Signs of social change on the bodies of youth: tattoos in Korea

Abstract

The Korean word for tattoo is munshin, meaning ‘letters engraved on the body’. Munshins could only be seen on Korean gangsters just a few decades ago, but today, increasingly more young Korean people are getting fashionable tattoos like a butterfly or a cross on easily visible parts of their body. The aim of this article is to examine the changing tattoo culture in Korea and find out what it reveals about Korean society, South Korean attitudes about individualism, globalization and modernity, and how these attitudes are related to local and global issues. Based on discourse analysis, field research and interviews, the results indicate that tattoos on the bodies of Korean youth are a fashion statement, expression of self and signs of social change. As the country develops economically and makes further global advancements, Korean society is changing towards expression of individuality, a higher interest in appearance and stronger competition.