South Korea will introduce its first state-administered examination for tattooists next year, providing a legal pathway for non-medical tattoo practitioners.
The certification system is intended to standardize hygiene and safety practices and bring an end to decades of legal uncertainty and enforcement actions faced by tattooists operating without formal recognition.
According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare on Wednesday, the government will begin issuing certifications to those who pass the exam from late 2027.
A budget of 635 million won ($430,000) has already been allocated to establish the new testing system.
The exam will be administered annually by the Korea Health Personnel Licensing Examination Institute, which currently oversees licensing examinations for doctors, pharmacists and nurses.
The move follows the passage of the Tattoist Act in the National Assembly in September 2025. The law places tattooing under government supervision by introducing a dedicated certification system in exchange for compliance with state-mandated hygiene and safety standards. It is set to take effect in October this year.
Tattooing has long existed in a legal gray area in Korea. A Supreme Court of Korea ruling in 1992 classified tattooing as a medical practice, effectively limiting the procedure to licensed doctors. As a result, most tattooists have worked illegally for decades despite the growing popularity of tattoos.
Around 30 percent of Koreans have experienced tattooing, including cosmetic procedures such as eyeliner and eyebrow tattoos, according to Park Joo-min of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.
Because the country has no prior experience administering a tattooist licensing exam, the government is assembling a panel of experts to design test content and evaluation methods.
“We need to form a consultative body and continuously exchange ideas with stakeholders to develop an unprecedented examination in Korea,” a Health Ministry official said.
To ease the transition, the government plans to introduce temporary registration measures for existing tattooists through 2028.
“These measures reflect the reality that not all current tattooists will be able to take and pass the exam at the same time,” the official said. “However, they will eventually be required to pass the test to work legally as tattooists in Korea.”
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