PHOTOS: Tattoos step into the light with inaugural expo

A tattooist demonstrates techniques at an expo in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Nov. 20, 2025. AJP Yoo Na-hyunSEOUL, November 21 (AJP) - An inaugural expo covering everything about tattoos kicked off its three-day run in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province earlier this week.

Long gone are the days when tattoos were synonymous with heavyset gangsters, as relevant regulations legalizing the practice were passed at the National Assembly last September.

Under the new regulations, tattoos and cosmetic procedures like ombré shading and microblading are now permitted, and not only tattooists but also non-medical practitioners are legally allowed to perform them.

The expo, in particular, drew strong interest from overseas participants, who demonstrated scalp micropigmentation (SMP) pigments at their booths. The technique is widely used for hairline enhancement, scar camouflage and other cosmetic purposes.

Many of them expressed high expectations for the industry's growth potential in South Korea, where tattoos had long been widely practiced even though they were technically illegal.

"After more than three decades in the shadows, tattoos are finally stepping into the light," said Kim Jae-hyeong, head of the expo's organizing committee. "I hope this expo serves as a catalyst for the industry's growth and development."

The expo wraps up on Saturday.
 Visitors look around a tattoo-themed expo in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Nov. 20, 2025. AJP Yoo Na-hyun
 Visitors look around a tattoo-themed expo in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Nov. 20, 2025. AJP Yoo Na-hyun
 A visitor (right) look at a tattoo demonstration at an expo in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Nov. 20, 2025. AJP Yoo Na-hyun
 A visitor looks around a tattoo-themed expo in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province on Nov. 20, 2025. AJP Yoo Na-hyun
Yoo Na-hyun Reporter shooting@ajupress.com