For foreigners in Korea getting a permanent piece of body art can be a bit of a daunting due to language barriers. Luckily, there are a number of artists in Seoul who can communicate with clients in English!
Dahlia | Euljiro, Jung-gu
Known for her talent in color tattoos and unique style, Dahlia is your foreigner-friendly go to tattoo artist in Seoul.
Dahlia asks her clients to describe the idea they have or send a reference photo, and she creates a new design from scratch fitting it to the client’s wish.
As one of our authors went there recently to get a tattoo, they told that the whole process was smooth and pleasent.
Dahlia communicated with them through instagram DM’s asking all the necessary questions, and was able to create a unique art that is truly one of a kind, capturing the vision just perfectly.
Seoul Ink | Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Located in the heart of Sinsa-dong, Seoul Ink has been a pillar of the Korean tattoo scene since 2007. They are one of the most “foreigner-ready” studios in the city, featuring a dedicated English-speaking management team that handles consultations.
Having won numerous international awards at conventions across the US, their technical expertise is world-class. They won the 10 Magazine Best of Seoul 2018 competition in the category of Best Tattoo Parlor.
Whether you are looking for traditional Japanese, realism, or delicate fineline work, this studio houses multiple resident artists specializing in various styles. Because of their professional scale, they are also one of the few high-end shops that can occasionally accommodate walk-ins, though booking ahead is still highly recommended.
Seoul Ink Tattoo Studio originally faced restrictions in Korean culture. The staff decided to go abroad for top call tattoo experience. Starting from tattoo conventions in California they traveled to Texas, Michigan, New York, Virginia, and many more to win multiple awards as well to participate as a judges.
Since their return in 2011, they still continuing its top class tattoo work. In order to provide high quality tattoo with more variety, the artists communicate with other great artists worldwide through guest artists partnership.
Greem Tattoo | Mapo-gu, Seoul
Greem has evolved her style from simple blocky forms to a more sophisticated, fluid blackwork aesthetic. Her studio is located near Hongdae, and while she remains humble about her English skills, she is perfectly capable of navigating complex design discussions with international clients. Her work is characterized by sharp, high-contrast lines and a unique way of interpreting nature and animals through a minimalist lens.
Hongdam | Songpa-gu, Seoul
If you’re looking for the pioneer of the “Korean Fine Line” movement, Hongdam is the artist. His international fame means he is often traveling for guest spots in Europe and the US, which has made him incredibly fluent in English.
When he is at his private studio in Seoul, he focuses on hyper-detailed, needle-thin designs that look like delicate ink paintings. Because his schedule is worldwide, make sure to check his Instagram “Travel” highlights to ensure he is in Seoul during your visit.
Ildo | Mapo-gu, Seoul
Ildo’s pieces are uniquely his and utilize intricate lines and shading. He’s known for his darker characters, most notably his skull-faced figures (like the one pictured above). He’s filled numerous guest artist spots in the UK, so he likely has no problem discussing designs with potential clients. When he’s in Seoul, he works out of the Hongdae-based studio Lucent.
Woo Loves You | Seoul, South Korea
Now operating primarily in the Itaewon/Hannam area—Seoul’s most international hub—Woo Hyun Heo (Woo Loves You) offers a style unlike any other. His work features comedic, “trippy” characters and bold colors, often using optical illusions to form shapes like hearts or skulls.
His booking process is very organized: he typically uses a Google Form (available in English) during specific booking windows. If you can’t snag a tattoo appointment, his studio often carries his custom-designed pins and merchandise.
Zihwa | Mapo-gu, Seoul
Formerly associated with Reindeer Ink, Zihwa now leads her world-renowned studio, Le Jardin de Zihwa, in Hongdae. She is a global icon for floral tattooing, known for “drawing on the body” to follow its natural curves with extreme elegance.
The studio is staffed with English speakers, but due to her massive global demand, her books often open only a few times a year. Her work relies on subtle contrasts and breathtakingly intricate botanical details.
Sol Tattoo | Mapo-gu, Seoul
With a massive global following, Sol is a master of micro-realism and vibrant pet portraits. He has streamlined his business for international travelers, launching a dedicated website for bookings to handle the high volume of requests.
His style is “cute and colorful,” specializing in tiny, realistic animals and fine-line art. Note that Sol is often booked 3 to 4 months in advance, so reaching out as soon as you book your flight to Seoul is essential.
Hugo | Mapo-gu, Seoul
Hugo lived in the U.S. for a number of years before making a name for himself in the Seoul tattooing scene. Since then he’s gained a huge following on Instagram because of his cute design aesthetic. His pieces apply bold line work and dotted shading to cutesy characters. One of the most well-travelled artists on this list, he’s done guest work at locations all across the globe.
Whether you don’t know any Korean or are just a bit rusty, there are many English Speaking Tattoo Artists In Seoul who can assist with getting some unique ink. With this list as a starting point, foreigners in Seoul who want tattoos can have confidence that they’ll be able to find an artist they can talk to.
Important Note for Your Visit
Many studios are located in non-descript buildings or private offices. Don’t be surprised if the entrance looks like a regular apartment or office – this is standard for even the most famous artists in Seoul.
Most artists in Seoul now prefer using KakaoTalk (the national messaging app) for consultations.
2 comments
Riccardo
Riccardo Bianco
Would definitely recommend @Hamnessy , http://www.instagram.com/hamnessy/ ! Had a great experience with her recently, really professional and friendly too! She speaks excellent English so it was easy to discuss the design I wanted and any adjustments needed. I was a bit nervous about getting my first tattoo, Hamnessy immediately made me feel comfortable, explained everything about the process and constantly reassured me, and gave me breaks whenever I needed them. Left with an amazing design too! She’s based in the Hongdae area and definitely worth a visit when you’re in the area.
Tattooed Bloke Will
Honestly, only ones here that are decent are Hugo, Greem, and Woo. And by decent, I mean the entire tattoo experience. Most tattoo artists in Korea are in it for the cool factor and could care less about the actual tattoo. My fourth tattoo ever was with Sol, and he was really good in the sense that he had really good handwork and really compliant, but he honestly couldn’t give a damn about what he was tattooing and he’s expensive. By the hour, my tattoo was 2 inches by 1 inch and was 350,000 won which is roughly $310 USD. Like nothing in America, the UK or Australia. There’s a tattoo shop Sunrat that’s pretty decent, but don’t get one from Sabi – good work, but same unprofessional attitude and he prides himself on work outside of tattoo. There’s Sunrat and a gyopo (Korean-American) that tattoo there that are awesome, highly recommends for both the professionalism and the handwork.) . Tattooer Apro is LEGIT. By ALL means – do NOT go to Tattooer Dogy. He is the worst in terms of professionalism. He overbooks, overprices, last minute cancels appointments and he steals designs by independent artists without credit to boot. All this dude does is trace outlines and copy other artist works. He actually had several posts banned on his instagram because artists started to report him stealing.
Basically, the tattoo scene blew up over the last 4 years, and when there used to be 3 tattoo shops in the city of Seoul, there is several on every block, stick n pokes, and kids covered in tatts which up until 2013, were taboo. It’s still considered illegal in South Korea, so big conventions get raided, costs are higher here (but the penmanship is awesome), and the attitude of a lot of these dudes are unearned. There are really good artists, but do your research. And like any good tattoo shop and experience, the work is not good enough. It’s about the experience, and you’ll have the ink on you forever. So the relationship you have with your tattooer is important. Godspeed!