6 K-pop idols with tattoos who aren’t afraid to flaunt them, from BTS’ Jungkook, Got7’s Jackson Wang and Twice’s Chaeyoung, to Jay Park, Hyolyn and Hyuna – who matches with her fiancé Dawn
- Jungkook has a full sleeve of tattoos on his arm and the word ‘Army’ across his knuckles, while Jay Park’s frequent shirtless appearances show off the lion on his left pec
- Hyolyn has a cross to cover old surgery scars while Hyuna and Dawn have matching designs on their hands – but why are tattoos controversial in South Korea in the first place?
Many of us already know about the rules forced on K-pop artists by their agencies, but did you know that television shows enforce rules too? From having to cover up their belly buttons, to only being allowed to show one nipple, idols have to follow a set of (sometimes weird) guidelines set by the Korean television industry.
Another rule that K-pop idols must follow is the covering up of tattoos. They must use clothing or flesh-coloured patches to cover up any body art that might be visible during their performances. This likely has to do with Korea’s conservative views on tattoos: they are considered illegal in South Korea, except when done by a medical professional.
You would think that this would stop stars from getting tattoos in the first place, but that’s not always the case. So which K-pop idols have been inked – and are proudly flaunting it?
1. BTS’ Jungkook
While he spent a long time in his career hiding his tattoos from the public, BTS’ Jungkook has started confidently showing them off. The star wore short-sleeved shirts in season two of BTS In the Soop, and in a video for Vanity Fair, allowing fans a glimpse at his arm art.
Jungkook has a full sleeve of tattoos featuring a snake, tiger, clock and flower, among others. His more sentimental tattoos include the number 7 behind his ear (a friendship tattoo shared by all members of BTS), and the word “Army” across his knuckles.
