogatory term for those with tattoos) from entering public places."

Netizens also criticized the men's behavior, saying, "The parents' shame becomes the children's burden." Additional comments included, "These are immature people who don't realize how disgusting and uncomfortable tattoos can be," "Tattoos are meant to be shown off. If they wanted to hide them, they wouldn't have gotten them in the first place," and "Is that really appropriate in front of children?" However, there were also plenty of opinions such as, "It's not like they caused any direct harm, so why does it matter?" and "This is a matter of personal freedom."

Conflicts over tattoo exposure in public places have been recurring recently. Major five-star hotels are now operating so-called "No Tattoo Zones." Conrad Seoul Hotel in Yeouido, Seoul, for example, states in its gym and pool usage guidelines that "guests with excessive tattoos that may cause discomfort or anxiety to others may be restricted from entry." Similarly, Fairmont Ambassador Seoul restricts pool access for guests with tattoos larger than 15 cm. To use the pool, guests must wear swimsuits or patches that cover their tattoos.

"No Tattoo Zones" are also appearing in fitness centers, not just hotels. At a well-known fitness center in Gangnam, one of the conditions for entry is refraining from excessive tattoo exposure. If a person has tattoos that nearly cover their arms or legs, they are required to wear long-sleeved shirts and long pants. In addition, many gyms are adopting policies that restrict entry for patrons with excessive tattoos.

In fact, negative perceptions of tattoos remain strong. According to a survey conducted by Korea Research in March of last year, 60% of people in Korea still have a negative view of tattoos. The negative perception is even stronger among older age groups, with 71% of those in their 60s responding that "tattoos are repulsive." Additionally, more than 60% view people with tattoos as delinquent or intimidating.