K-pop artists face strict rules, not just from agencies but also TV shows. Beyond covering belly buttons or showing just one nipple, they also must conceal tattoos during performances, reflecting Korea's conservative stance on body art — where tattoos are illegal unless done by medical professionals. Despite these constraints, many K-pop stars still opt for tattoos. So, who among them sports ink and confidently displays it? Take a look below
Updated On: 2024-03-05 12:41 PM IST
Compiled by : Harshita Kale
BTS's Jeon Jungkook
Jungkook has a stunning full-arm sleeve of tattoos - and many of them have special meanings and origin stories. On Jungkook's right arm, one can spot three-striped lines, which fans have connected to what may seem like the Korean flag.
Also, Jungkook had a golden-coloured eye tattoo which right below his elbow. He reportedly later replaced it with 'BULLETPROOF' lettering. He recently revealed that his favourite tattoos are the tiger lilies which represent his birth flowers.
Jungkook has also dedicated a few tattoos to his bandmates and fans. He has ARMY on the knuckles and ‘+’ symbols, along with J on one of the fingers – the letters translate to the members’ initials; RM aka Namjoon, J for J-hope, Jimin and Jin.
The A turned upside down for V aka Kim Taehyung and the Y for Yoongi aka Suga. How coincidental is it that the letters in ARMY also overlap with the names of the BTS members? Proof that the BTS-ARMY bond was meant to be.
TWICE’s Chaeyoung
Due to stigma surrounding body art and tattoos in South Korea, TWICE’s Chaeyoung often performs with body tape to cover up her inked designs. However, she likes to show them off when she can, especially in the girl group's dance practice videos and on social media. A refreshing move, indeed!
Chaeyeong's biggest tattoo seems to be on her lower back. It has been spotted by several eagle-eyed fans during dance performances but the idol hasn't revealed it completely yet. Her other tattoos include a pair lips in Twice's official hues on her left wrist, an arrow-pierced heart behind her ear, and a unique fish design she designed herself near her left elbow
GOT7's Jackson Wang
Several of Jackson's tattoos are a tribute to his Chinese heritage. His inked designs include a Chinese character which meaning good fortune or luck, a lantern, which he said reminded him of lantern festivals from his childhood and his parents’ Chinese zodiac signs. What a beautiful way of remaining connected to one's roots!
BaekHo
BaekHo took his already sculpted body up a notch by getting his pecs inked! The first tattoo (on the left side) says 'N'abandonnez pas'. It is written diagonally across his heart and running into his shoulder. 'N'abandonnez pas' means 'don't give up' in French. The second spells out 'what you give is what you get.' How's that for some Monday motivation?
LOONA's Kim Lip
Kim Lip has an adorable crescent moon tattoo on her right index finger. While she hasn't explained what the origin story of the tattoo is, the design is beautifully places where one wears a ring. Fans are also convinved that the moon symbolism is connected to her group, LOONA
Hyuna
Hyuna has more than 25 tattoos on her body, with some of them even dating back to her girl group days with 4Minute. Many of her designs seem to be more casual and light-hearted – like the four smiley faces on her wrist, or a heart behind her ear – but she also has tattoos with more sentimental memories and hopes attached to them
The largest is on her left shoulder, which reads, “My mother is the heart that keeps me alive”
Hyuna also has a cute matching tattoo with her then-fiance Dawn- his right hand says “LI”, while her left hand says “FE”, spelling out the word “life” when their hands are placed side-by-side
Yuqi ((G)I-DLE)
What can possibly be cuter than the cute corgi butt tattooed on Yuqi's shoulder?
ATEEZ' Wooyoung
Several of popular 4th-gen boygroup ATEEZ have ink on their bodies. One of them in Wooyoung. The idol has thigh tattoo which says “Amicus ad aras”, a Latin phrase that means “friends until death”, that he shares with fellow ATEEZ member and bestie San. It's also a phrase the two use to symbolize the depth and intensity of their friendship
He also has two other tattoos: He has the Spanish phrase “sin prosa sin pausa” on the left side of his ribcage, which means, 'don't hurry but don't stop.' What a beautiful motto of going at your own pace! Wooyoung also has “I’m never alone and I never will be” inked on his upper back
Soojin (former (G)I-DLE)
Soojin appears to have the most tattoos out of all fourth generation K-Pop idols! All of them are on the smaller side, and their daintiness makes the inked designs look prettier. One of them includes a small line heart on her finger
She also has the prettiest rainbow inked is prismatic hues on the inner side of her wrist
She also has some beautiful butterflies between the nape of her neck and her upper back. A beautiful metaphor for being free!
OMEGA X' Xen
Xen has three tattoos that we know about: First is the word “panther” written on his neck. He also has a French tattoo which translates to "“I can do everything through the One who strengthens me” as well as a line drawing of a bird on his inner forearm. Seems like winged creatures representing freedom are a hit amongst K-Pop idols!
Soyeon ((G)I-DLE)
Soyeon has a lotus flower tattooed on her shoulder blade. The singer was super nervous to get this inked but surprisingly, it didn't hurt as much as she thought it would!
She also has the word 'Windy' inked in a cerulean blue shade and a heartbeat on her inner arm - a symbol marking her signing up to be an organ donor
WOODZ
WOODZ has a formidable gun inked across his abdomen that his often visible during his performances. It is positioned as though it were in a holster. WOODZ revealed that it was inspired by Hollywood heroes who always carried a hidden gun. The tattoo was a tribute to his early struggling days in the Korean entertainment industry - a metaphor for his abilities and talents that could be unleashed at any time as a 'secret weapon.' The artist said that the tattoo has been really painful to get - and took nearly 12 hours!
Jay Park
Jay Park often reveals his tattoos when he performs shirtless during concerts or music videos. He has a beautiful lion tattoo that spans his entire left pectoral muscle - and Jay Park is lion-hearted indeed! Further nods to his music journey include an AOMG tattoo on his leg, representing the entertainment agency he established, and 'New Breed' inked on his left hand, commemorating the title of his debut album.
aespa's NingNing
aespa’s maknae NingNing has two cute tattoos. The first one is a little devil that she designed herself
She also has the word 'sweetener' written on the back of her arm. It's the perfect tattoo for her as aespa's maknae does indeed bring sugar and spice to everything she immerses herself in
Hyolyn
On an episode of "Life Bar," singer-songwriter Hyolyn revealed that her stomach tattoo wasn't solely for style. It concealed a cross-shaped scar from two past surgeries that made her self-conscious and led to her slouching
Opting for a tattoo to mask the scar, she later expressed how this decision significantly alleviated her insecurities. "The tattoo gave me newfound confidence and put my complexes to rest," Hyolyn remarked
VIVIZ's EunHa and SinB
Friendship tattoos seem to be super popular in Korean showbiz! VIVIZ' EunHa and SinB's bond, traced back to their GFriend days, is immortalized with a friendship tattoo. The pair, friends since their youth, chose this unique emblem to cement their deep connection
EunHa and SinB had long expressed a desire for tattoos but were cautious due to their idol image. Opting for discretion, they chose subtle and endearing designs hidden from plain sight, settling on matching rose tattoos on their toes. Interestingly, they sported the same design but on alternate feet. These cute inked designs can be seen in a couple of pictures of the friends.
TO1's Chan
Chan boasts three distinct tattoos, each bearing a unique significance. One prominent design is a palm leaf on his forearm, symbolizing healing. This can often be seen during his performances and livestreams
The next tattoo, an intricately designed whale on the inside of his forearm, stands as a testament to his deep affection for his elder sister. The last tattoo hasn't been properly glimpsed yet, but it appeared to be a bouquet of flowers on his upper back, symbolizing happiness.