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12 Korean Tattoo Artists To Follow On Instagram For Inspiration

12 Korean Tattoo Artists To Follow On Instagram For Inspiration

Beauty Lifestyle Beauty Services
By Karmen on 16 Oct 2020
Digital Editor

Thinking of getting a new tattoo? Have a look at South Korean tattoo artists! Creativity in Korea is thriving not just in fashion, makeup and music but also in tattoos.

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While we're not able to travel there to get inked at the moment, we can always get ideas and inspiration from them.

Keep reading to check out 12 amazing Korean tattoo Instagram accounts you should follow! 

watercolour illustrative floral tattoo on woman's back of neckPhoto from @tattoojune via Instagram

watercolour illustrative floral tattoo on woman's collarbone and shoulder Photo from @tattoojune via Instagram

Raised in Busan, South Korea, June Jung now has her own tattoo and painting studio in Los Angeles.

She's known for her masterful watercolour and illustrative tattoos of botanical and natural subjects like flowers and animals. Her work has a sense of movement to it with soft yet eye-catching colours.

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tattoo of red flowers and orange butterflies on backPhoto from @oozy_tattoo via Instagram

black line tattoo of girl with half face in water on woman's upper armPhoto from @oozy_tattoo via Instagram

Woo Jin Choi, who also goes by the name Oozy, is a Seoul based tattoo artist whose work reflects his background in animation. His intricately detailed tattoos range from realism to Japanese anime-style, often with a macabre touch. He uses fine black and grey lines as well visually arresting colours.

tattoo of pink fairy holding flowers on upper armPhoto from @ovenlee.tattoo via Instagram

tattoo of flowers around armPhoto from @ovenlee.tattoo via Instagram

Ovenlee's tattoos have a comforting cosy cottagecore vibe to it, created using rough linework and lively colours that almost gives them a delicate embroidered look.

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Her work revolves around relaxing imagery like natural landscapes, fairies and flowers as well as Disney and Studio Ghibli characters.

sion kwak norigae tattoo on armPhoto from @tattooist_sion via Instagram

sion kwak norigae tattoo on collarbone and chestPhoto from @tattooist_sion via Instagram

Inspired by norigae (노리개), an adornment worn with the Korean traditional hanbok, tattoo artist Sion Kwak incorporates their intense colours and traditional patterns to her work.

Many of her tattoos have lotuses, magnolia flowers and cranes with intricate knots, a beaded charm and tassels that look like they're fluttering in the wind.

oriental style tattoos on arm and collarbonePhoto from @ilwolhongdam via Instagram

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tattoo of festival in joseon era in koreaPhoto from @ilwolhongdam via Instagram

Hongdam 홍담 creates incredibly intricate, fine-lined tattoos that look like they belong on canvas and displayed at an art gallery.

His tattoos ranges from flowers and animals to more unusual ones like a festival of the Joseon Dynasty era in Korea.

blue and yellow butterflies circle tattoo on armPhoto from @lit_tattoo_ via Instagram

blue and yellow tattoos on armPhoto from @lit_tattoo_ via Instagram

One of the tattoo artists in Studio by Sol, Lit creates tattoos that usually feature his trademark blue and yellow colours which makes them stand out.

If you're looking for a vibrant tattoo with a striking colour combination, his Instagram account is the place to take inspiration from.

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neo traditional style red fire circle tattoo in armPhoto from @tattooer_nana via Instagram

neo traditional style colourful circle tattoo in armPhoto from @tattooer_nana via Instagram

Nana's tattoos have a neo traditional style with pronounced lines and beautiful bold colours. Her work also has a lovely pencil drawn quality to it.

A great plus to this style of tattoo is its longevity as bold designs and thick lines tend to look just as badass once they eventually fade over the decades.

goodmorning town tattoo of bearPhoto from @goodmorningtown via Instagram

goodmorning town tattoo of flowerPhoto from @goodmorningtown via Instagram

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Goodmorning's moniker was inspired by his imaginary friends who live in said town. Many of his tattoos are of cute cartoon animals, presumably the imaginary friends, in a playful and minimalist style.

Along with his signature Booger Bear, his tattoos also feature other animals like dinosaurs, pigs, rabbits as well as human characters, flowers and food items.

korean traditional Obangsaek art style tattoo of dragonsPhoto from @pitta_kkm via Instagram

korean traditional Obangsaek art style tattoo of foxPhoto from @pitta_kkm via Instagram

Pitta's tattoo has a unique and striking look thanks to its unusual combination of traditional Korean aesthetics and modern fine art style.

He often uses traditional Korean Obangsaek colours of white, black, blue, yellow and red to create tattoos that pops against the skin.

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delicate pastel flower bouquet matching tattooPhoto from @dora.tattoo via Instagram

delicate pastel dog in heart tattooPhoto from @dora.tattoo via Instagram

Seoul based tattooist Dora creates delicate pastel tattoos that have a subtle look against the skin.

With fine, rough lines and light colours, her tattoos are reminiscent of coloured pencil drawings.

small blue flower hand poked tattoo on armPhoto from @_tan_tattoo via Instagram

small flower ring hand poked tattoo on thumbPhoto from @_tan_tattoo via Instagram

TAN TATTOO is known for their tiny and colourful hand poked, aka stick n poke, tattoos that have a distinctive and intricate dotted look.

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This type of tattoo tends to heal faster than traditional tattoos, although they tend to be more painful and take a longer time to complete.

cartoon style tattoo pink panther heartPhoto from @Woo Loves You via Instagram

cartoon style tattoo two cats as a heartPhoto from @Woo Loves You via Instagram

Tattooing in a unique old-school cartoon style with thick lines, Woo is known for creating adorable animals contorted in unusual positions.

From far, a tattoo might look like a simple heart, skull or locket. But go a little closer and you'll see that it's a cat, tiger or monkey bent in a funny position - love it!

Bonus: @soltattoo, @playground_tat2 and @tattooist_banul are all popular Korean tattoo Instagram accounts you should follow!

Some helpful articles if you're getting a tattoo: